Programme and Operations Policies and Procedures

Programming in Special Development Situations

Special development situations are those considered by UNDP to require major interventions to sustain or restore the coping capacities of countries under acute stress, where significant development gains have been lost or seriously compromised by a complex set of factors. These situations include but are not limited to complex emergencies, where close coordination is required between the political and peace- keeping or peace-building activities of the United Nations, humanitarian and human rights assistance activities, and operational activities for development.  They also include support to low-income and least developed countries faced with recovery activities in the wake of major natural, environmental, technological or human-made disasters.

In these special development situations, a crisis mode designation for a country is required to ensure that programme and project operations have a rapid response, can be fast tracked and will have necessary flexibilities. In this crisis mode, certain programme and project management policies as designated in this Guide may be suspended as required. The steps towards designation of a crisis situation are as follows:

1. CO Self Designation: The country office Resident Representative, in consultation with UNCT representatives, may designate a crisis situation, identifying that the CO will be operating in a special development situation for a period of up to 3 months. This designation must be done in writing, and the document must include specific policies that the CO will suspend along with appropriate rationale. This document must be distributed by the Resident Representative to the appropriate Regional Bureau management, OPB, Treasury, Controllers, Legal Support Office, BCPR, OAPR, EO and regional centers. This crisis mode designation may not be extended beyond 3 months at the CO level.
2. Regional Bureau Designation: For extending the crisis mode beyond 3 months, Regional Bureau approval is required. This approval is based on a one-page justification, context, and implications requesting 6 months designation of the CO as a special development situation. Regional Bureau Directors will make the decision to approve in consultation with BOM and BCPR. Copies of an approval must be distributed to the Associate Administrator, OPB, Controllers, Treasury, Legal Support Office, BCPR, OAPR, EO and regional centers. This crisis mode designation may not be extended beyond 6 months at the Regional Bureau level.
3. Associate Administrator Designation: For extending the crisis mode beyond the 6 months approved at the Regional Bureau level, Associate Administrator approval is required. This approval must be preceded by a Regional Bureau documented recommendation with endorsement from BOM and in consultation with BCPR. This document requesting a longer-term designation of the CO as a special development situation must include specific policies that the CO will suspend, special measures required, timeframes for review, and appropriate rationale. Copies of an approval must be distributed to OPB, OF, Legal Support Office, BCPR, OAPR, EO and regional centers. This crisis mode designation requires half-yearly reviews by the Associate Administrator, with decisions to extend or revoke the crisis mode designation based on a status update, recommendations, and justification report from the CO Resident Representative.