JPO Learning and Training Opportunities
| JPO Induction Course | DTTA | UNDP Knowledge Services | Finding training courses |JPO Programme Policy and Operations Induction Course
UNDP organises for its JPOs a 2 weeks 1/2 training course, held at Headquarters, New York. It is strongly recommended that JPOs with UNDP or its affiliated funds and programmes (UNCDF, UNDGO, UNIFEM and UNV) and UNOPS attend the course within the first 3-6 months of their assignment. The course should, however, be attended within the first year only for it to be effective.
The curriculum focuses on strategic, macro-level issues, UN/UNDP policies and development trends, including individual meetings with key counterparts in relevant areas of their work.
The next PPO courses will take place on the following dates:
- 21 April to 2 May 2008
- 9 to 20 June 2008 (to be confirmed)
- 15 to 26 September 2008 (to be confirmed)
- 1 to 12 December 2008 (to be confirmed)
UNAIDS, UNFPA, UNIDO and WHO organise similar induction trainings for their JPOs.
The next UNFPA PPO course will take place from 5 to 14 May 2008 in New York.
Annual duty-related travels and trainings allocations (DTTA)
The duty-related travels and trainings allocations (DTTA) is provided by the sponsoring Government for work-related activities, such as participation in seminars, workshops, round-table discussions at national, regional, sub-regional and/or international level, etc.
The following rules apply to all JPOs but those funded by Denmark. Please click here to access the DTTA guidelines for Danish JPOs.
The DTTA is an allocation made by JPO-sponsoring countries on an annual basis and is available only during the donor-funded period of the JPO assignment. The amount of the allocation per annum is donor-specific and subject to change at short notice (see currently-applicable amounts in the table below). Where the JPO contract period is less than a year, the DTTA is pro-rated accordingly.
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For UNAIDS JPOs
No specific rules exist on how to apply DTTA. Therefore, to make use of the DTTA, the JPO must:
- Identify a possible activity for use of the funds.
- Complete an "Individual Learning Application Form".
- Ask supervisor's approval of the identified activity by signature of the "Individual Learning Application Form".
- Forward the signed form to the UNAIDS Staff Development Adviser in Geneva Ms. Virginia H. Guerrero with copy to Ms. Susana Chau.
- Once the "Individual Learning Application Form" has been approved by both supervisor and the UNAIDS Learning Manager, forward the form and any other relevant information to the HR Associate at the JPOSC.
- The HRA at the JPOSC will now explain and facilitate the administrative procedures related to the payments and travel arrangements as applicable.
For WHO JPOs
No specific rules exist on how to apply DTTA. Therefore, to make use of the DTTA, the JPO must:
- Identify a possible activity for use of the funds.
- Ask supervisor's approval of the identified activity for use of DTTA (an e-mail approval is sufficient).
- Send an e-mail to the donor government and make sure they agree on using DTTA for the identified activity (not applicable for JPOs funded by Belgium, Denmark, Germany or Italy).
- Forward the approval from the supervisor and government to the JPO focal point at WHO Geneva for final approval.
- Forward the three approvals (from supervisor, donor and WHO Geneva) to the HR Associate at the JPOSC along with all the relevant information on the identified activity: Duration, location, budget (including training fees, tickets, DSA and terminal expenses as applicable).
- The HRA at the JPOSC will then explain and facilitate the administrative procedures related to the payments and travel arrangements as applicable.
For JPOs assigned with UNDP and its affiliated funds (UNCDF, UNDGO, UNIFEM, UNV), UNFPA, UNOPS and UPU
The DTTA is not used to cover the expenses of the programme policy and operations induction course.
The objective of the DTTA is to strengthen and further develop the JPO's knowledge and skills relevant to the JPO assignment, and thus to enhance his/her performance during the assignment. The DTTA is to be utilized throughout the assignment, not "in the last minute".
Utilisation of the DTTA funds must be requested in consultation with the JPO's direct supervisor. A member of the respective senior management team, who has the experience and background to enable him/her to make the appropriate decision, bearing in mind the benefit of the office and the JPO, makes final determination.
Written authorisation for charging relevant DTTA costs up to the amount allocated by the donor to the JPO's account is provided by the JPO Service Centre to the country office upon arrival of the JPO. Such authorisation is valid for the entire duration of the donor-funded JPO assignment. Unspent funds can be carried over to the following JPO contract year.
Only those accounting entries, which had been specifically authorised by the JPO Service Centre, would be accepted as valid charges to the respective JPOs' budget. Management of the DTTA account is decentralized to the country offices, including the monitoring of the amount available. It is incumbent, however, on the senior management of the country office to ensure that only those training/ learning activities, which are relevant to the JPO assignment, are authorized and that the following control mechanisms and guidelines are strictly adhered to:
- "Running balance" spreadsheets, showing all the transactions charged to DTTA (broken down by name) should be attached to all JPO budgets.
- As a general rule, the DTTA should not be used for language and computer training in view
of the fact that these types of training are a prerequisite for selection and are normally provided
by the sponsoring government prior to the JPO assignment. Language and computer training on
exceptional cases have to be authorized by the sponsoring government.
JPOs funded by Germany may however use their DTTA for language training, with approval of their supervisor, if deemed necessary for the performance of their duties and if language training cannot otherwise be provided free of charge."
JPOs funded by Switzerland may use their DTTA in exceptional cases - such as Russian or Arabic - for language courses, when these can contribute to the JPO's understanding of the country in which he/she is and when communication with communities is thus made easier. In case they are expensive, the DTTA budget line can be exceptionally increased. - The DTTA should not be used for studies leading to the obtention of a degree as this is a prerequisite for selection to the JPO Programme.
- The DTTA is intended for use in the country of assignment, but at the discretion of senior management, training/learning activities abroad as well as participation to regional JPO workshops may be exceptionally authorized.
- The DTTA should not be used to cover training and travel costs relating to training courses in the home country or (if different) the country that sponsors the assignment. Authorization from the sponsoring government is needed on exceptional cases.
- The ratio between training-related travel costs and training/learning per se should be reasonable. It is expected that travel and accommodation costs will not represent the major portion of the training/learning activity.
If JPOs or their supervisors are in doubt about the DTTA eligibility of an intended training they can consult with the JPOSC in advance.
UNDP Knowledge Services
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) offers state-of-the-art knowledge services that engage its global network of development practitioners to provide timely and high-quality advice, expertise and know-how to policy makers and other partners in the countries where UNDP operates - helping them pursue the best possible development solutions.
JPOs can also take considerably advantage of the UNDP Knowledge Services initiative to develop their proficiency in their respective practice areas.
Knowledge services are provided principally through two mechanisms. Thematically defined "knowledge networks" function as global communities having a shared interest and professional focus. Geographically organized Regional Centres and Sub-Regional Resource Facilities (SURFs) work for specific clusters of country offices, and have advisory and research capacity to address substantive issues in greater depth.
The major networks currently number twelve: Democratic Governance; Poverty Reduction; Crisis Prevention and Recovery; Energy and Environment; ICT for Development; HIV/AIDS; Evaluation; Gender Equality; Human Development Reports; Management Practice; Millennium Development Goals; and, Small Enterprise and Microfinance. The networks are dynamic and evolve in response to community interests, resulting in the creation of both new networks and sub-networks with more targeted themes or a regional focus.
Regional Centres:
- Asia-Pacific - Bangkok
- Asia-Pacific - Colombo
- Europe and CIS - Bratislava
- East and Southern Africa - Johannesburg
- Pacific Centre - Suva, Fiji
Sub-Regional Resource Facilities (SURFs):
Please click here to know more about the UNDP Knowledge Services. JPOs that have access to the UNDP Intranet can also check the internal link to the Network.
Finding training courses
- Some useful web links on learning/training opportunities
- Feedback from JPOs regarding training
- Using the UNDP's Learning Manager Network
- Using the UNDP's Electronic Platform for Learning