The decade long economic crisis in Zimbabwe (1998-2008) resulted in the collapse of many essential social services and the Transition Funding Modality (TFM) mechanism was designed to channel vital donor support to these services. The fund mechanism is a modified version of pooled funding, in which non-earmarked funds from several donors are pooled and managed jointly under government stewardship by the government, the donors and UNICEF to fund government strategic sector plans, but with the financial management done through UNICEF systems. Over the last five years UNICEF has managed three of these transition funds in health, education development and child protection.

Mokoro provided a team led by Principal Consultant Alta Folscher to comparatively assess the TFM over similar pooled funding mechanisms and to ascertain its relevance to the Zimbabwe context as well as its efficiency and effectiveness in delivering sustainable results.

The assessment consisted of a review of the strengths and weaknesses of the TFM and its comparative advantages, as well as of the implications for UNICEF as the fund manager. Recommendations were made to improve the design and implementation of the TFM. The assignment involved a data collection mission to Zimbabwe in October 2014 which included an initial presentation of preliminary findings to UNICEF and government stakeholders.