Recently updated

Change Control and Release Management Standards

16 December 2024

The policy has been reviewed with no change needed.

Select Implementing Partners

11 December 2024

The Project/Portfolio Cooperation Agreement with an Implementing Partner template has been updated to align with the new policies, including with the Policy on AML/CFT and with the Portfolio Policy. The updates reflect changes to include portfolio titles, portfolio numbers, and portfolio multi-year work plan numbers.

Select Responsible Parties and Grantees

11 December 2024

Design

The Select Responsible Parties and Grantees policy, Responsible Parties procedure and Grantees procedure have been updated to include references to portfolio. The following related templates have been updated:The Letter of Agreement (LOA) between UNDP and a Government Ministry/Institution or IGO for the Implementation of a Project/Portfolio where UNDP serves as the implementing partner template now includes references to the new Portfolio policy and enhanced details on activity descriptions, schedules, facilities, and payment structures.The Letter of Agreement (LOA) between UNDP and a Governme ...

The Select Responsible Parties and Grantees policy, Responsible Parties procedure and Grantees procedure have been updated to include references to portfolio. The following related templates have been updated:

The Letter of Agreement (LOA) between UNDP and a Government Ministry/Institution or IGO for the Implementation of a Project/Portfolio where UNDP serves as the implementing partner template now includes references to the new Portfolio policy and enhanced details on activity descriptions, schedules, facilities, and payment structures.
The Letter of Agreement (LOA) between UNDP and a Government Ministry/Institution or IGO to carry out activities when UNDP provides support services to a Non-DIM Project/Portfolio template now includes references to the portfolio work plan number and portfolio number, in alignment with the new Portfolio policy.
The Letter of Agreement (LOA) between UNDP and an Implementing Partner for the Provision of Support Services template now includes references to the portfolio work plan number and portfolio number, in accordance with the new Portfolio policy.
The Responsible Party Agreement: Between UNDP and a Civil Society Organization template is now aligned with the new policies, including with the Policy on AML/CFT and with the Portfolio Policy.
The revised templates also include critical updates to reflect corporate requirements related to sexual exploitation, sexual harassment and abuse, as well as social and environmental standards, including grievance mechanisms, prohibition of misuse of funds, fraud and corruption, and anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism.

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Management of Cash Planning/Forecasting of Cash Flows

2 December 2024

Cash Management

The policy has been updated with the following changes: Introduction of a new rule of 5% of imprest level added to the current threshold of $50,000 for acceptance of local receipts with the following revised wording: “Country offices (COs) may accept the cumulative of all receipts, up to equivalent USD 50,000 monthly or 5% of their established imprest level, whichever is higher, without prior authority from Treasury, provided the receipt of funds locally will not create or add to an accumulation of non-convertible or convertible bank balances in their local bank accounts.” The ...

The policy has been updated with the following changes:

Introduction of a new rule of 5% of imprest level added to the current threshold of $50,000 for acceptance of local receipts with the following revised wording: “Country offices (COs) may accept the cumulative of all receipts, up to equivalent USD 50,000 monthly or 5% of their established imprest level, whichever is higher, without prior authority from Treasury, provided the receipt of funds locally will not create or add to an accumulation of non-convertible or convertible bank balances in their local bank accounts.” The higher of the two figures will be the threshold of reporting to Treasury if an exceptional approval from Treasury is required from the CO for accepting local receipts.
Expansion of the scope of currencies to USD and EUR, as long as these are received locally in the country office bank accounts.
Clarification to apply the cost of currency conversion to the respective projects.
Other minor editorial changes.

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Framework of Accountability for Security

22 November 2024

Framework of Accountability for Security

The policy has been updated to reflect the following changes:The term ‘SFP’ (Security Focal Point) has been updated to ’ACSFP’ (Agency Country Security Focal Point) which is the accurate term for country-specific roles, as the term ‘SFP’ refers to the Director of the Security Office (SO). In paragraph 36 - a footnote has been eliminated to align with the requirements of the UNSMS (United Nations Security Management System) and of the UNDP Framework of Accountability for Security that assign day-to-day oversight of security to the ACSFP in the absence of a security professional. The ...

The policy has been updated to reflect the following changes:

The term ‘SFP’ (Security Focal Point) has been updated to ’ACSFP’ (Agency Country Security Focal Point) which is the accurate term for country-specific roles, as the term ‘SFP’ refers to the Director of the Security Office (SO).
In paragraph 36 - a footnote has been eliminated to align with the requirements of the UNSMS (United Nations Security Management System) and of the UNDP Framework of Accountability for Security that assign day-to-day oversight of security to the ACSFP in the absence of a security professional. The elimination of this footnote also aligns with best practices in crisis management and accountability requirements when there are both a security professional and an ACSFP in a duty station.
The role ‘LSA’ (Local Security Associate) has been removed from the framework as those posts have been migrated to Country Office Security Associate (COSA) level positions.

The UNDP Security Framework of Accountability (FoA) Explainer is also updated to align with the updated policy and is now available in French and in Spanish. The Framework of Accountability for Security procedure is now available in French and in Spanish.

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System Acquisition, Development and Maintenance Standards

15 November 2024

ICT Security

The Cybersecurity Standard on Cloud Acquisition, Maintenance, and Termination of Cloud Services offers guidelines, security controls and other considerations to securing UNDP data stored on cloud services platforms throughout their lifecycle, from acquisition to maintenance to termination. The objectives of the new standard are to:Protect sensitive data and systems from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction.Remain cognizant of data privacy regulations and industry standards.Reduce UNDP’s risk exposure to cloud-related security incidents.Ensure cloud ser ...

The Cybersecurity Standard on Cloud Acquisition, Maintenance, and Termination of Cloud Services offers guidelines, security controls and other considerations to securing UNDP data stored on cloud services platforms throughout their lifecycle, from acquisition to maintenance to termination. The objectives of the new standard are to:

Protect sensitive data and systems from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction.
Remain cognizant of data privacy regulations and industry standards.
Reduce UNDP’s risk exposure to cloud-related security incidents.
Ensure cloud services are appropriately secured and managed throughout their lifecycle.

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Business Continuity Management

30 October 2024

Business Continuity Management

The Business Continuity Management policy has been streamlined and updated to:Align with the UN Organizational Resilience Management System on training requirements.Clarify the process of conducting Risk Assessment at HQ NY and Offices/Units.Confirm that sub-offices are included in country office (CO) Business Continuity Plans (BCPs).Clarify the BCP approval process based on current practice, including the support role of the Management Specialist in BMS.The Business Continuity Planning procedure and the Business Continuity Management User Guide have been aligned with the updated Business Cont ...

The Business Continuity Management policy has been streamlined and updated to:

Align with the UN Organizational Resilience Management System on training requirements.
Clarify the process of conducting Risk Assessment at HQ NY and Offices/Units.
Confirm that sub-offices are included in country office (CO) Business Continuity Plans (BCPs).
Clarify the BCP approval process based on current practice, including the support role of the Management Specialist in BMS.

The Business Continuity Planning procedure and the Business Continuity Management User Guide have been aligned with the updated Business Continuity Management policy.

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