IRIN Evaluation Report - March 2003
by Graham Mytton & Sharon Rusu

Recommendations

IRIN and the Media

18. The multiplier effect achieved by the media's use of IRIN content should be acknowledged and furthered by
    • Increased promotion of IRIN with local and international media, and
    • Staff exchanges, where possible and appropriate, for a week or two week orientation.

    IRIN Capacity and Professional Staff

19. The evaluation recommends that OCHA and donors support IRIN to continue to enhance its analytical capacity in line with current initiatives by
    • Acknowledging that IRIN has got the balance right between its staff, analytical capacity and the production of highly valued product lines, and
    • Supporting IRIN to continue to sustain a high level of analysis through the recruitment of highly qualified professional staff in line with the continuous development and evolution of its products and services.

    Support to OCHA Core Functions

20. In the light of IRIN's demonstrated direct support to UN OCHA's core information management function, the evaluation recommends that IRIN continue to remain an integral part of UN OCHA with full support from OCHA and subject to UN rules and administrative procedures. The evaluation further finds that IRIN's French language coverage is central to OCHA's coordination function and recommends that it be clearly supported to expand in line with this function.

    IRIN and Expansion

21. The evaluation recommends that IRIN be first recognized as having achieved an effective balance between its resources and coverage to date, including expansion. Though recognizing that donors have not shown willingness to fund further expansion in the past, the evaluation is recommending that in future requests for expansion meet two tests:
    • Stakeholders making the request for IRIN expansion demonstrate why and where IRIN coverage is needed as well as that the IRIN model can be easily and cost-effectively replicated,
    • And the necessary and appropriate resources are identified and made available to finance such expansion.
    
    

    IRIN and its Network Advantage

22. The evaluation recommends that IRIN be supported by OCHA and donors to continue to capitalize on its network advantage through the production of focus articles, PlusNews, Web specials and, especially the IRIN radio project.

    IRIN and Sustainability

23. The evaluation recommends that based on its demonstrated highly rated performance that IRIN's funding requests are considered in ways consistent with its needs, especially to counter the uncertainty of current funding trends by
    • The establishment of a revolving fund with donors in line with UN rules and donor agreement
    • Ensuring longer term funding for certain core activities
    • The development of a Trusteeship Forum, or likely alternative, of well-connected and knowledgeable former humanitarians and others, to help IRIN to further raise its profile, and raise funds though the promotion of IRIN's mission, products and services.
    
    

    IRIN Management

24. In view of the evaluation finding that good products are linked to good management based on cost-effective planning and implementation, the evaluators recommend that OCHA and donors support IRIN by
    • Acknowledging that IRIN's management has succeeded in producing products in a cost-effective way whose content is viewed as authoritative and for which there is no equivalent in either the private or public sectors that has the capabilities to fill the gaps like IRIN, and
    • Ensuring IRIN is valued and promoted at the highest levels in government and the UN as a credit to the UN system, its management and its donors.

    IRIN and Editorial Independence

25. The evaluation recommends that the editorial independence of IRIN be maintained. IRIN needs to be able to continue to report on humanitarian news without reference to or approval of UN headquarters. If this were to be compromised it would damage if not destroy the agency's usefulness. The present status of IRIN as an independent and credible news provider working within the UN system, although it appears anomalous to some, especially in the media, nonetheless works well and does not need to be changed. If at any time this becomes impossible then consideration would need to be given to separating IRIN from the UN system if it were to continue its vital role as a humanitarian information provider Any change is not necessary as things stand. IRIN has de facto editorial independence that is essential for its work.

[Ends]

Top of the Page?