Implementing a project involves delivering outputs defined in the approved project document. A multi-year workplan articulates activities to achieve outputs in a specified time period. Fundamental responsibilities for this process lie with the project manager, who is appointed by and responsible to the implementing partner. UNDP’s primary role in implementing a project is project assurance. UNDP has implementation responsibilities only when it serves as the implementing partner or when the national implementing partner requests UNDP for support services.
Category of costs associated with “programmes” and “development effectiveness” activities which contribute to the effective delivery of development results, as follows:
a) programmes: category of costs associated with specific programme components or projects that contribute to delivery of development results contained in country/regional/global programme documents or other programming arrangements;
b) development effectiveness: category of costs associated with activities of a policy, advisory, technical and implementation nature that are needed for achievement of the objectives of programmes and projects in the focus areas of the organizations. These inputs are essential to the delivery of development results, and are not included in specific programme components or projects in country, regional or global programme documents.
Development effectiveness projects deliver outputs that UNDP designs and oversees to contribute to the quality, effectiveness and efficiency of results across multiple development projects. Such projects should be used for cross-cutting interventions that set standards; generate and share knowledge and learning; and develop and operationalize development policies. Institutional effectiveness projects manage inputs and activities that enable UNDP to contribute to development results.
A development project is a time-bound instrument to deliver outputs that contribute to outcome-level development change reflected in the programme, along with the results delivered by other projects and instruments.
Delivers outputs, activities and/or inputs towards a result for which a partner is accountable for strategy, design and project quality assurance. UNDP is only responsible for the quality of development services provided, not the entire initiative.
A method of financing the budget of a partner country through a transfer of resources from an external financing agency to the national treasury of the partner government. The funds thus transferred are managed in accordance with the recipient’s budgetary procedures. This includes using the national regulatory framework for financial allocations, procurement and accounting systems.
Organizational costs that are directly linked to the project budgets, achievement of development results and arise from the implementation of projects and programmes funded from regular and other resources. Direct costs of programme, administrative and operational support activities, that are part of the project input like: * Programmatic activities (as listed in the project document, including goods and services); * Project management;
* Project communications, advocacy, and funding partner visibility * Independent audit and Evaluation * Quality Assurance (QA) services; * Monitoring, baseline data collection, surveys and evaluation of projects; * Project briefings and technical guidance for project stakeholders; * Project meetings, progress, and final reporting;
* Donor-specific reporting; * Support to implementing and responsible parties;
* HACT assessments and all assurance activities; * Project supervision and coordination; * Programme coordination; * Policy advice and Quality Assurance ; * Risk management; * Activities leading to project closure (checklist); * Administrative, operational, and other shared services; * Contingency
A UNDP knowledge product is “a branded published piece offering new insights and analysis that advances learning or increases understanding about a development issue and leads to improved development policies, programmes, practices, products, skills and competencies.” It is produced for the purpose of informing or influencing decision-makers, professionals or the interested public. Knowledge products may be classified under eight types: report, technical paper, guidance material, contributing paper, findings, dataset, brief, and think piece.
Quality assurance for UNDP knowledge products is a three step online process conducted by the Issuing Office. The Issuing Office appoints a Knowledge Product Focal Point who: a)Submits the planned knowledge product details (scope of work, budget, target audience etc.); b)Once the knowledge product is produced, assesses it against the quality standards, and c)Uploads the product for publishing on UNDP's public site. Two key decision points in the process certify the product meets the criteria. It is the role of the Approver, the authorizing officer within the issuing office, to: a) “Approve” is when the approver -the authorizing officer- certifies that the knowledge product has been adequately justified and its design details have been satisfactorily thought through to proceed with the production stage, and
b) “Clear” is when the approver certifies that the product fully meets UNDP’s quality standards and can be finalized and issued. At each step the authorizing officer signs off on the Online Quality Assurance process.
Following its publication, the issuing office is also able to track and monitor the impact and the performance of the published knowledge product.
All UNDP knowledge products must meet six quality standards: (1) the product is relevant to the organization’s or programme’s priorities; (2) the product demonstrates thought leadership; (3) the product is well-designed and internally consistent; (4) the product is assured of reaching its intended audience; (5) the intended impacts are clear and measurable; (6) an appropriate roll-out plan is included. To certify these standards are met, the approver/authorizing officer signs a Quality Standards Certification form through the online quality assurance process.