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UNDP

Accountability

UNDP Accountability Mechanism

The UNDP Accountability Mechanism (UNDP AM) helps ensure that UNDP projects and activities uphold the organization's Social and Environmental Standards (SES) and broader social and environmental commitments. Read about how it works, how to submit a request, and how to contact us.
Logo: green and blue tree silhouettes with people, SECU and SRM.
    About

    Effective 1 January 2015, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) adopted mandatory SES for all its projects and programmes. To put these standards into action and ensure accountability, UNDP established the UNDP AM. 

    The UNDP AM is composed of two complementary functions. Explore their websites for more information:

    SECU logo: green tree of stylized people and Social & Environmental Compliance Unit.
    1. The Social and Environmental Compliance Unit (SECU)

    This part of the Accountability Mechanism reviews concerns that UNDP may not be meeting its social and environmental commitments in its activities and considers requests from individuals and communities seeking independent attention.

    Website
    SRM Stakeholder Response Mechanism logo featuring a blue tree of interconnected human figures.
    2. The Stakeholder Response Mechanism (SRM)

    This part of the Accountability Mechanism helps project-affected stakeholders, UNDP’s partners (governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), businesses) and others jointly address grievances or disputes related to the social and/or environmental impacts of UNDP-supported projects.

    Website

     

    Affected people have a choice: they can ask SECU to pursue a compliance review, they can attempt to resolve requests and disputes through the SRM, or they can ask for both.

      Submitting a Request

      You can submit a request in any language 🌐, by email 📧, social app 📱, or paper mail ✉️. 
       

      There is NO REQUIRED FORMAT, but it helps if you include:

      • Your name, address, phone number, and any other contact information
      • If you want your identity to be kept private (confidential), let us know and explain why.
      • The name, location, and type of UNDP project or activity (if you know it).
      • How you were (or might be) harmed by the project.
      • If you are submitting the request on behalf of someone else (such as a community group), please include proof that you have their authorization to do so.
      • Explain what social and environmental commitment UNDP made that you believe was not met.
      People submitting requests can ask SECU to keep their name and identity confidential. When sending your request in any format, simply indicate this and explain why.

      For more detailed information, please visit the individual SECU and SRM websites.

        Contact

        Mailing Address

        Attn: SECU, OAI, UNDP
        1 U.N. Plaza, 4th Floor
        New York, NY, USA 10017
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        Please Note: SECU is not involved in project design and implementation. For inquiries related to such issues, please contact the specific country office (CO) associated with a UNDP-sponsored project.