Managing partnership with Sub-recipients

UNDP, as a Principal Recipient (PR), is responsible for grant implementation. However, the Sub-recipients (SRs) are the entities that implement most of programmatic project activities. SRs’ capacity to successfully implement their activities will determine grant performance and its contribution to the national disease programme. Therefore, the PR should cooperate with SRs in grant implementation and work to build SR capacity and, at the same time, ensure that SRs deliver the results they are responsible for in an accountable manner. To play both roles—capacity development and risk management—the UNDP Country Office (CO) should establish good working relationships with the SRs, as well as an effective management and oversight system.

Within the unit, the Project Management Unit (PMU) identifies persons in charge of monitoring the SR agreement and overseeing the SRs. For specific M&E, programmatic, financial and procurement topics, the PMU designates a person in each unit to supervise a specific group of SRs. Depending on its organizational chart, the PMU might decide to monitor SRs differently.  Regardless of particular PMU structure, coordination is essential to ensure that the PMU oversees all aspects of all SRs projects. Once the SR agreement has been signed, the PMU informs the SRs about the UNDP contact persons for the overall SR project and for specific questions: M&E, finance, asset and health products management.

In the induction workshop, the PMU informs the SRs about the processes in place in UNDP for monitoring and evaluation of activities, as well as financial and supply chain management. It is good practice for UNDP SR focal points in each unit of the PMU to plan additional meetings with the contact person and other relevant staff of the SRs (M&E, finance, procurement) for more detailed information about each system, in regard to the reports, management, quality requirements and controls.