Glossary | United Nations Development Programme

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.

Source: Harmonized Conceptual Funding Framework and Cost Recovery Methodology, UN Agency 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.

Source: Working with External Auditors

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.

Source: Vendor Sanctions

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.

Source: Framework of Accountability for Security

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.

Source: Framework of Accountability for Security

UNDP Financial Regulations and Rules (FRR) govern the financial management of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and shall, unless otherwise provided by the General Assembly or the Executive Board or as otherwise specified in these Regulations and the annexes thereto, apply to all resources administered by UNDP and to all the Funds and Programmes administered by the Administrator.

Source: UNDP Financial Regulations and Rules

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.

Source: Framework of Accountability for Security

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.

Source: Framework of Accountability for Security

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.

Source: UNDP Support Services to National Implementation (NIM)

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.

Source: Commercial Air Travel Safety Guidelines

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.

Source: Vendor Sanctions

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.

Source: Procurement Ethics, Fraud and Corrupt Practices

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.

Source: Vendor Sanctions

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.

Source: Disbursing Funds (Making Payments)

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.

Source: Use of UPL and LPL

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.

Source: Depreciation, Reconciliations Reports and Centralized Functions (Furniture and Equipment)

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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