Formulation process and release of funds

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Resident Coordinators will lead the development of Joint Programme documents within 8 weeks following notification of the approval of the Concept Paper. Joint Programme documents should follow the latest Guidelines established by the Development Group Office.

An advance of up to $20,000 may be requested to assist Country Teams in developing the Joint Programme document. The advance will be provided to one of the Participating UN Organizations to be designated by the Resident Coordinator at the time of submission of the Concept Note. The advance should be recovered from the final budget of the approved programme under ‘formulation costs’. The Multi-Donor Trust Fund Office will administer the advance.

The Resident Coordinator will be responsible for ensuring that the Joint Programme document (a) reflects the original submission contained in the Concept Note which formed the basis of the Steering Committee approval (b) meets the Fund’s design and accountability standards and (c) satisfactorily addresses any concerns or questions that have arisen during the review process.

The draft Joint Programme document will then be submitted to the Fund Secretariat.  The Fund Secretariat will review the document with a view to ensuring consistency in design standards. The Secretariat may also seek technical comments on the draft document from a recognized expert in the field.  

The Joint Programme will then be presented to the Steering Committee for final decision and budget approval.

On receipt of the Steering Committee’s final budget approval, the Fund Secretariat will release funds for the implementation of the full Joint Programme to the Multi Donor Trust Fund Office.

On receipt of a copy of the signed Joint Programme document, the Multi Donor Trust Fund Office will pass funds to the Participating UN Organization(s). The Administrative Agent will release funds to Participating UN Organizations in annual allocations, with second year advances (and beyond), subject to meeting performance and delivery benchmarks. Periodic reviews of programme management and finances will be undertaken jointly by the country-level Steering Committee.

The application process for the “One UN” Country Pilots window will be transmitted to eligible UN Country Teams as soon as it is available.