IV.B: Coordination
Carry out UNDP's strategic coordinating role to strengthen United Nations system-wide coherence Other Information:
38. This function requires a distinct structure to ensure clear delineation of UNDP senior management roles between United
Nations-wide and UNDP-specific functions. Distinguishing characteristics include: (a) Formal participation of United Nations
organizations in decision-making processes pertaining to the resident coordination system; (b) Decision-making separate from
UNDP internal operational decision-making processes; (c) Clear delineation between the UNDP role in carrying out managerial
functions on behalf of the system and its operational activities; (d) Distinct administrative structure (separate from UNDP
operations); (e) Distinct accountability line (separate from UNDP as participating programme); (f) Measurement of success
based on independent assessment of the integrity of the governance arrangements in place. Strengthened management and accountability
of the resident coordinator system 39. UNDP will undertake a series of important actions to strengthen the management and
accountability of the resident coordinator system. Specifically, UNDP will: (a) Together with the United Nations country team
(UNCT), implement processes in 2007-2008 to assess the content of United Nations Development Assistance Frameworks (UNDAF)
and to ensure improved strategic focus; (b) Review and revise the job descriptions of resident coordinators and country directors
to ensure clarity and clear demarcation of roles, responsibilities and accountabilities; (c) Ensure that resident coordinators
mobilize resources for the United Nations development system at the country level in accordance with UNDAF priorities; (d)
Train and put in place an additional 50 country directors by 2011; (e) Institutionalize common standards, in collaboration
with other organizations, towards enhancing the effectiveness of the regional director teams by 2008; (f) Implement the common
appraisal system of resident coordinators, and introduce an independent system to monitor the integrity of that system, by
2008; (g) Develop and introduce a global participants’ survey as one element of a process to institutionalize an objective
assessment process for managing the resident coordinator system. The survey will be implemented biennially, starting in 2008;
(h) Revise resident coordinator selection and appointment procedures and continue to increase the percentage of non-UNDP originating
resident coordinators to between 40 and 50 per cent by 2011, while ensuring that resident coordinators have development experience
and, as required, humanitarian aid experience; (i) Establish a formal recourse procedure by the first quarter of 2008. Strengthened
resident coordinator capacities and knowledge management 40. UNDP is committed to strengthening support to the United Nations
system-wide development agenda and promoting active follow-up on that agenda throughout the system. Critical to the goal of
more effective management of the resident coordinator system will be the implementation of knowledge-management systems and
training programmes. 41. During 2008-2011, in collaboration with United Nations partners, towards improving system-wide knowledge
management, UNDP will: (a) Invest in improving the resident coordinator knowledge sharing system and integrating at least
five other United Nations organizations as full partners in the system by 2009; (b) Prioritize three global agenda items for
resident coordinator system advocacy and support; (c) Introduce a newly designed resident coordinator induction course by
2008. (d) Provide security training as a routine and institutionalized practice, to increase the understanding of the role
of resident coordinators as designated officials. (e) Develop and roll out, in consultation with United Nations partners,
a set of new, tailored courses for resident coordinators on substantive issues relating to the global development agenda.
A more coherent, coordinated United Nations system at the country level 42. Resolution 59/250 called for the United Nations
development system to improve its country-level coordination so as to optimize its support to national development efforts,
at the request of national authorities. The United Nations development system is currently piloting innovative approaches
in Albania, Cape Verde, Mozambique, Pakistan, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uruguay and Viet Nam, working with national governments to
improve its country-level operations. UNDP is committed to working closely with its national and United Nations Development
Group (UNDG) partners in support of the successful implementation of these pilots and other country-level initiatives in line
with 59/250. 43. The United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG) will support the evaluative process for these pilots under the
overall direction of the TCPR. After an appropriate implementation period, a full-fledged evaluation of both process and results
would be undertaken. They will look at the quality of the results framework for an early self-assessment of progress, the
lessons learned from which will be shared with the Board as part of a plan of action within the 2008-2011cycle. The UNEG will
manage an independent evaluation of the process in 2009. Management of pooled resources and effective service provision 44.
UNDP is frequently requested to provide a range of services on behalf of the United Nations system, and, where it does, it
will continue to make efforts to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of those services, which include: (a) Administrative
agent functions for global, high-profile and/or complex multi-donor trust funds (e.g., the UNDG-Iraq Trust Fund, the Peacebuilding
Fund) and other multi-donor trust funds, and ensuring the highest standards of public disclosure for UNDG funds. (b) Provision
of management and operational services in areas such as payments and related services, administrative services including human
resources administration and common services and premises. These services will be provided on a full cost-recovery basis,
and clear performance standards will be established for each area. (c) Promotion and support for simpler, more coherent business
processes within the United Nations system. In this regard, UNDP is part of the United Nations-wide International Public Sector
Accounting Standards (IPSAS) implementation efforts. Other important harmonization efforts include the development and implementation
of an Inter-Agency Finance Accountability Framework and the full adoption of the Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfer (HACT)
by 2008. Supporting inter-organization collaboration 45. The current structure for inter-organization collaboration in the
framework of the Chief Executives Board and the UNDG is under review. In collaboration with its United Nations partners, and
through the Development Group Office, UNDP is committed to this process to ensure an effectively functioning system and to
extend support to the requirements of an effective inter-organization agreement.
Indicator(s):
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