46 . MOPAN 2017-18 ASSESSMENTS . UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES IN THE NEAR EAST The 2011 MOPAN assessment identified a number of strengths and areas for improvement (Box 3). Box 3: Main strengths and areas for improvement from the MOPAN 2011 assessment Strengths in 2011 l Strategic leadership for organisational renewal; embarked on an ambitious process of organisational development. l Operational management that reflects adherence to humanitarian principles and efforts being made in linking aid management and performance, and various aspects of financial management. l The capacity to manage relationships with a variety of actors and to adjust working procedures promptly to respond to changing circumstances and emergency situations. l An increasing emphasis on evaluation, and the evaluation function has been made more independent. l Considerable progress in becoming a more performance-oriented organisation; the MTS 2010-15 introduces key strategies to achieve the mandate enabled by corporate- and field-level results frameworks that incorporate thematic priorities. l Reforms initiated, namely in results-based budgeting and human resources management, and designed to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of its operations. Areas for improvement in 2011 l The use of performance information in field-level programme planning and making adjustments as needs arise. l  The quality and coverage of evaluations and instituting a follow-up mechanism to ensure that evaluation recommendations are enacted. l A policy position on results-based management and improved phrasing of results statements and selection of indicators. l Mechanisms for delegated decision-making authority and responsibility to fields of operations. l The implementation of existing policies that are supportive of moves towards more performance-oriented human resources management. l Reporting performance through clear links between outputs and outcomes. l The capturing and sharing of UNRWA’s knowledge with a variety of stakeholders through improved evaluation, more tailored reporting to its different audiences and dissemination of lessons learned. l Within the budgeting system, linking disbursements with reported results. Between MOPAN’s previous assessment in 2011 and this assessment, UNRWA undertook a number of significant reforms. UNRWA’s mandate – to provide relief, human development and protection to Palestine refugees – remains vitally important. Progress has been made across all four of the performance areas, although the organisation still faces a number of operational and contextual challenges that are compounded by its ongoing and increasingly challenging financial situation. The 2011 MOPAN assessment was completed towards the beginning of the period of UNRWA’s first Medium Term Strategy. It found that strategic management was one of UNRWA’s strengths and that the Agency had made considerable progress in becoming a more performance-oriented organisation. UNRWA continues on a positive trajectory of improving organisational performance, with an approach to strategic and performance management that is maturing. As the previous assessment highlighted, the Agency maintains