Glossary | United Nations Development Programme

Rank-in-post is a system by which staff are graded and paid for their expected contribution. Rank-in-post means that a serving staff member who is competitively selected for a post classified and budgeted at a higher level, for an expected period of one year or longer, is automatically promoted to that higher level immediately upon assumption of the higher level duties. There are no qualifying periods and no seniority requirements and no promotion bodies to recommend approval. Only candidates meeting the pre-defined requirements for a post as per the job description can be selected. Rank-in-post is based on standardized classification of jobs and transparent recruitment and selection processes, with oversight exercised by the relevant Compliance Review Bodies i.e. Compliance Review Board (CRB) or Compliance Review Panel (CRP) . Hiring units will be responsible for strictly complying with the corporate procedures on classification, recruitment, reassignment and selection, to ensure that only candidates with “the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity” as required by the Charter of the United Nations and who possess the right skills, experience and competencies required for the properly classified and budgeted posts are selected.

Source: Rank-in-Post

DAP can be used on all means of transport. The seller clears the goods for export when the goods are placed at the disposal of the buyer on the arriving means of transport and the goods are ready for unloading at the named place of the destination. All risks to that point are for the account of the seller. The Buyer must pay costs of unloading and import formalities.

The Receipt date is the date when the goods have arrived at the specified place, whether they are unloaded from the forwarder’s truck, vessel or other means of transport. This is the date at which the ownership for the goods procured is transferred to UNDP.

Source: Receipt of Goods, Services and Works

The FOB is commonly used in the sale of bulk commodity cargo such as oil, grains and ore. In FOB, the seller clears the goods for export and is responsible for the costs and risks of delivering the goods on the ship at the named port. Carriage to be arranged by the buyer. Buyer pays for the cost of pre-shipment inspection, except if the inspections are required by the country of export. The Buyer pays all costs associated with securing documentation originating in the country of export as required for import. The Receipt date is the date when the goods are placed on board the vessel, because on that date the risk is transferred from the supplier to UNDP

Source: Receipt of Goods, Services and Works

Reconciliation is the accounting process used to compare at least two sets of records to ensure the figures are in agreement and are accurate. Given that the Intangible Assets data will be initiated in one module and ultimately recorded in the Quantum Asset Module as well as the General Ledger Account, there will be a need to reconcile the data and information in the three modules.

Source: Intangible Assets : Amortizations, Reconciliations, Reports and Centralized Functions

An overpayment that creates a debt to the Organization on the part of the staff member will normally be recovered immediately by means of deductions from salaries, wages, and other emoluments payable under the UN Staff Regulations and UN Staff Rules. However, the HR Specialist or the Resident Representative, as the case may be, may agree with the staff member who has received overpayments on: a) Alternative means of repaying the amount due, such as payment by bank transfer, bank cheque or personal cheque from the staff member; or b) Recovery in monthly instalments subject to the contract expiry date of the staff member; or c) Other methods of recovery at the disposal of the Organization.

Source: Recovery of Overpayments

The designated process in a particular case, through which a Vendor that has been Sanctioned regains its eligibility status and the particular entry related to a specific case is updated on UNDP and the UNGM Ineligibility Lists. This only affects Sanctions issued by UNDP, and not any sanction that may be issued at any given time by another Agency.

Source: Vendor Sanctions

The purpose of the rental subsidy scheme is to facilitate the settlement of new staff members and to encourage mobility within the UN Common System. It subsidizes the rental costs of eligible staff members whose rental accommodations are of a reasonable standard but cost significantly more than the average for the duty station. There are two different types of rental subsidy: one for staff members serving in Europe and North America and another for staff members serving outside Europe and North America.

Source: Rental Subsidy

Reporting is an important accountability function. It draws on data and analysis collected through monitoring and communicates updates on results, risks, quality, learning and operational performance to oversight mechanisms, funding partners and other stakeholders. Reporting is a key input to decision-making at all levels as it provides information required to adjust programming to ensure results are achieved. To this end, reports must capture lessons learned on what worked and what didn’t work and explain how data and learning were used to adjust course or inform other interventions.

Source: Report

The Assistant Administrator and Director of the Bureau of Management authorizes the establishment of a reasonable representation allowance for certain UNDP staff who have extensive outside representation functions. Representation allowances are provided following appropriate authorization directly into the salary of the staff member concerned because these staff members often incur considerable miscellaneous personal expenses in connection with their representational responsibilities (e.g. ad-hoc refreshments, tea, coffee, transportation, gratuities, greeting cards, flowers and other symbolic gifts to hosts, local phone calls etc.).

Source: Hospitality Expense

A request for quotation is used to procure readily available goods, services or works, or any combination thereof. A written request with a clearly described requirement is sent to a vendor, soliciting a written price quotation. A request for quotation is mandatory for contract values ranging from US $5,000 ($10,000 if approved by the Bureau) to US $200,000. Beyond this amount, requests for proposals or invitations to bid must be used.

Source: Procurement Methods

a) MAY – This word, or the adjective "OPTIONAL", mean that an item is truly optional. b) MUST – This word, or the terms "REQUIRED" or "SHOULD", mean that the definition is an absolute requirement of the standard. c) MUST NOT – This phrase, or the phrase "SHALL NOT", mean that the definition is an absolute prohibition of the standard. d) SHOULD – This word, or the adjective "RECOMMENDED", mean that there may exist valid reasons in particular circumstances to ignore a particular item, but the full implications should be understood and carefully weighed before choosing a different course. e) SHOULD NOT – This phrase, or the phrase "NOT RECOMMENDED" mean that there may exist valid reasons in particular circumstances when the particular behavior is acceptable or even useful, but the full implications should be understood and the case carefully weighed before implementing any behavior described with this label.

Source: Information Classification and Handling

Any organization that is legally constituted and duly registered may become a responsible party for a UNDP project where UNDP is the implementing partner or providing country office support to the implementing partner (and that support involves contracting a responsible party for certain activities). This includes government agencies, intergovernmental organizations, private firms, other UN agencies, or civil society organizations, including non-governmental organizations, advocacy groups, state-owned enterprises and academia.

Source: Select Responsible Parties and Grantees

Any organization that is legally constituted and duly registered may become a responsible party for a UNDP project where UNDP is the implementing partner or providing country office support to the implementing partner (and that support involves contracting a responsible party for certain activities). This includes government agencies, intergovernmental organizations, private firms, other UN agencies, or civil society organizations, including non-governmental organizations, advocacy groups, state-owned enterprises and academia. The same policies and procedures for selecting civil society organizations as Responsible Parties are used for private and non-governmental academic institutions and foundations (notwithstanding their form of ownership, i.e., public or private) and state-owned enterprises.

Source: Select Responsible Parties and Grantees

Rest and Recuperation (R&R) is provided to alleviate stress and promote the health and wellbeing of staff assigned to designated locations. R&R is neither additional annual leave nor financial compensation or incentive for the hardship of the duty station; rather it is an investment in productivity and wellness for those assigned to dangerous and stressful duty stations where regular absences from the stressful location is a necessary form of stress relief.

Source: Rest and Recuperation

Retaliation is any direct or indirect detrimental action recommended, threatened or taken against an individual because that individual engaged in a “Protected Activity” as defined in the UNDP Policy for Protection against Retaliation. Interim and permanent protective measures may also be implemented to ensure the victim of retaliation is shielded from current or future threats or acts of retribution. However, the legitimate application of regulations, rules or administrative policies, issuances or procedures, or the mere expression of disagreement, admonishment, criticism or a similar expression regarding work performance, conduct or related issues within a supervisory or similar relationship, do not constitute Retaliation. Retaliation is itself a separate act of misconduct and a violation of the UNDP Policy for Protection against Retaliation.

Source: Protection against Retaliation , UNDP Legal Framework for Addressing Non-Compliance with UN Standards of Conduct

Revenue recognition is the process of recording revenue in the General Ledger (GL) accounts for eventual reporting in the UNDP financial statements. Under the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) revenue may be recorded before cash is received, however, spending by UNDP may only occur after cash is deposited into the respective UNDP bank accounts, in accordance with the UNDP FRRs.

Source: Non-Core Contributions

Adopted in 2014, it supersedes the previous framework adopted in 2005. The revised framework represents a shift from assurance for cash transfers derived from project level controls and audits towards a method of assurance derived from risk/system-based assessments and audits. In essence, it reaffirms a shift from a control-based to a risk-based management approach. The revised Framework provides added clarity on the integrated suite of assurance activities (financial audits, internal control audits, special audits, programming visits and spot checks) to be performed based on the results of macro and micro assessments.

Source: Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT)

The process, conducted by the RFP evaluation committee in HQ or a country office, with specific steps and procedures prescribed in the RFP for Banking Services and Guidelines to assess the type and quality of services offered by banks within a local environment. The objective of the RFP is to select a bank, among the banks that are evaluated, to provide banking services based on the business requirements of UNDP HQ and/or country offices and based on UNDP procurement principle of the best value for money.

Source: Procurement of Banking Services

The effect of uncertainty on organizational objectives, which could be either positive and / or negative (ISO 31000:2018). Risk is described as a ‘future event’, with its causes and its potential consequences. UNDP ERM is concerned with: • Institutional risk. Existing and emerging uncertainties that could facilitate or hinder the efficiency and effectiveness of core operations within the organization. • Programmatic risk. Existing and emerging uncertainties that could facilitate or hinder the realization of programme or project objectives. • Contextual risk. Existing and emerging uncertainties that could facilitate or hinder progress towards development priorities of a given society. ERM considers contextual risk when these external uncertainties also present institutional or programmatic risks. Note that some contextual risks may fall under established risk management practice and definitions that need to be considered (e.g. for climate and disaster risk).

Source: Enterprise Risk Management

A risk management tool that serves as a record of all risks across the organization, including at the project level, programme/unit level, and corporate level. For each risk identified, it includes the following information: risk ID, risk description (cause, event, consequences), likelihood, impact, significance level, risk category, risk owner, risk treatment action, risk escalation, and risk status.

Source: Enterprise Risk Management

Rotational positions are positions subject to rotation. They include positions that exist in multiple country offices, HQs Bureaux/offices and in global and regional offices/centres. Their profiles, in terms of functions, qualifications, experience, competencies, expected contribution, level of responsibility and outputs are generally similar to those of multiple positions across UNDP. All rotational positions are subject to an Annual Rotation Exercise (ARE), though rotational positions may also be filled outside of the ARE when vacant or when it is in the interest of UNDP to do so.

Source: Mobility

Policy Areas

Programme and Project Management

Crisis Response

Financial Resources Management

Human Resources Management

Procurement

Partnerships

Administrative Services

Accountability

Information and Communications Technology

Security

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