Any data or information, regardless of its form or medium, which is or has been electronically generated by, transmitted via, received by, processed by, or represented in an ICT resource.
A room or a set of rooms along with wiring closets where working equipment used to deliver ICT systems and infrastructure is sited (e.g. server room, UPS room, LAN closet, etc).
A set of ICT systems, communications cabling, and power supplies along with environmental support like equipment racks or cooling system installed in the ICT facility of the corresponding office or reasonably close to it.
An employee or contractor who is responsible according to the terms of reference for planning, architecting, deploying, maintaining supporting and improving overall ICT infrastructure and its components in the corresponding office.
ICT resource: any tangible or intangible asset capable of generating, transmitting, receiving, processing, or representing data in electronic form, where the asset is owned, licensed, operated, managed, or made available by, or otherwise used by, the United Nations;
Hardware, software and firmware of computers, telecommunications and network equipment or other electronic information handling systems and associated equipment. ICT systems include any equipment or interconnected systems or subsystems of equipment that are used in the acquisition, storage, manipulation, management, movement, control, display, switching, interchange, transmission or reception of data/information. [ISO/IEC 24762:2008]
The management and delivery of project activities to achieve specified results including the procurement and delivery of UNDP project activity inputs and their use in producing outputs, as set forth in a signed document, the Annual Work Plan, between UNDP and the Implementing Partner.
According to Article 17 of UNDP’s financial regulations, an implementing partner is “the entity to which the Administrator has entrusted the implementation of UNDP assistance specified in a signed document along with the assumption of full responsibility and accountability for the effective use of UNDP resources and the delivery of outputs, as set forth in such document.
The Independent Evaluation Office is a functionally independent unit within UNDP that supports the oversight and accountability functions of the Executive Board and the management of UNDP, UNCDF and UNV. The structural independence of the Office underpins and guarantees its freedom to conduct evaluations and report evaluation results to the Executive Board. The main role of Office is to conduct independent evaluations according to the plans and costed programmes of work approved by the Executive Board.
The costs incurred by the organization in support of programmes or projects that cannot be directly attributed to such specific programmes or projects.
An individual contractor is an individual engaged by the Organization from time to time under a temporary contract to provide expertise, skills or knowledge for the performance of a specific task or piece of work, which would be short-term by nature, against the payment of an all-inclusive fee. The work assignment may involve full-time or part-time functions similar to those of staff members, such as the provision of translation, editing, language training, public information, secretarial or clerical and part-time maintenance services or other functions that could be performed by staff. An individual contractor need not work on United Nations premises.
A formal declaration following the decision of the CPO that a Respondent is ineligible for a period of time to (a) be awarded and/or partake in contracts financed, administered or executed by UNDP, (b) conduct new business with UNDP as an agent or representative of other vendors, (c) partake in having discussions with UNDP regarding new contracts. Exceptionally, the ineligibility may be permanent.
The Ineligibility List is a central roster, hosted and maintained confidentially by the United Nations Global Marketplace (UNGM) as a protected electronic document that aggregates information provided by each participating entity, including UNDP. Vendors that are subject to sanctions that affect their eligibility, pursuant to sanctions proceedings, shall be entered into the Ineligibility List for a term starting upon notification of the CPO’s decision and ending once they are deemed to be rehabilitated. The Ineligibility List shall have restricted access, and shall not be published or otherwise distributed.
A Vendor who has been debarred by UNDP, and either (1) is the subject of a current period of debarment; or (2) has not requested to be reinstated as an active Vendor via a request for rehabilitation.
In general, raw data that (1) has been verified to be accurate and timely, (2) is specific and organized for a purpose, (3) is presented within a context that gives it meaning and relevance, and which (4) leads to increase in understanding and decrease in uncertainty. The value of information lies solely in its ability to affect a behavior, decision, or outcome. [www.businessdictionary.com]
Information Technology Infrastructure are the components required to operate and manage enterprise IT environments, which includes hardware, software, networking components, an operating system (OS), and data storage, all of which are used to deliver IT services and solutions.
Innovation challenges are defined as prized challenges that Business Units (Country Offices) organize to solicit innovative ideas and solutions to address development challenges which cannot be achieved through traditional solicitation processes.
Innovation challenges solicit ideas and solutions to address development challenges. Innovation challenges: (a) often include stakeholders who are not necessarily affected by the development challenge, but well placed to develop solutions, including private sector actors; (b) typically limit themselves to the generation or testing of ideas, but not their implementation; (c) can be awarded directly by the head of office for grants up to $40,000 without further review. See the policy on innovation challenges. 29. Innovation challenges can be done in projects directly implemented by UNDP or when UNDP provides support services to national implementation (COS services). Low-value grants can be used in parallel to other engagement types with responsible parties or as part of a dedicated grant project.
Inputs are the personnel (including staff, service contract holders, UN Volunteers and consultants), goods, services, partnerships and low-value grants required to produce planned outputs. Inputs are obtained on the basis of the project workplan and the corresponding budget. Where the progress towards planned outputs is not advancing as expected, the project board should review the strategy of the project, including the workplan, budget and inputs.
Covers the estimates as approved by the Executive Board relating to the activities and associated costs in the cost categories of development effectiveness, United Nations Development Coordination, management and special purpose.
Institutional effectiveness projects manage inputs and activities that enable UNDP to contribute to development results. This type of project does not require a project document and can operate on a continuing basis. An annual workplan and budget must be prepared and approved by staff with appropriate delegation of authority
Instructions to Offerors/Proposers – the complete set of documents which provides Offerors/Proposers with all information needed and procedures to be followed in the course of preparing their Offer/Proposal.
Intangible Assets are the non-physical items of value that UNDP owns. The defining characteristics of an Intangible Asset are the lack of physical existence (cannot be touched), and having no set monetary value. They cannot be seen or touched, but are nonetheless important to UNDP’s success. Intangible Assets may be internally generated, such as internally developed software, or acquired from external sources e.g. goodwill (which may not apply to UNDP), or brand name e.g. If UNDP uses a reputable trademark in implementing one of its projects.
The primary inter-agency mechanism for the HACT framework at HQ level is the HACT Advisory Committee. It serves in an advisory capacity only, providing inter-agency policy advice, technical guidance and support to agencies implementing the HACT framework. The committee consists of individuals from finance and programme units from the various agencies.
A temporary suspension of a Vendor’s eligibility to participate in new procurement processes, as further described in paragraph 66 of the Vendor Sanctions Policy to protect UNDP’s interests pending the completion of either an investigation into Proscribed Practices or the VRC process. Interim suspensions are internal measures that are not reported on the UNGM.
Internal audit report means the final report resulting from an audit signed by the Director of the Office of Audit and Investigations and issued to the Administrator and the auditees for their consideration and for the implementation of recommendations. The report is also provided to the UN Board of Auditors.
Internal control is a process, effected by a governing body, management or other personnel of an organization, designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the achievement of objectives in the categories of (i) effectiveness and efficiency of operations, (ii) reliability of financial reporting, and (iii) compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
The Internal Control Framework covers key control factors such as planning, monitoring, communication, policies, procedures, segregation of duties, individual authorities and accountabilities that combined, inter alia: safeguard assets from inappropriate use and loss from fraud and error; help ensure the quality of internal and external reporting, through the maintenance of proper records and information flows; facilitate compliance with applicable laws, regulations and internal policies.
The International Personnel Services Agreement (“IPSA”) is a legal instrument established by the United Nations Development Programme in order to engage the services of individuals to provide a time-limited service to UNDP under a services-based contract. This new modality has two key objectives: On the one hand, it aims to provide UNDP with a comprehensive, flexible and cost-effective contractual framework which responds to project- and programme-based, as well as operational and administrative, requirements. On the other, the IPSA will at the same time provide for attractive, stable and fair conditions of employment which ensure that UNDP is able to attract, select and retain the services of high-quality individuals. Individuals engaged under this instrument have the status of International Personnel Service Agreement Holders, and are specifically engaged in recognition of their skills and expertise, to provide identified deliverables. These individuals are not UNDP staff members, but are considered affiliate personnel and, as such are not governed by or subject to the United Nations’ Staff Regulations and Rules. Nor is this contract modality governed by national legislation in countries where UNDP operates. Given that the services covered by the IPSA may only be provided by natural and not legal persons (e.g., duly formed/registered companies), and by non-incorporated partnerships, the IPSA falls within the overall scope of UNDP Human Resource management framework.
The purpose of the Internship programme is to provide students and recent graduates from diverse academic backgrounds exposure to development issues and a first-hand experience with the day-to-day working environment of UNDP.
Inventory in transit is en-route goods purchased that are in the ownership of UNDP but in the possession of the carrier. The inventory in transit that is owned by UNDP (based on INCOTERMS 2020) must be recorded as inventories. Therefore, it is very important to determine the ownership of inventory items in transit based on respective INCOTERMS 2020.
The process of planning and conducting appropriate lines of inquiry to determine the factual basis of allegations, and, if substantiated, assembling a dossier of evidence to permit a decision at a later stage as to whether formal charges of misconduct should be made against a staff member, or, whether the case should be closed.
is any person who is not the investigation subject but who cooperates with an investigation, for instance by being interviewed or by providing information. Investigation participants may be staff members cooperating pursuant to Staff Regulation 1.2 (r) and Staff Rule 1.2 (c), or non-staff and third persons who provide relevant information.
A member of the Office of Audit and Investigations (OAI) or a person authorised by OAI to conduct an investigation related to cases of allegations of wrongdoing. An investigator may also be a person authorised directly by the Secretary-General or the Administrator in certain cases, to conduct an investigation into allegations of wrongdoing.
An invitation to bid is used to procure goods or works valued at US $200,000 or more. It does not require prospective bidders to specify the manner of production, technical approaches or management/supervision of required activities. The invitation to bid only requests details on costs to meet precise specifications for goods. The method may also be used in procuring construction works or services that can be quantitatively and qualitatively defined.
ITM COE refers to the ITM Digital Corporate Platforms Application Center of Excellence (CoE), which is the ITM Center tasked with provision of advice to Country Offices and Business Units on applications development.
The purpose of the safe driving bonus (SDB) is to financially compensate drivers with an additional one week’s net salary at the end of each year for performing accident-free and safe driving functions on a regular basis, subject to the following conditions: a) The driver has worked for the UNDP office since 1 January of that year; b) The driver has not been involved in any automobile accident considered to be his/her fault during the entire year; c) The driver has not been convicted of any traffic violation, such as reckless driving or going through a red traffic light, during the year. At the discretion of the Resident Representative, fines for improper parking need not be considered as a traffic violation for this purpose.
The purpose of a within-grade salary increment from one step to the next higher step within the established salary scale is to award a staff member an increase in salary for satisfactory performance and conduct during a qualifying period. The qualifying period is one year, except for movement to longevity steps as specified in the respective salary scale. For staff at or above P-2 step 12, P-3 step 14, P-4 step 13, P-5 step 11, D-1 step 5, and all steps at D-2, the qualifying period is two years. Award of the increment is subject to confirmation of the staff member’s satisfactory performance in his/ her assignments and conduct as evaluated by his/her supervisor(s) and documented in UNDP’s performance evaluation mechanism; and to the existence of a higher step within the staff member’s current grade in the respective salary scale.
An administrative determination, including any measures or rehabilitative requirements, as determined and applied by the CPO as a result of a Vendor being involved in Proscribed Practices. Potential sanctions include: censure, debarment, other possible sanctions.
The document included in this ITB which lists the goods required by UNDP, their specifications, the related services, activities, tasks to be performed, and other information pertinent to UNDP’s receipt and acceptance of the goods.
Scheduled audit: These refer to systematic and independent examination of data, statements, records, operations and performances of a partner. A scheduled audit is either an internal control audit which is conducted for Partners which are rated “Low” risk and “Medium” risk or a financial audit which should be conducted for all other Partners including non-assessed Partners.
Secondment: Movement of a staff member from one organization to another for a fixed period, normally not exceeding two years, during which the staff member will normally be paid by and be subject to the staff regulations and rules of the receiving organization, but will retain his or her rights of employment in the releasing organization. The period of secondment may be extended for a further fixed period by agreement among all the parties concerned. Secondments are generally granted with a general lien to the organization.
Refers to the financial contribution to a government budget, managed in a national account by a government entity for a specific set of sector or programme results.
It is mandatory for United Nations system personnel and eligible family members to obtain security clearance for all official travel, regardless of location, and they cannot commence official travel without obtaining it except in compelling cases, where insufficient time is available such as during periods requiring immediate medical evacuation or other life-threatening situation. For the purpose of this policy, official travel includes official home leave or other entitlement travel where the cost of travel is borne by organizations of the United Nations system. This applies regardless of whether official travel is undertaken by air, sea, land, or any combination thereof.
The senior most UNDP staff member at the country level (typically the RR) will represent UNDP at the Security Management Team (SMT). The next most senior UNDP staff member should be appointed as an alternate SMT member for periods when the RR is performing the functions of Designated Official (DO)6 ad interim or away on leave. Members of the SMT are responsible for supporting the DO in discharging their mandate related to the safety and security of all UN personnel, premises and assets.
Segregation of duties is anchored in UNDP financial regulation 20.02 and is a keystone control that helps UNDP safeguard its assets and mitigate the risk of fraud and error. Segregation of duties is based on ensuring that no one staff member can: (i) have custody of assets; (ii) authorize and approve the use of assets; and (iii) record and report assets.
UNDP selects one implementing partner for each project in consultation with the government coordinating agency. This is also the case for project portfolios; one implementing partner is selected for each project within the portfolio, while more than one implementing partner can be part of a portfolio (directly and nationally implemented projects may be part of the same portfolio). In multi-country and South-South projects, one implementing partner can be selected per country.
For UN Agencies who do not use Quantum (the “non-Quantum Agencies”), a dedicated Service Clearing Account (SCA) is established for each Agency. Through the SCA, all global prefunding received from UN Agencies are recorded, and all services provided by UNDP Offices to these UN Agencies are recorded. A dedicated Service Clearing Account is not applicable to Quantum Agencies (UNFPA, UN Women, UNU, UNCDF, UNV, UNITAR).
The service contract (SC) is a modality for hiring individuals under a non-staff contract. The SC is a decentralized contracting instrument, which is cost effective and flexible for use only by UNDP country offices and regional centres outside of Headquarters. The SC is not for use in HQ duty stations and Liaison Offices e.g. New York, Geneva, London, Madrid, Montreal, Paris, Rome, Vienna, Brussels, Copenhagen, Geneva, Tokyo and Washington. Payment under the SC is based on services satisfactorily provided in accordance with the terms of reference under the SC. The payment terms can be based on (i) all-inclusive lump-sum monthly payments, where cash payments are included for pre-existing social security as described in the Section on Social Security Arrangements below or (ii) monthly remuneration with provision of a local social security scheme where applicable and legally feasible.
The entire scope of tasks and deliverables requested by UNDP under an RFP, or the scope of tasks related or ancillary to the completion or delivery of the goods, as required by UNDP under the ITB or RFQ.
The purpose of the settling-in grant is to provide eligible staff members reasonable financial support for relocation on initial appointment or reassignment to a new duty station. It is the total compensation payable by the Organization towards costs incurred by the eligible staff member and his or her family members as a result of an appointment or reassignment involving relocation, as well as any pre-departure expenses that the staff member may incur as a result. The settling-in grant enters into force on 1 July 2016, and replaces the former Assignment Grant which is discontinued as of that date. 3. The grant consists of two elements: a) a Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) portion; b) a lump-sum portion
For the purposes of the present bulletin, the term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another.
Refers to all forms of inappropriate conduct of a sexual nature committed by an employee, officer, adviser, or representative of a vendor, with the knowledge of that Vendor.
Sexual Harassment is a form of harassment and is any unwelcome sexual advance, request for sexual favour, verbal or physical conduct or gesture of a sexual nature, or any other behaviour of a sexual nature that has or that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offense or humiliation. Sexual harassment may result in an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment or is made a condition of employment. Sexual harassment normally implies a series of incidents. However, a one-time incident could fall within the definition of sexual harassment if it has an unambiguously offensive sexual character. Staff members with any gender identity can be either the injured party or the offender.
Shortcuts limit time for bidding and inappropriate issue expressions of interest or requests to quote. Risks of fraud rise dramatically, as both suppliers and UNDP personnel act on insufficient information. This is a critical risk especially in emergency situations.
Staff members who are unable to perform their duties due to illness or injury, or whose attendance is prevented by public health requirements, may be granted sick leave under United Nations Staff Rule 6.2 and in accordance with the provisions of this policy document. For sick leave specifically related to injury or illness that is considered to be attributable to the performance of official duties on behalf of UNDP, in addition to the relevant provision of the Sick Leave policy document, Appendix D of the UN Staff Rules applies. Staff members are responsible for informing their supervisors and HR focal points/leave monitors promptly of absence due to injury or illness to enable timely entry into the UNALL HR e-Services module. Certified sick leave will be granted only on the basis of a medical certificate or report from a medical practitioner licensed to practice where the certificate or report is issued, except in cases of uncertified sick leave as detailed in paragraphs 6 and 7.
Signatories are staff who have been designated by the Treasurer to operate UNDP bank accounts. The Signatory Panel for any UNDP bank account is made up of those individuals designated by the Treasurer or under the delegated authority, by the Resident Representative to operate that UNDP bank account.
The signatory is a person who can be uniquely identified and linked to an electronic signature and who has the sole control over the password-authentication key related to the electronic signature. An electronic signature can only be attributed to the person that owns and places the electronic signature in a record and is not attached to the function occupied by the signatory at the time of the placing of the signature. Since the electronic signature is personal, it cannot be shared.
We can define significant purchases as those that are of high relative expenditure and/or for which supply is difficult to secure. The relative expenditure of goods and services is defined as their cost relative to the total purchasing expenditure of the business unit or agency. For UNDP, a transaction of 100,000 USD or more is considered a significant purchase.
UNDP programmes and projects adhere to the objectives and requirements of the Social and Environmental Standards (SES). The SES objectives are to: (a) strengthen the quality of programming by ensuring a principled approach; (b) maximize social and environmental opportunities and benefits; (c) avoid adverse impacts to people and the environment; (d) minimize, mitigate, and manage adverse impacts where avoidance is not possible; (e) strengthen UNDP and partner capacities for managing social and environmental risks; and (f) ensure full and effective stakeholder engagement, including through a mechanism to respond to complaints from project-affected people.
A staff member (other than a TA) who is temporarily (i.e. for a period not exceeding one year) assigned to a higher level post, or is temporarily required to perform higher level functions while remaining on his/her current post may be granted a non-pensionable Special Post Allowance (SPA) after completion of 3 months of continuous service at the higher level functions, subject to confirmation in writing by the supervisor that the staff member is indeed performing at the higher level. The reason for the three-month grace period is that, from time to time and as part of their normal duties, staff may be expected to temporarily assume higher level functions (during periods of absence, for instance). However, (i) when a staff member is temporarily assigned to a post more than one level above their personal grade or to a different category or (ii) when the temporary assignment is in a D or E hardship category, SPA may be granted by the supervisor with immediate effect and will not have to wait three months provided that the supervisor confirms that the staff member is performing all the responsibilities attached to the higher position.
Categories of costs of a cross-cutting nature that (a) involve material capital
investments, or (b) do not represent a cost related to the management activities of the organization.
Periodic on-site reviews (spot checks) are performed to assess the accuracy of the financial records for cash transfers to the IP and the status of programme implementation (through a review of financial information), and to determine whether there have been any significant changes to internal controls. The spot check is not an audit hence, the extent of expenditure testing is generally lower than what would be undertaken during an audit. Spot checks should be completed prior to the operational and financial closure of the project to ensure supporting documents are still available for review and any adjustments required in Quantum are made.