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Policy on Due Diligence and Partnerships with the Private Sector

9 April 2024

The Policy on Due Diligence and Partnerships with the Private Sector has been updated to include the following changes:references to portfolio in alignment with the recently introduced new Portfolio Policy;an update to para. 4.9 on crisis settings, as recommended by the Risk Committee that the quality assurance over the due diligence process, and the decision-making on which private sector partnerships to pursue with the private sector, can be made by the relevant Bureau Director or by the Crisis Board, with the same requirement for monitoring as non-crisis settings. The Private Sector Ri ...

The Policy on Due Diligence and Partnerships with the Private Sector has been updated to include the following changes:

references to portfolio in alignment with the recently introduced new Portfolio Policy;
an update to para. 4.9 on crisis settings, as recommended by the Risk Committee that the quality assurance over the due diligence process, and the decision-making on which private sector partnerships to pursue with the private sector, can be made by the relevant Bureau Director or by the Crisis Board, with the same requirement for monitoring as non-crisis settings.

The Private Sector Risk Assessment Tool has been updated to reflect the following changes:

include references to portfolio in alignment with the recently introduced new Portfolio Policy;
include a field for partnership description;
update the links to AML/CFT self-certification for donor entities and for programming entities;
update the link to the risk log in the POPP to harmonize with the requirement of the Enterprise Risk Management policy and procedures;
include co-branding corporate requirements under communications;
implement light formatting and language clean-up.

The following content is now available in French and in Spanish:

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Private Sector Partnerships

8 November 2023

Private Sector

The policy has been updated to align with the updated Policy on Due Diligence and Partnerships with the Private Sector and its updated Procedure for Conducting due diligence for private sector entities of October 12, 2023, as published in the Policy on Due Diligence and Partnerships with the Private Sector page.

Policy on Due Diligence and Partnerships with the Private Sector

12 October 2023

Private Sector

This policy revision, approved by OPG in late August 2023, underlines a robust and decentralized approach to risk assessment, decision making, management and escalation, based on the risk levels, aligning with UNDP's Enterprise Risk Management policy and framework. All business units at HQ, Regional and CO levels, are now required to appoint PSDD focal points and establish PSDD committees to advise, quality assure and extend technical support and oversight on the application of the policy and quality of the risk assessment undertaken. The policy now offers four (instead of two) risk ...

This policy revision, approved by OPG in late August 2023, underlines a robust and decentralized approach to risk assessment, decision making, management and escalation, based on the risk levels, aligning with UNDP's Enterprise Risk Management policy and framework. All business units at HQ, Regional and CO levels, are now required to appoint PSDD focal points and establish PSDD committees to advise, quality assure and extend technical support and oversight on the application of the policy and quality of the risk assessment undertaken.

The policy now offers four (instead of two) risk levels - Low, Moderate, Substantial and High, with updated due diligence requirements - Basic, Standard and Enhanced determined by the type of legal agreement, and the type of private sector entity. The policy also includes monitoring protocols, spot checks of the due diligence process as well as the inclusion of Anti Money Laundering/Countering Financing of Terrorism Self Certification in the Risk Assessment Tool (RAT).

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Private Sector Partnerships

4 October 2023

Private Sector

The policy has been reviewed and links to tools, templates and libraries have been updated.

Private Sector Partnerships

13 January 2021

Private Sector

The 2020 MoU templates are now available in English, French, and Spanish. They are linked in step 1 of the Formalizing private sector partnerships through MOU procedures on the Private Sector Partnerships policy page.

Private Sector Partnerships

11 March 2019

Private Sector

The Private Sector Partnerships policy is now available in Spanish. To access the document, click on the Spanish language tab.

Private Sector Partnerships

6 December 2018

Private Sector

The MoU template has been updated in English and Spanish. It is linked in step 1 of the Formalizing private sector partnerships through MOU procedures on the Private Sector Partnerships policy page.

Private Sector Partnerships

22 September 2017

Private Sector

Private Sector Partnerships through Pro Bono Agreement (Procedure 4, Step 1) link replaced and 'Explanatory Notes' column added with the following:-When a private sector entity approaches UNDP with an unsolicited offer of pro bono contribution of goods or services, it is necessary, in addition to the risk assessment of the private sector entity itself, to take special care to ensure that this is the most cost effective way to achieve a particular objective. If it is not clear that there is a unique feature to the offer being made, then it is essential to undertake a thorough mapping and scopin ...

Private Sector Partnerships through Pro Bono Agreement (Procedure 4, Step 1) link replaced and 'Explanatory Notes' column added with the following:

-When a private sector entity approaches UNDP with an unsolicited offer of pro bono contribution of goods or services, it is necessary, in addition to the risk assessment of the private sector entity itself, to take special care to ensure that this is the most cost effective way to achieve a particular objective. If it is not clear that there is a unique feature to the offer being made, then it is essential to undertake a thorough mapping and scoping exercise to research comparable alternatives and to:

a. approach a wide range of similar companies in order to ascertain that there are no better offers available;

b. provide evidence that the pro bono services or goods are fit for purpose and offer best value by obtaining complete specifications of donated goods, including quality standards;

c. define the necessary quality checks to be conducted depending on the nature of the donation;

d. have a documented process of peer review of options;

e. Conduct an analysis as to whether the contribution may lead to a 'future standardization whereby a specific good/service limits UNDP future choice and imposes unexpected costs. In particular, the analysis must show that there will be no dependency that can incur future costs.

f. Provide no unfair advantage.

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Private Sector Partnerships

21 September 2017

Private Sector

Changes were made to the procedures (steps 2 and 4) as well as the MOU template. In particular, it has been clarified that UNDP will apply the UNSG Bulletin on Acceptance of pro-bono goods and services (2006), In addition, when a private sector entity approaches UNDP with an unsolicited offer of pro bono contribution of goods or services, it is necessary, in addition to the risk assessment of the private sector entity itself, to take special care to ensure that there is a unique feature to the offer being made. If not, then it is essential to undertake a thorough mapping and scoping exercise ...

Changes were made to the procedures (steps 2 and 4) as well as the MOU template. In particular, it has been clarified that UNDP will apply the UNSG Bulletin on Acceptance of pro-bono goods and services (2006), In addition, when a private sector entity approaches UNDP with an unsolicited offer of pro bono contribution of goods or services, it is necessary, in addition to the risk assessment of the private sector entity itself, to take special care to ensure that there is a unique feature to the offer being made. If not, then it is essential to undertake a thorough mapping and scoping exercise to research comparable alternatives and to:

a. approach a wide range of similar companies in order to ascertain that there are no better offers available;

b. provide evidence that the pro bono services or goods are fit for purpose and offer best value by obtaining complete specifications of donated goods, including quality standards;

c. define the necessary quality checks to be conducted depending on the nature of the donation;

d. have a documented process of peer review of options;

e. conduct an analysis as to whether the contribution may lead to a 'future standardization whereby a specific good/service limits UNDP future choice and imposes unexpected costs. In particular, the analysis must show that there will be no dependency that can incur future costs.

f. provide no unfair advantage.

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