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The summary of key changes which takes immediate effect and their implication on UNDP Offices are:1. Updates to reflect UNDP's transition to its new cloud-based management platform Quantum in January 2023, replacing its previous ATLAS system;2. Guidance provided with regards to migration of HACT Platform from SharePoint to the cloud-based Quantum+ (Salesforce) including new system approval for macro assessment, micro assessment, assurance; activities, engagement of High-Risk Partners and revision of Partner Risk Rating which have been added in para 22, para 27, para 40, para 6(d), and para 7 r ...

The summary of key changes which takes immediate effect and their implication on UNDP Offices are:
1. Updates to reflect UNDP's transition to its new cloud-based management platform Quantum in January 2023, replacing its previous ATLAS system;
2. Guidance provided with regards to migration of HACT Platform from SharePoint to the cloud-based Quantum+ (Salesforce) including new system approval for macro assessment, micro assessment, assurance; activities, engagement of High-Risk Partners and revision of Partner Risk Rating which have been added in para 22, para 27, para 40, para 6(d), and para 7 respectively;
3. Change of terminology reflected in para 7 from Adjusted Risk Rating to Partner Risk Rating to refine description of the term and align with process in the HACT platform.

​The policy and the procedures have been updated to reflect UNDP’s transition to its new cloud-based management platform Quantum in January 2023, replacing its previous ATLAS system

​The policy and the procedures have been updated to reflect UNDP’s transition to its new cloud-based management platform Quantum in January 2023, replacing its previous ATLAS system.

The National Implementation and Direct Implementation (DIM) Modality policies have been updated to reflect UNDP's transition to its new cloud-based management platform Quantum in January 2023, replacing its previous ATLAS system.
Disbursing Funds (Making Payments) | Prepayments | Regular Maintenance Accounts Payable | Refunds to Donors | Financial Statements | Record Retention, Data Security and Contingency | Certified Financial Reports | Maintenance and Usage of Chart of Accounts | Core Contributions | Non-Core Contributions | Revenue Management for Joint Programming | US Letter of Credit (LOC) Agreements | Accounts Receivable | Government Contribution to Local Office Costs (GLOC) from LIC and MIC | Inventory Management | Designation and Responsibilities of Signatories | Establishment and Use of Electronic Banking Systems | Opening and Closing of Bank Accounts | Cash Operations | Petty Cash Fund for Management Project (PCF) | Project Cash Advance (PCA) | Project Cash on Hand for DIM Projects (PCH) | Bank Account Reconciliation | Management of Cash Planning/Forecasting of Cash Flows | Management of Zero-Balance Account System | UNFCU Share Account Management | Supplier Banking Information Setup for IBAN | Electronic Funds Transfer Standards | Management of Petty Cash | Handling of Cash and Receipts Treasury | Project Petty Cash Fund (PPCF) | GMS Fee Set-up and Collection | Universal Price List (UPL) and Local Price List (LPL) | Multiple Funding Lines for Positions | Use of UPL and LPL | Harmonized Conceptual Funding Framework and Cost Recovery Methodology | Cost Recovery from Other Resources - GMS | Expenditure of Income Accrued from Cost Recovery | Government Contributions from Net Contributing Countries (NCCs) and High Middle-Income Countries (High-MICs) | Planning and Paying for Delivery Enabling Services to Projects | Service Clearing Account (SCA): Charging, Billing and Fee Collection | UN Agency Services | Pass-Through Fund Management: UNDP as a Participating UN Organization | Parallel Fund Management | Pass-Through Fund Management: UNDP as a Participating UN Organization | Pass-Through Management: UNDP as Administrative Agent (AA) | Pooled Fund Management
Disbursing Funds (Making Payments) | Prepayments | Regular Maintenance Accounts Payable | Refunds to Donors | Financial Statements | Record Retention, Data Security and Contingency | Certified Financial Reports | Maintenance and Usage of Chart of Accounts | Core Contributions | Non-Core Contributions | Revenue Management for Joint Programming | US Letter of Credit (LOC) Agreements | Accounts Receivable | Government Contribution to Local Office Costs (GLOC) from LIC and MIC | Inventory Management | Designation and Responsibilities of Signatories | Establishment and Use of Electronic Banking Systems | Opening and Closing of Bank Accounts | Cash Operations | Petty Cash Fund for Management Project (PCF) | Project Cash Advance (PCA) | Project Cash on Hand for DIM Projects (PCH) | Bank Account Reconciliation | Management of Cash Planning/Forecasting of Cash Flows | Management of Zero-Balance Account System | UNFCU Share Account Management | Supplier Banking Information Setup for IBAN | Electronic Funds Transfer Standards | Management of Petty Cash | Handling of Cash and Receipts Treasury | Project Petty Cash Fund (PPCF) | GMS Fee Set-up and Collection | Universal Price List (UPL) and Local Price List (LPL) | Multiple Funding Lines for Positions | Use of UPL and LPL | Harmonized Conceptual Funding Framework and Cost Recovery Methodology | Cost Recovery from Other Resources - GMS | Expenditure of Income Accrued from Cost Recovery | Government Contributions from Net Contributing Countries (NCCs) and High Middle-Income Countries (High-MICs) | Planning and Paying for Delivery Enabling Services to Projects | Service Clearing Account (SCA): Charging, Billing and Fee Collection | UN Agency Services | Pass-Through Fund Management: UNDP as a Participating UN Organization | Parallel Fund Management | Pass-Through Fund Management: UNDP as a Participating UN Organization | Pass-Through Management: UNDP as Administrative Agent (AA) | Pooled Fund Management

9 January 2023

Expense Management | Financial Closure of Development Projects and Trust Funds | Statutory Financial Reporting | Corporate Operations and Information Management | Regular Resources | Other Resources | Inventory Management | Banking Arrangement | Cash Arrangement | Cash Management | Enterprise Solutions | Cost Recovery from Programmes funded by Regular and Other Resources | Direct Project Costing | UN Agency Services | Joint Programming

The following policies and procedures have been updated to reflect UNDP's transition to its new cloud-based management platform Quantum in January 2023, replacing its previous ATLAS system. Expense Management Disbursing Funds (Making Payments) (policy and procedures)Prepayments (policy and procedures)Regular Maintenance Accounts Payable (policy and procedures) Financial Closure of Development Projects and Trust FundsRefunds to Donors (policy only) Financial Operations ManagementFinancial Statements (policy only)Record Retention, Data Security and Contingency (policy only)Certified Financial ...

The following policies and procedures have been updated to reflect UNDP's transition to its new cloud-based management platform Quantum in January 2023, replacing its previous ATLAS system. Expense Management Disbursing Funds (Making Payments) (policy and procedures)Prepayments (policy and procedures)Regular Maintenance Accounts Payable (policy and procedures) Financial Closure of Development Projects and Trust FundsRefunds to Donors (policy only) Financial Operations ManagementFinancial Statements (policy only)Record Retention, Data Security and Contingency (policy only)Certified Financial Reports (policy only)Maintenance and usage of Chart of Accounts (policy and procedures) Pipeline and Revenue ManagementCore Contributions (policy and procedures)Non-Core Contributions (policy and procedures)Revenue Management for Joint Programming (policy only)US Letter of Credit (LOC) Agreements (policy and procedures)Accounts Receivable (policy only)Government Contribution to Local Office Costs (GLOC) from LIC and MIC (policy and procedures) Inventory Management Inventory Management (policy and procedures) Cash Banking and InvestmentDesignation and Responsibilities of Signatories (policy and procedures)Establishment and Use of Electronic Banking Systems (policy and procedures)Opening and Closing of Bank Accounts (policy and procedures)Cash Operations (policy only)Petty Cash Fund for Management Project (PCF) (policy and procedures)Project Cash Advance (PCA) (policy and procedures)Project Cash on Hand for DIM Projects (PCH) (policy only)Bank Account Reconciliation (policy and procedures)Management of Cash Planning/Forecasting of Cash Flows (policy and procedures)Management of Zero-Balance Account System (procedures only)UNFCU Share Account Management (policy and procedures)Supplier Banking Information Set-up for IBAN (procedures only)Electronic Funds Transfer Standards (policy only in ICT section)Management of Petty Cash (policy only)  Handling of Cash and Receipts Treasury (policy and procedures)Project Petty Cash Fund (PPCF) (policy and procedures) Resource Planning and Cost RecoveryGMS Fee Set-up and CollectionUniversal Price List (UPL) and Local Price List (LPL) (policy and procedures)Multiple Funding Lines for Positions (policy and procedures)Use of UPL and LPL (policy and procedures)Harmonized Conceptual Funding Framework and Cost Recovery MethodologyCost Recovery from Other Resources - GMSExpenditure of Income Accrued from Cost RecoveryGovernment Contributions from Net Contributing Countries (NCCs) and High Middle-Income Countries (High-MICs)Planning and Paying for Delivery Enabling Services to Projects (procedures only)Service Clearance Account (SCA), Charging, Billing and Fee Collection (policy and procedures)UN Agency Services (policy and procedures) Financial Management and Implementation ModalitiesPass-Through Fund Management: UNDP as a Participating UN Organization (policy only)Parallel Fund Management (policy only)Pass-Through Fund Management: UNDP as a Participating UN Organization (policy only)Pass-Through Management: UNDP as Administrative Agent (AA) (policy only)Pooled Fund Management (policy and procedures)

​The UNDP-supported Guarantees policy has been approved for a five-year pilot period, and includes credit guarantees and procurement guarantees, which were previously assessed as areas of high demand and thus prioritized for the first phase of implementation. UNDP-supported Guarantees must be part of broader development interventions in DIM and CO-support to NIM projects and be fully donor funded. The pilot policy will enable UNDP to leverage guarantees in a prudent manner to incentivize sustainable/SDG-aligned investments in line with its ambition to leverage public finance and mobilize priva ...


The UNDP-supported Guarantees policy has been approved for a five-year pilot period, and includes credit guarantees and procurement guarantees, which were previously assessed as areas of high demand and thus prioritized for the first phase of implementation. UNDP-supported Guarantees must be part of broader development interventions in DIM and CO-support to NIM projects and be fully donor funded. The pilot policy will enable UNDP to leverage guarantees in a prudent manner to incentivize sustainable/SDG-aligned investments in line with its ambition to leverage public finance and mobilize private finance for the SDGs. In addition, it will open new partnership venues and strengthen UNDP’s ability to act as an integrator across the UN development system.



​The updated HACT POPP is now available. The summary of the key changes and their implication on UNDP Offices are:1- Clarity has been added in para 23 (h) for macro assessment where UNDP is the sole agency that requires the assessment;2- Guidance has been added for micro assessment that expires mid-programme cycle where discretion of the Office is required in the case if the project is expected to end in a short period of time. This is indicated in para 27 (n);3- Standardized templates have been made available to document the significant issues and action plan arising from micro assessment ...

​The updated HACT POPP is now available. The summary of the key changes and their implication on UNDP Offices are:

1- Clarity has been added in para 23 (h) for macro assessment where UNDP is the sole agency that requires the assessment;

2- Guidance has been added for micro assessment that expires mid-programme cycle where discretion of the Office is required in the case if the project is expected to end in a short period of time. This is indicated in para 27 (n);
3- Standardized templates have been made available to document the significant issues and action plan arising from micro assessment and assurance activities. Regional bureaus are required to review the documentation of the significant issues and action plan arising from micro assessment and assurance activities for Partners with expected cash transfers of greater than or equal to $1 million per annum, and in the case of central bureaus and independent units implementing developing project, the review shall be performed by the Head of Office or his/her designate. This is indicated in para 27 (t) and para 40 (l);
4- Additional guidance have been added for downward revision of Partner adjusted risk rating in para 7;
5- A standardized template has been made available to document the High Risk Partner Approval Template in para 6 (f);


​The updated Direct Payments policy is now available. The summary of the major changes and their implication on UNDP Offices are as follows:Clarification has been made in para 2 that direct payments must be performed through an approved FACE form, requesting UNDP to make payment directly to the vendor on behalf of the Partner, and the Implementing Agent code must be the Partner’s code;Clarity has been added for non-local currency denominated payments to national implementation projects in para 8 which should be submitted to UNDP HQ Treasury for appropriate approval in accordance with UNDP ...

​The updated Direct Payments policy is now available. The summary of the major changes and their implication on UNDP Offices are as follows:Clarification has been made in para 2 that direct payments must be performed through an approved FACE form, requesting UNDP to make payment directly to the vendor on behalf of the Partner, and the Implementing Agent code must be the Partner’s code;Clarity has been added for non-local currency denominated payments to national implementation projects in para 8 which should be submitted to UNDP HQ Treasury for appropriate approval in accordance with UNDP Financial Regulations and Rule 125.06;Clarification has been added on reviews of FACE form, including the list of red flags in para 12 and 13 that potential signs of fraud or misuse of funds shall be observed, reviewed, investigated and documented. Direct payment should not be processed until the potential red flags are fully investigated and confirmed to be valid;Procedures offices should take to address unsupported payments reflected in assurance reports, including audits and spot checks, has been added in para 14.

​The Direct Payments policy and procedures have been further updated as follows: Guidance has been added to Para 2 on the ICE template. ICE template guidance has been added to procedure step 1. Fraud red-flags guidance have been added to procedure step 9.

​The updated HACT POPP is now available. The summary of the major changes and their implication on UNDP Offices are: Revision of the micro assessment threshold from $300k per programme cycle to $150k per annum (for partners already engaged in 2021 where the assessment cannot be performed because implementation is already underway, offices should upload a Note to File confirming the experience so far with the partner has not highlighted any risks that warrant a change in the implementation or cash transfer modality) and follow the prescriptive guidelines for non-assessed partners;The approv ...

​The updated HACT POPP is now available. The summary of the major changes and their implication on UNDP Offices are:

  • Revision of the micro assessment threshold from $300k per programme cycle to $150k per annum (for partners already engaged in 2021 where the assessment cannot be performed because implementation is already underway, offices should upload a Note to File confirming the experience so far with the partner has not highlighted any risks that warrant a change in the implementation or cash transfer modality) and follow the prescriptive guidelines for non-assessed partners;
  • The approved micro assessment and assurance activity plans (generated from the HACT SharePoint site) should be uploaded to the site semi-annually no later than end of February and end of July every year have been added in para 27 (m);
  • Written approval of the Head of Office for cash transfers up to $150k issued to non-assessed partners who meet the threshold; written approval of the respective bureau for cash transfers exceeding $150k to none-assessed partners who meet the threshold have been added in para 27 (e);
  • The frequency of submitting Assurance plans has been changed from annually to semi-annually, being no later than the end of February and July of every year, has been added in para 40 (a). This will ensure continuous monitoring and revision of assurance plans;
  • Regarding spot checks, offices are now required to conduct the spot checks for Partners with actual expenditures incurred and reported exceeding $50,000 per year. This is indicated in para 6 and 40;
  • Spot checks may be performed by qualified, experienced UNDP staff who are independent of the project for Partners below the micro assessment threshold ($150,000 per annum). However, the staff would need to obtain clearance in writing by their respective bureaus after confirmation of their experience, qualification and independence to the project;
  • A revision to the frequency of audits has been added in para 6 and Table 2 where Partners that are risk rated “Low” and “Medium”, an internal control audit should be conducted at least once every other year if annual expenditure exceeds $200,000 per year. For Partners that are risk rated “Significant” and Unassessed Partners, financial audits should be conducted every year when expenditures exceed $200,000 per year. For Partners that are “High” risk rated, OFM’s written clearance is required to engage and issue cash transfers to the partner; otherwise DIM audit guidelines apply if Direct Implementation or Full Country Office Support to NIM is selected.