Democratic Governance

Governance Practice Notes

Parliamentary Development

Parliamentary Development Strategy Note
The Parliamentary Development Strategy Note establishes a policy framework for the services that UNDP provides in parliamentary development. It describes the niche of UNDP as a partner in parliamentary development, provides practical advice and guidance for UNDP governance practitioners and sets out key trends and lessons learned from parliamentary development experiences. After an extended review of the UNDP Parliamentary Development Practice Note (2003), the new UNDP Strategy Note on Parliamentary Development takes into consideration recent lessons from the field and emerging issues to provide updated advice to UNDP COs and staff who are working with parliaments or are thinking of engaging with parliaments. Published in June 2009 by the Democratic Governance Group, Bureau for Development Policy, UNDP; the Note can be downloaded in English. French and Spanish versions will be available at a later time.

Electoral Systems and Processes

Electoral Systems and Processes Practice Note
Establishing a framework for UNDP activities in the field of electoral assistance, the Electoral Systems and Processes Practice Note focuses on the various components of electoral assistance, the primary areas in which UNDP and others have worked, recent trends in the field, and lessons learned. Prepared by the Democratic Governance Group, Bureau for Development Policy, UNDP. Also in French, Spanish, Russian and Arabic

Access to Justice

Access to Justice Practice Note
The Access to Justice Practice Note reviews UNDP's experience in the field, identifies good practices and lessons learned, and offers practical guidance on both the substantive and operational processes of Access to Justice. It identifies barriers to access and explores UNDP signature services relevant to the sector. Prepared by the Democratic Governance Group, Bureau for Development Policy, UNDP.

Human Rights

Human Rights in UNDP
With the Human Rights in UNDP Practice Note, UNDP confirms its original policy position and elaborates, on the basis of experience, how this policy is to be implemented in the three strategic areas of intervention: (1) Supporting the strengthening of national human rights systems; (2) Promoting the application of a human rights-based approach to development programming; and (3) Greater engagement with the international human rights machinery. Prepared by the Democratic Governance Group, Bureau for Development Policy, UNDP. Also Available in French, Spanish, Chinese and Arabic

Poverty Reduction and Human Rights Practice Note
This Practice Note outlines a framework for human rights integration in poverty reduction and provides practical steps to guide UNDP programming. The framework is purposely kept generic, as it should be applicable to a range of country situations and programming modalities; whether the focus is on macroeconomics, trade policies, micro-finance, reporting on the Millennium Development Goals, or livelihood skills. Published in June, 2003, this Practice Note is a joint product of the Poverty Group and the Democratic Governance Group, Bureau for Development Policy, UNDP.

E-Governance and Access to Information

Access to Information Practice Note
Based on UNDP’s country experience and consultations with selected specialists from European/Nordic donors, international Civil Society Organizations and other multilateral organizations, the Access to Information practice note introduces a conceptual model for access to information. By combining the conceptual model with UNDP’s comparative advantage in this area, four main support areas emerge: (1) Strengthening the legal and regulatory environment for freedom and pluralism in information; (2) Supporting capacity strengthening, networking, and elevation of standards of media at national and local levels to promote the exchange of independent and pluralist information; (3) Raising awareness on rights to official information and strengthening mechanisms to provide and access information; and (4) Strengthening communication mechanisms for vulnerable groups. Published in October 2003 by the the Oslo Governance Center, Democratic Governance Group, Bureau for Development Policy, UNDP. Also Available in French, Spanish, Russian and Arabic

Decentralization, Local Governance and Urban/Rural Development

Decentralised Governance for Development: A Combined Practice Note on Decentralisation, Local Governance and Urban/Rural Development
The Decentralized Governance for Development Practice Note 1) synthesizes UNDP's latest thinking on decentralisation, local governance and urban/rural development, 2) highlight key lessons learned; 2) outlines UNDP's strategic niche based on its comparative strengths vis-à-vis other partners; 4) provides practical guidance to country offices in operationalising a holistic approach to the design of initiatives in this area; and 5) presents key partners and other actors in the field and resources in terms of funds, expertise, and knowledge products. Published in April 2004 by the Democratic Governance Group, Bureau for Development Policy, UNDP.

Public Administration Reform and Anti-Corruption

Mainstreaming Anti-Corruption in Development [2008]
This Practice Note helps clarify UNDP's position by building on internal knowledge mapping, as well as reflecting and refocusing UNDP's anti-corruption priorities within its mandates and with respect to new development in this field. It clarifies that the main rationale for UNDP engagement on anti-corruption is to further its mandates on poverty reduction, realization of the Millennium Development Goals and promoting sustainable development. It provides guidelines in areas such as: (i) developing and implementing long- and short-term anti-corruption strategies, (ii) mainstreaming anti-corruption activities into national programmes on service delivery, (iii) developing the capacity of anti-corruption institutions, (iv) engaging in advocacy and awareness-raising through civil society organizations and the media, (v) developing anti-corruption assessment tools and conducting anti-corruption surveys, (vi) coordinating and harmonizing anti-corruption programmes, and (vii) developing knowledge tools.
[Note: this Practice Note is complemented by the primer "Corruption and Development" which extends the concepts and programming guidelines.]

Public Administration Reform Practice Note
In the area of Public Administration Reform, UNDP's mandate to reduce poverty and foster respect for human rights implies designing programmes that will have the highest long-term impact on the poor and disadvantaged. This means that UNDP must be especially concerned with ensuring participation of these groups in the design and implementation of PAR programmes. This note identifies a niche for UNDP in public administration reform which is comprised, in summary, of a focus on open government and decentralization as the twin pillars of UNDP's pro-poor and human rights-based approach to development. Published in April, 2003 by the Democratic Governance Group, Bureau for Development Policy, UNDP. Also Available in French, Spanish, and Arabic