BOUT THE WFWO

About the WFWO Technical Review Panel Team  (TRPT)

The WFWO Technical Review Panel Team (TRPT) is an independent technical advisory panel established to support the Executive President  and WFWO Executive Board Directors (EBD) in assessing eligible programmes and grant proposals.

nowledge and experience in global development and proviThe TRPT brings together international experts with relevantdes independent technical assessment to support transparent, rigorous, and informed funding decisions.

A. TRPT Terms of Reference

1. Purpose and Responsibilities

To support WFWO in financing effective and sustainable programmes, the Executive Board Directors (EBD) relies on an independent panel of international experts with expertise in global development issues.

The Technical Review Panel Team (TRPT) reviews eligible grant and programme proposals with particular consideration to:

• Technical merit and soundness of the proposed approach
• Feasibility and implementation arrangements
• Potential for sustainability and long-term impact
• Economic and financial considerations
• Technical and institutional capacity
• Programme risks and appropriate mitigation measures
• Relevant cross-cutting development issues

Where applicable, the TRPT may also contribute to or review identification and appraisal missions, programme assessments, and negotiations.

Following its technical assessment, the TRPT provides recommendations to the WFWO Executive Board Directors (EBD) regarding proposals under consideration for funding.

The TRPT provides technical recommendations to the EBD; final funding decisions remain subject to the WFWO’s applicable governance, policies, procedures, and approval processes.

2. Composition and Appointment

The TRPT consists of a maximum of six (6) to twelve (12) experts.

Each expert is appointed by the EBD/Executive President (EP) Board for a term of one to two years, subject to the applicable WFWO appointment procedures.

The composition of the TRPT should provide an appropriate range of professional expertise relevant to WFWO’s programme and financing activities.

3. Areas of Expertise

The TRPT may include experts with experience in areas such as:

• Global development and international development programmes
• Economic and technical analysis
• Grant and programme administration
• Financial management and financing
• Sustainable development
• Social and economic development
• Programme design and implementation
• Monitoring and evaluation
• Institutional and organizational development
• Relevant cross-cutting development issues

In forming the Panel, consideration should also be given to gender balance, geographical and regional representation, and a diversity of sectoral and professional experience.

B. TRPT Recommendations

1. TRPT Review Report

Following its assessment, the TRPT provides its comments and recommendations in writing through a document entitled the TRPT Review Report.

The TRPT Review Report should identify the principal strengths and weaknesses of the proposal or programme and provide clear technical recommendations to the EBD.

The TRPT may use the following six categories of recommendations:

Category 1 — Recommended for Approval

Recommended for approval without changes, subject only to any minor clarifications that may be required.

Category 2 — Recommended for Approval Subject to Conditions

Recommended for approval, provided that specified clarifications, adjustments, or conditions are satisfactorily addressed within an agreed and limited timeframe.

Category 3 — Major Revision Required

Not recommended for approval in its present form, but the applicant may be encouraged to revise and resubmit the proposal following substantial technical or programme revisions.

Category 4 — Conditional Approval Recommendation

Recommendation for approval subject to specified conditions, with a clear statement of the requirements and recommendations that must be addressed within an agreed timeframe and in accordance with applicable WFWO policies, procedures, Terms of Reference, and conditions.

Category 5 — Recommendation to Proceed to Negotiations

Following review of relevant identification and appraisal mission reports, the TRPT may recommend that a programme proceed to the negotiation stage with the relevant applicant, including a country, NGO, CBO, community, or other eligible implementing entity.

Any such recommendation remains subject to the applicable WFWO approval and governance procedures.

Category 6 — Not Recommended

The proposal is not recommended for funding following the TRPT’s technical review.

C. Appeals Procedure

Where the EBD has rejected the same application following TRPT recommendations in two consecutive proposal rounds, the applicant may submit an appeal in accordance with the applicable WFWO appeals procedure.

The EBD shall review the appeal and determine the appropriate course of action. Where required under the applicable procedure, an independent Appeal Panel may be established to review the matter.

Grounds for Appeal

An appeal shall be limited to a significant and demonstrable error by the TRPT relating to material information contained in the applicant’s second submission.

The appeals process is not intended to replace the technical review process or to provide a general opportunity to challenge the TRPT’s professional assessment.

The final handling of an appeal shall be conducted in accordance with WFWO’s approved policies, procedures, governance requirements, and applicable Terms of Reference.

D. Independence and Professional Standards

TRPT members are expected to exercise independent professional judgment and to assess proposals objectively within their areas of expertise.

Members should disclose any actual, potential, or perceived conflict of interest and should not participate in the assessment of a proposal where their involvement could compromise, or reasonably appear to compromise, the independence of the review.

All TRPT activities shall be conducted with due regard to confidentiality, integrity, transparency, professional standards, and the applicable WFWO governance framework.

E. Relationship with the Executive President and WFWO Executive Board

The TRPT serves as a technical review and advisory body to the WFWO Executive Board Directors.

Its recommendations inform the EBD’s consideration of eligible proposals but do not, by themselves, constitute a final funding decision unless expressly authorized under WFWO’s governing framework.

The EBD retains responsibility for decisions within its approved authority and shall consider TRPT recommendations together with the applicable programme, financial, compliance, risk, and governance requirements.

View the Technical Review Panel Team