Programmes and Projects - United Nations …

1 Programmes and Projects Nov-20-2011 1 Programmes and Projects Introduction Legal Framework Accountability & Delegation of Authority programme & project Management Arrangements programme Management project Management Specific policies for Global & Regional Programming Evaluation Resource Center Fast Track Procedures Introduction Description This section of the Policies and Procedures describes the minimum requirements and processes used by UNDP as a member of the UN Country Team (UNCT) to deliver development results. UNDP s results are outlined in Country Programmes , Regional Programmes and the Global programme . These documents operationalise UNDP s vision, directions and strategies as established in the UNDP Strategic Plan.

2 Programmes are operationally implemented through Projects with annual workplans. The latter must fall within the approved frameworks of corresponding programme unless under emergency situations. Please post questions, comments and suggestions in the "UNDP Programming Policy Discussion" on the Results Management Service Space on Teamworks. Also, please see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on programme and project Management for further information. UNDP's Strategic Focus The 2008-2013 Strategic Plan outlines the major goals and objectives for UNDP, as approved by the Executive Board. It sets the overall direction for UNDP operations in its support to programme countries. The Strategic Plan: Focuses our work on four development focus areas: Poverty eradication and achievement of internationally agreed development goals, including the MDGs; democratic governance; crisis prevention and recovery; and environment and sustainable development.

3 Please see the BDP workspace for further policy guidance such as practice notes. Supports programme countries, within the framework of national ownership, to achieve national development objectives related to human development. UNDP Programmes must therefore be Programmes and Projects Nov-20-2011 2 firmly anchored in the needs and priorities of programme countries and UNDP s programming processes fully aligned to national processes. Development solutions must always reflect local circumstances and aspirations and draw upon national actors and capabilities. Fostering national ownership requires the full participation of different parts of government and civil society organisations. Approaches development in a holistic, cross-sector approach to human development with its focus on the expansion and use of institutional and human capabilities which provides the basis for UNDP s focus on capacity development.

4 See The Human Development website for more information. Focuses on inclusive and sustainable growth to place particular attention on those that are being left farthest behind. Focuses UNDP s programmatic role on the provision of knowledge, policy advice, advocacy, and technical support. Pursues development of national capacities as UNDP s core contribution in all UNDP s work across the four development focus areas. Please see the UNDP Approach to Supporting Capacity Development, UNDP Practice Note on Capacity Development and UNDP Practice Note on Capacity Assessment. Promotes the integration of gender equality and women s empowerment throughout our Programmes guided by the Gender Equality Strategy 2008-2011 (GES). Steps-up efforts to mainstream South-South approaches in all development focus areas - see the South-South Cooperation website.

5 Upholds the principles of aid effectiveness throughout our Programmes as well as support developing countries capacities to manage external development assistance through strengthened national ownership of aid coordination and management. See for more Ensures accountability of UNDP. As outcomes are nationally owned, the first line of accountability rests with national authorities. UNDP is accountable for achieving its planned outputs, and for ensuring that these contribute to the national outcomes. Is based on results based management principles. This means that the processes of analyzing, planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating the organisation s work are structured around achieving real and meaningful results.

6 For UNDP, this is reflected in a clearly formulated chain of results (results framework) that starts with MDGs and national development priorities, addressed through UNDAF/ Country programme /CPAP. Outcomes and outputs must be realistic, and be logically formulated and include performance indicators. For further guidance please see UNDP Handbook on planning, monitoring and evaluating for development results and the Results Management and Accountability section . Programmes and Projects Nov-20-2011 3 Uses a corporate Enterprise Risk Management (ERM). UNDP Programmes and Projects should systematically and proactively identify, monitor and manage all significant impacts of risks through effective planning and decision making.

7 See the ERM section of the Policies and Procedures for more information. Mainstreams security as per the UNDP Security Policy. The purpose of Security Risk Management (SRM) is to enable operational capabilities and mission accomplishment, with minimal or no loss of life, assets and mission scope. SRM must be factored into the definition, budgeting, initiating, running, through to monitoring and evaluating of all Programmes / Projects . For further details, please see: UNDP Security Risk Management Linkage with Programming . In addition, environmental sustainability, including climate change resiliency, is fundamental to the achievement of development outcomes including the MDGs and must be systematically mainstreamed into UNDP s programme and project Management cycles.

8 Opportunities to strengthen the environmental sustainability and climate resiliency of programming need to be identified and realized. Potential adverse impacts and risks need to be avoided or minimized, where possible, and mitigated if not. The Strategic Plan states that UNDP will not normally engage in: (a) specialized sectoral activities; (b) small-scale Projects without country-wide impact; (c) infra-structure with no capacity-building; or (d) stand-alone procurement of goods and services. UNDP programme and project Management Process The UNDP programme and project Cycles are the underpinning processes that provide UNDP with the ability to deliver results. Within these processes, a series of actions are carried out including the definition of a clear hierarchy of results (outputs contributing to outcomes) and continuous monitoring of progress towards these specified results.

9 Figure 1 illustrates the major steps in lifecycle of UNDP programme . Programmes and Projects Nov-20-2011 4 In general, a UNDP programme is a plan for effectively delivering development results through a set of Projects . The Projects are normally developed after the approval of the programme . The programme management section details the key policies and considerations including the detailed procedures for UNDP s programme management process. It flows from: UNDP s participation in the preparation of the road map for the CCA/UNDAF process and associated stakeholder engagement; followed by the country analysis, to the preparation of the UNDAF and UNDP country programme document; followed by the development of a Country programme Action Plan (CPAP) or UNDAF Action Plan (as applicable), before implementing the programme including its monitoring and evaluation.

10 The programme then finally transition to the subsequent programming cycle taking into account lessons learnt. Projects are integral components of a UNDP programme . At the country level they are imbedded in the Country programme Action Plan (CPAP) or United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) Action Plan (as applicable). The project management section covers the entire project life cycle from idea generation to formulating a project , implementing the activities in the project , monitoring and evaluating the project , and realizing project outputs and their intended contribution to programme Programmes and Projects Nov-20-2011 5 outcomes. At each process, the project Management section of the UNDP programme and Operations Policies and Procedures (POPP) will provide information to ensure appropriate UNDP policies are followed, key stakeholders are kept informed, appropriate project management structure exists, outputs and activity deliverables are monitored, and the project is well managed.