The language allowance (LA) is a monetary incentive meant to encourage staff members in the learning and use of the various official languages of the United Nations. The LA recognizes, through a cash payment, the proven ability to function, orally and in writing, in more than one official UN language.
In instances of collaborative procurement, or when more than one Agency is involved in a specific procurement action which results in allegations that the vendor has been involved in Proscribed Practices, the relevant Agencies will choose a “Lead Agency” to represent them all in data gathering and analysis, investigation, and the sanctions proceedings against the vendor. The Agencies involved shall decide amongst themselves which is to act as the Lead Agency for the particular case. The Lead Agency will normally be the Agency (a) most directly impacted by the vendor’s activities and the Proscribed Practice(s); and/or (b) with the most resources at its disposal. All involved Agencies will collaborate with the Lead Agency. The Lead Agency will apply its own regulations, rules, policies and procedures to its activities in this regard.
A Lease is “an agreement whereby the lessor (landlord) conveys to the lessee (UNDP) in return for a payment or series of payments the right to use an asset for an agreed period of time”.
Letter of transmittal contains payment instructions transcribed on UNDP letterhead; the letter is signed by two authorized signatories and delivered to the bank for execution.
The UNDP CO and/or the national government have adequate capacity to respond to the crisis but require only a one-time injection of additional support without any need for exceptional temporary measures at regional or corporate levels.
For situations that can be managed by the CO with some additional ad hoc support as needed from HQ. The CO manages all aspects of the response with the regular backstopping support arrangements from HQ.
The capacity of the UNDP CO and/or affected national government is inadequate without a significant scale-up of capacity to respond to the crisis. Any crisis that severely affects UNDP personnel or facilities will automatically be designated at least a Level 2 crisis.
For situations that require large-scale, day-to-day organizational support. The CO manages the response with expanded support from HQ in the form of a CB that directs the response, and the HQ SURGE Management Team that takes responsibility for day-to-day management of the support to the CO and reports to the CB.
The crisis significantly outstrips the capacity of the CO and/or the national government, requiring an exceptional level of corporate support, given the scale, complexity or urgency that may pose a serious reputational risk to the organization.
The difference between current assets and current liabilities. In the specific context of UNDP, this shall normally be taken to mean the sum of working capital and reserves.
The risk that an asset cannot be converted easily and rapidly into cash without a substantial loss of value. A security (i.e. investment) is deemed to be liquid if the spread between bid (buy side) and asked (sell side) prices is narrow and reasonable amounts of purchases and sales can occur at those prices.
Movement of a staff member from one organization to another for a limited period, normally not exceeding one year, during which the staff member will be subject to the administrative supervision of the receiving organization but will continue to be subject to the staff regulations and rules of the releasing organization. Depending on the agreement with the receiving organization, the receiving organization will either reimburse UNDP for all costs related to the loan or UNDP may agree to the loan being non-reimbursable, meaning that all costs related to the assignment are borne by UNDP. Loans for six months or will normally be granted with a specific lien to the position of the staff member. For longer periods approval is normally granted on a general lien basis
A.K.A. Non-standard ad-hoc services. Type of service for which cost recovery is required. Those services specific to a CO and requested by a UN Agency on an ad-hoc basis (not included in the UPL). Because the type and scope of service differ each time, these services cannot be standardized and need to be agreed on individually between the CO and the requesting UN Agency. The cost of these services is determined by the CO based on the True Hourly Cost Methodology. Costed locally based on local hour rates. The service fee for any non-standard services is be negotiated on an ad-hoc basis between each concerned UNDP country Office and the Agency receiving the service.
In addition to the standard services contained within the UPL, UNDP is often requested to provide additional services that are not standardized across different country offices or included in the UPL. As in the past the provision of ad hoc or non-standard services should be agreed upon locally, subject to capacity and pricing considerations in-country prior to the provision of services. To recover the full costs of these services, the UNDP Office can establish a Local Price List (LPL) for recurrent services, to be negotiated and agreed to locally by participating Agencies in advance of the service provision. A separate tool is available to facilitate local price formulation, the negotiation of which is the responsibility of the concerned UNDP office with the requesting agencies/UNCT. The cost drivers, as indicated under UPL above, should be reflected in the LPLs.
Low code is a software development method that allows colleagues to create fully featured applications with minimal coding. With low-code, non-technical users utilize visual point-and-click tools to build, modify and deploy custom software. At the same time, programmers and tech-savvy professionals can extend applications by injecting code. Microsoft PowerApps is an example of such Low Code development platform. Other low code platforms, namely Oracle VBCS, Salesforce APEX, and ServiceNow App Engine, which will be opened up to UNDP Business Units after Quantum implementation.
UNDP defines low-value grants (also known as micro-capital grants) as cash awards - selected via programmatic decisions - to civil society and non-governmental partners intended to generate and solicit development solutions for which no repayment is typically required.
Ultimate beneficial owner means a natural person that exercises control over an entity through direct or indirect ownership, or has other means of influencing the Bidder such as through financing, close family relationships with the owners of the Bidder or through holding key positions within the Bidder
Consistent with the mandate to provide services to entities of the UN system on request by a UN Entity, UNDP has an underlying responsibility to provide such services as long as the requested services and their provision are (i) consistent with the regulations, rules, policies and procedures1, and aims of UNDP, such as progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, and (ii) the requesting UN Entity agrees to pay the related costs for the provision of the services and remain financially responsible for such services.
The United Nations Board of Auditors (BoA) was established in 1946 by the General Assembly and is comprised of the Heads of the Supreme Audit Institutions from three Member States. The Board certifies the UN accounts, its funds and programmes (including UNDP), and provides reports covering a wide array of financial, managerial and value-for-money audits. The overarching goal of the Board is to use the unique perspective of public external audit to both aid the General Assembly in holding UN entities accountable for the use of public resources, and add value by identifying ways to improve the delivery of international public services.
Air charter agreements refer to a contractual arrangement between an air operator and an organization employing its aircraft, crew and other necessary personnel for the sole purpose of providing short-term or long-term air transport services.
The technical support unit for the UNDG which provides the link between UNDG discussions at HQ and the work of the UN development systems at country level.
Provide guidance on the required standards of efficiency, competence and integrity of staff members in discharging their responsibilities as well as guidance on disciplinary procedures that may be instituted against a staff member who fails to comply with his or her obligations and the standards of conduct set out in the Staff Regulations and Rules, the Financial Regulations and Rules and all administrative instructions.
The document which sets forth the UN’s expectations for all suppliers that are registered with the UNDP or with whom it does business. These principles apply to suppliers and their employees, parent, subsidiary or affiliate entities, and subcontractors.
In the absence of a dedicated UNDP Field Security Specialist (FSS), NSO or COSA, the senior most UNDP representative at the country level, in consultation with the UNDP Security Office, must appoint a UNDP Agency Country Security Focal Point (ACSFP)7 to assist them in managing the day to day security related matters of UNDP. The person identified must hold a UNDP Fixed Term Contract and be at the appropriate level of seniority and experience to perform the security related responsibilities on behalf of the senior most UNDP representative.
UNDP Field Security Specialists/National Security Officers/Country Office Security Associates are security professionals hired internationally or locally to advise UNDP and to be responsible for the security aspects of activities which are specific to UNDP. These positions are funded at the country-level. UNDP Field Security Specialists (FSS), and National Security Officers (NSOs) and Country Office Security Associates (COSAs) in the absence of an FSS, are accountable and responsible to the senior most UNDP representative at the country level (typically the RR), though they may report directly to the second most senior UNDP staff member for day to day activities when this responsibility has been delegated by the senior most UNDP representative at the country level. They will receive policy and technical guidance and support from the UNDP Security Office, through the Regional Security Advisor or the Sub-Regional Security Specialists, as applicable. At the same time, they are responsible for supporting the DO under the coordination of the CSA/PSA/SA.
UNDP Regional Security Advisors are security professionals hired to advise UNDP Regional Bureaus and to be responsible for the security aspects of activities which are specific to UNDP in their respective regions. UNDP RSAs are accountable to the UNDP Director of the Security Office, and at the same time are responsible to support the Director of the particular Regional Bureau.. Reporting to the UNDP Director of the Security Office, the RSA will focus on providing field security support to UNDP Offices. The RSA will liaise directly with the Regional Bureau and senior most UNDP representative at the country level on security related issues.. In some regions, the size of the region, or specific security concerns will lead the UNDP Security Office to appoint Sub-Regional Security Specialists. Such appointments will be made in consultation with Regional Bureaus. Sub-Regional Security Specialists will report to the Regional Security Advisor.
Resources credited to the UNDP Regular Resources Account or Other Resources Account and therefore excludes resources credited to the UNDP Funds Account.
The Security Management Group (SMG) is the strategic-level entity at UNDP HQ charged with providing oversight to UNDP’s security mechanisms during normal operations and acting as the decision making and leadership body during emergency or crisis events at headquarters. The SMG is accountable to the Administrator and is integrated as a component of the overall UNDP Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Framework.
UNDP provides support services upon request from the implementing partner, for activities within the project document or/and annual work plan (see overview section POPP NIM Finances & NGO Implementation Finances), in accordance with its regulations, rules and procedures. The nature and scope of the services must be described in annexes to the project document or annual work plan. A letter of agreement must be signed between the Resident Representative and the national government, through an authorized official.
Serves as a central repository of commercial aviation safety information from specialized industry sources, analyses the information, based on advice provided by the Aviation Technical Advisory Group (ATAG) , and establishes a list of commercial air operators that are recommended for official travel of personnel within the UNSMS. CATSU also provides aviation safety information and advice regarding the air operators that are not on the recommended list and on donated flights upon request and as available. Real-time information is posted on the UNSMIN web page, which is accessible by UNDSS senior security professionals and Air Travel Safety Focal Points (ATSFPs) appointed by Agencies.
Conduct or behaviour by a vendor, or by an employee, officer, adviser, or representative of a vendor, with the knowledge of that vendor that is contrary to the rules governing: conflicts of interest (potential, perceived, real), gifts and hospitality, post-employment provisions or other published requirements of doing business with UNDP including, but not limited to, with the UN Supplier Code of Conduct.
Unfair advantage to individual suppliers means that information is not disclosed consistently to all potential suppliers during the solicitation process, or inside information is disclosed to a potential supplier or existing vendor. Permitting personnel to act alone or undertaking ineffective market research can give rise to unfair advantage.
The UN Global Market (UNGM) hosts a list that aggregates information disclosed by UNDP and other Agencies, Funds or Programs of the UN System. Access is limited to approved staff of UNDP and other participating Agencies, Funds or Programs of the UN System. This list specifies the name of each vendor that has lost its eligible status, as well as any censure issued against a Vendor. The list specifies the location of the Vendor, the grounds for the Sanction, and the start and expiration dates for each of the Sanctions imposed. The UNGM Ineligibility List is separate and distinct from any other UN System approved lists, including but not limited to the 1267/1989 Lists.
Universal Flat File (UFF) is the generic payment file format generated by the pay cycle of Accounts Payable (AP). UFF files are used by offices which have developed a banking interface with their local banks. Similar to system check payments, the local office needs to download the UFF payment file for further processing and interface to the local bank. If an office does not have a local interface, then a letter of instruction must be manually prepared and authorized to request the bank to execute a transfer for payment.
The Universal Price List contains a menu of standardized services available to UN entities from all UNDP’s Offices. The UPL is updated by BMS/OFM on an annual basis. The UPL rates represent a summary of the standard list of services offered to partner agencies and their corresponding costs. Offices wishing to provide feedback on services and fees, or requiring further clarifications, should contact their BMS/OFM Financial Business Partnering focal point.
A special purpose fund made up of voluntary contributions, contributions from other governmental, intergovernmental or non-governmental sources and related interest earnings and miscellaneous income. The resources are co-mingled, are untied, and are treated as core resources.
The useful life is defined as the period of time over which an asset is expected to be available for use. In UNDP, the useful lives for various categories have been established based upon UNDP’s practices of retaining assets in use with the intention to seek a reasonable average useful life across all the population of similar assets within UNDP. Therefore some assets may be disposed of prior to reaching their useful life, following a review of their usefulness at their recommended replacement life. Equally, other assets may be retained in service for periods longer than their useful lives, for operational reasons. The number and original cost of assets retained beyond their useful lives will be disclosed in UNDP’s financial statements.