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Authorizing Official Business Travel

Effective Date

May 11, 2018

Summary of Changes

One of the duty travel responsible party roles changed from "certifying officer" to "travel processor" to better reflect their duties.

Protection against Retaliation

Effective Date

May 11, 2018

Summary of Changes

The updated Protection against Retaliation policy is in line with the latest Secretariat guidelines ST/SGB/2017/2/Rev1 and includes: protection of individuals who choose to report wrongdoing to an external entity in limited circumstances; reducing the turnaround time for Ethics to complete the preliminary review stage (from 45 to 30 days); changing the definition of retaliation so that it aligns with the most recent SGB; the option of recommending transfer of the alleged retaliator; and explicitly prohibiting retaliation against outside parties. Additionally, UNDP introduced the possibility of interim protective measures during the preliminary review stage. The Protect against Retaliation policy is available in French and Spanish. To access the documents, click on the French and Spanish language tabs.

Harassment, Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, and Abuse of Authority

Effective Date

May 11, 2018

Summary of Changes

Building on the principle that all UNDP personnel have both the right to be treated respectfully and the corresponding responsibility to treat others accordingly, the Policy has been comprehensively revised.

The highlights of the revision include:
1. The scope of the policy has been expanded to also include discrimination in the workplace. This is reflected in the revised title of the policy “Policy on Harassment, Sexual Harassment, Discrimination, and Abuse of Authority”.

2. The Policy reinforces that UNDP does not, and will not, tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and abuse of authority in any form. Such prohibited conduct is subject to disciplinary action, including dismissal and ban from future employment with UNDP. It further clarifies that while consensual, intimate relationships between UNDP personnel are generally not prohibited, managers and supervisors should recognize that such relationships are not appropriate where one person manages, reviews or takes administrative decisions concerning the other person, is subordinate to the other person in the same line of reporting/authority, or is in a position in which some other conflict of interest may arise.

3. The application of the Policy has been clarified and the definition of workplace expanded. It now covers all UNDP personnel, namely staff, Service Contract holders, UNVs and Individual Contracts. External personnel, which include vendors, suppliers and partners, can now report actions of prohibited conduct against them by UNDP personnel.

4. The Policy makes a clear distinction between sexual harassment in the workplace, and sexual exploitation and abuse of local populations by UNDP personnel. The latter is regulated by the Secretary-General Bulletin ST/SGB/2003/13: Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse;

5. The obligations of UNDP personnel and managers and supervisors are reinforced by:

a. Putting greater emphasis on the completion of relevant mandatory courses;
b. Requiring Directors of Bureaus and Heads of Office to provide an annual certificate to the Administrator confirming that they have fulfilled their responsibilities under this policy.

6. Provisions related to reporting prohibited conduct have been reinforced as follows:

a. The time for reporting prohibited conduct other than sexual harassment is extended from 6 months to a year (12 months) and the time limit for reporting sexual harassment cases has been removed entirely;
b. Anonymous reports of prohibited conduct are allowed;
c. Regarding allegations of sexual harassment, an additional process for reporting such allegations through an external helpline is being implemented;
d. The Office of the Ombudsman may continue to offer initial guidance on options to be pursued for the resolution of complaints, while preserving the right to file a formal request directly with OAI at any time.

7. The Policy confirms that, as set out in the UNDP Policy for Protection against Retaliation, retaliation by any member of UNDP’s personnel against another member of UNDP’s personnel for having, in good faith, properly reported allegations of misconduct, or for having cooperated with a duly authorized audit or investigation, is strictly prohibited and is itself misconduct that will be treated accordingly.

8. The Policy also clarifies the rights of an alleged offender who separates from UNDP while an investigation into prohibited conduct is ongoing.

9. Finally, the Policy provides examples of each of the four types of prohibited conduct to help address misunderstandings regarding what actions and behaviours constitute harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and abuse of authority.



Disposal and Write-Off (Plant and Property)

Effective Date

Jun 12, 2018

Summary of Changes

​The updated Plant, Property and Equipment (PP&E) section clarifies the nature of NGO involvement in Asset Management processes in response to the newly revised Programme and Project Management (PPM) chapter and also reflect the change to the asset certification process approved by the Senior management as part of the recent business streamlining initiatives.

Acquisition and Maintenance (Furniture and Equipment)

Effective Date

Jun 12, 2018

Summary of Changes

​The updated Plant, Property and Equipment (PP&E) section clarifies the nature of NGO involvement in Asset Management processes in response to the newly revised Programme and Project Management (PPM) chapter and also reflect the change to the asset certification process approved by the Senior management as part of the recent business streamlining initiatives.

Cost Recovery from Other Resources - GMS

Effective Date

Jun 12, 2018

Summary of Changes

The latest Cost Recovery policy update reflects the recent change in the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Fee for Accredited Entities (AE). The revised GCF policy on AE fees continues to institute a fee cap up to a certain fixed percentage based on the total size of the project/program (i.e. the total of GCF funding and co-finance).

GMS Fee Set-up and Collection

Effective Date

Jun 12, 2018

Summary of Changes
The latest procedure table updated with the most recent link to the Guidance note on GMS setup and reports.

Depreciation, Reconciliations Reports and Centralized Functions (Leasehold Improvements)

Effective Date

Jun 12, 2018

Summary of Changes

The updated Plant, Property and Equipment (PP&E) section clarifies the nature of NGO involvement in Asset Management processes in response to the newly revised Programme and Project Management (PPM) chapter and also reflect the change to the asset certification process approved by the Senior management as part of the recent business streamlining initiatives.

Acquisition and Maintenance (Leasehold Improvements)

Effective Date

Jun 12, 2018

Summary of Changes

The updated Plant, Property and Equipment (PP&E) section clarifies the nature of NGO involvement in Asset Management processes in response to the newly revised Programme and Project Management (PPM) chapter and also reflect the change to the asset certification process approved by the Senior management as part of the recent business streamlining initiatives.

Acquisition and Maintenance (Plant and Property)

Effective Date

Jun 12, 2018

Summary of Changes

The updated Plant, Property and Equipment (PP&E) section clarifies the nature of NGO involvement in Asset Management processes in response to the newly revised Programme and Project Management (PPM) chapter and also reflect the change to the asset certification process approved by the Senior management as part of the recent business streamlining initiatives.

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