Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is a UN House and which agencies participate?
A: A UN House is a common premises shared by four UNDG Executive Committee (ExCom) Agencies and the RC's office. The ExCom Agencies are: UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF and WFP. Additionally, the building has been designated as a UN House by the Secretary-General. If there are less than four ExCom Agencies present in the country, a UN House can be designated with only those ExCom Agencies present in-country. A commitment to develop Common Services is also required.
Q: How does a UN House differ from UN Common Premises?
A: A building is regarded as UN Common Premises when only two or three ExCom Agencies share it with the RC's office, even though all four ExCom Agencies are present in the country. This type of premises arrangement is not designated by the Secretary-General. NB: the WGCP reviews both UN House and UN Common Premises renovation/construction proposals, regardless of whether their intended to be a UN House or UN Common Premises.
Q: Why a UN House/UN Common Premises?
A: The objectives are to achieve greater economies of scale, improve collaboration among UN Agencies and to present a unified UN image at the country level.
Q:What real estate options are available for creating a UN House?
A: The best option is for the Government to provide a rent-free building in move-in condition. See http://www.undp.org/unhouse/ for more information.
Q: Which Agencies are eligible for funding for a UN House/UN Common Premises?
A: If the UNCT's proposal is endorsed by the WGCP, the four ExCom Agencies (i.e. UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF and WFP) are eligible for funding from their respective headquarters. Please note:
1] There is no such thing as a 'WGCP' or 'UNDG' fund. Rather, each ExCom Agency has designated funds at HQs to cover their respective share of the one-time capital investments and cannot be used for recurrent/maintenance costs;
2] Non-ExCom Agencies fund their share of the project locally or through their respective Agency HQs.
Q: Who is the focal point at headquarters for UN House/UN Common Premises projects?
A: The Chair of the Working Group on Common Premises (WGCP) is Ms. Brenda Behan. The WGCP Chair rotates among the ExCom Agencies once every two years. Any premises-related matters may also be addressed to the WGCP Secretariat's focal point, Mr. Luigi Demunnik.
Q: How is space apportioned amongst agencies?
A:Space is apportioned based on Agency staff requirements using the JIU space standards. For more information on space distribution, please refer to http://www.undp.org/unhouse/
Q: How is the cost/benefit analysis (CBA) prepared?
A: The Standard CBA is a template developed by the WGCP, and requires data input, e.g. current space occupancy, projected space requirements, current operational costs, rental rates, etc. Cost comparisons are automatically generated. It is accompanied by the CBA User Manual to advise on the different steps of data entry. See http://www.undp.org/unhouse/ for more information.
Q: What should be included in the 'one-time capital investment'?
A: The one-time capital investment consists of the costs the UN system will incur during the project. Usually, such costs include the estimates for fitting-out the building (renovation, IT infrastructure, etc.) to meet the UN standards and the costs for moving into the new premises. Additionally, the one-time capital investment also includes the costs for bringing the building up to Minimum Operating Security Standards (MOSS). Please note that these security measures should be identified and listed separately in the proposal, as they are funded from different sources.
Q: What is the difference between an MOA, an MOU and a Lease?
A: An MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) is used to formalize the agreement among participating Agencies. It should therefore be signed by all participating Agencies/entities prior to entering into a Lease Agreement.
The MOA (Memorandum of Agreement) is the legal document used to formalize an agreement between UN Agencies and a Government, and is signed before the project starts.
The Lease Agreement is used by UN agencies to formalize a rental agreement in respect of commercial property.
Clearance must be obained from the respective HQs before signing any of these documents. See 'Supporting Documents' on http://www.undp.org/unhouse/for downloadable templates.
Q: How often does the WGCP meet and how does it make decisions?
A: The WGCP meets weekly and makes decisions based on consensus. Its decisions can be found in the meeting minutes.
Q: How does the UN House designation process take place?
A: Once the Country Team meets all criteria for a UN House, the WGCP informs the Development Group Office (DGO), which coordinates with the Secretary-General's office for designation and inauguration.