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Our guiding principles

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Our guiding principles

UNDP’s procurement processes are underpinned by a set of core principles that guarantee fairness, integrity, and transparency. These principles are essential for fostering trust and confidence among stakeholders and ensuring that procurement and supply activities contribute to the overall mission of sustainable development. The overarching principles that guide UNDP procurement are:

Icons representing values: value for money, fairness, integrity, transparency, effective competition, and organizational interests.

 

  • Best Value for Money: Selecting offers that present the optimal balance of quality, cost, and efficiency.
  • Fairness: Ensuring equal opportunity for all potential suppliers and contractors, and promoting open competition.
  • Integrity: Upholding ethical standards and preventing corruption or malpractice throughout the procurement lifecycle.  
  • Transparency: Maintaining openness in procurement processes to allow for scrutiny and accountability.
  • Effective Competition: Encouraging a competitive environment to secure the best possible outcomes.
  • Best Interest of UNDP: Business transactions must conform to the mandates and principles of UNDP and the United Nations.

UNDP has to strictly observe its financial rules and regulations. While this may sometimes lengthen the procurement process, UNDP delegates a significant amount of authority to its Country Offices, has introduced more flexible methods for low-value/low-risk purchasing, and approves purchase orders electronically, all of which save time and money for the organization and its vendors.