## Data for Decisions (D4D) Fund Operational Guidelines

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [Data for Decisions (D4D) Fund Operational Guidelines](https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/capacity-developement/d4d/data-for-decisions-fund-operational-guidelines.pdf)

## Other formats

- [Markdown version](/-/media/files/capacity-developement/d4d/data-for-decisions-fund-operational-guidelines.pdf.md)
- [Structured JSON version](/-/media/files/capacity-developement/d4d/data-for-decisions-fund-operational-guidelines.pdf.json)

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### Overview
- The Data for Decisions (D4D) Fund is an IMF multi-partner initiative to put more and better data in the hands of decision-makers to enhance evidence-based macroeconomic policies and support achievement of the sustainable development goals.
- The thematic fund started operations in June 2018.

### A. Steering Committee — Role and Composition
- Role:
  - The Steering Committee (SC) provides strategic guidance and assists in setting the priorities.
  - The SC endorses the work plans, budgets, and annual reports of the D4D Fund.
- Composition:
  - The SC shall be composed of representatives from each Contributor of the D4D subaccount, and the IMF.

### A. Steering Committee — Chair, Vice-Chair, and Responsibilities
- Chair and Vice-Chair:
  - The SC is chaired by a Contributor with a strong interest in the operations of the D4D Fund.
  - The IMF proposes to the SC a Chair and a Vice Chair.
  - The Chair and Vice Chair are elected by consensus.
  - The term of the Chair and Vice Chair is one year, at the end of which the Vice Chair seated at that time becomes the Chair.
- Principal role and processes:
  - The principal role of the Chair of the SC is to preside over the SC and, if desired, to host the SC meeting.
  - The Chair is consulted on the preparation of the agenda for SC, and any potential contentious issues, or issues of urgency in the D4D Fund operations before they are brought to the SC as a whole.
  - When decisions are required of the SC outside of the meetings, the IMF is responsible for convening the decision of the SC, done by circulation of an email to SC members with information and the notification of a period of non-objection if applicable.
  - The Vice Chair assumes the role of Chair when the Chair is absent.

### A. Steering Committee — Decisions and Decision-Making Process
- Decisions:
  - SC’s decisions (including the endorsement of the work plan) are made by consensus.
  - In determining a consensus, each party entitled to have a representative on the SC shall have one voice, regardless of the number of its representatives in attendance.
  - If consensus is not possible, then the proposed decision is postponed or withdrawn.
  - The SC reserves the right to further define the decision-making process during the SC meetings.
- Decisions outside meetings:
  - When decisions are required of the SC outside of the meetings, such decisions shall be made by circulation of an e-mail to SC members with relevant information.
  - Lapse-of-time decision making period is 15 days but may be adjusted under special circumstances.

### A. Steering Committee — Meetings and Observers
- Meetings:
  - The SC meets in person or by videoconference annually (usually in June).
  - The SC also meets virtually halfway in the year (usually in January) to take stock of progress in the implementation of the work plan and provide necessary guidance.
  - The Chair may also convene meetings on an ad hoc basis.
  - The SC approves the minutes of SC meetings, prepared by the IMF.
- Observers:
  - Observers may be invited to participate in the SC meetings on a case-by-case basis, at the invitation of the SC.
  - The SC decides which observers may be invited, and which part of the SC meeting the observer(s) will attend.

### B. Work Plan — Preparation and Changes
- Preparation:
  - An 18-month work plan is distributed three weeks before the relevant SC meeting.
- Endorsements and thresholds:
  - The SC endorses:
    - changes to objectives within a Module (for Modules 2, 3, 4, 5) and Sub-modules (for Modules 1 and 4).
    - the addition/removal of outcomes that result in Module/Sub-module budget changes of more than 25 percent.
  - For changes within the thresholds above (including changes to the budget only of less than 25 percent), notification is provided to the SC at the next reporting point.

- Footnote guidance (preserved text):
  - "Thresholds stated above are measured against the last endorsed proposal/budget/duration (i.e., multiple changes within the limits cannot stretch beyond the threshold)."
  - "This corresponds with the internal controls at the “Funding Program” level, which in case of the D4D Fund can be modules (Module 2-Financial Access Survey; Module 3-Online learning; Module 5-Environmental and Climate Change Statistics), or submodules (Module 1-External Sector Statistics; Module 1-Fiscal and Debt Reporting; Module 1-Real Sector Statistics; Module 4-Data Standards; Module 4-SDMX; Module 4-Data Use)."

### C. Reporting
- The IMF provides an annual report on the D4D Fund activities to the SC.
- The IMF provides Technical Assistance Reports (TARs) and High-Level Summaries (HLS) on the Partners Connect platform to which all Contributors to the D4D Fund are authorized to access.

### D. Evaluation
- As per the Terms and Conditions of the D4D Subaccount, the activities financed under the D4D Fund are subject to an external, independent evaluation.
- The SC shall endorse the terms of reference and methodology to be used in the independent evaluation.

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_Source: https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/capacity-developement/d4d/data-for-decisions-fund-operational-guidelines.pdf_