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UNDEF Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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  • What are UNDEF's objectives?

  • The primary purpose of the Fund is to promote democracy throughout the world by providing assistance to projects that consolidate and strengthen democratic institutions and facilitate democratic governance. The Fund complements and builds upon current UN efforts, programmes and projects and ensures an integrated, coherent, and demand-driven approach. Furthermore, the UN’s efforts to promote democracy are inseparable from its broader work for security, development and human rights.

  • Does UNDEF endorse one specific model of democracy?

  • No, the Fund does not support a single model of democracy. As echoed in the World Summit's Outcome Document (2005), as democracy is one of the “universal and indivisible core values and principles of the United Nations”, it is not “owned” by any a single country or region, not does it follow one particular model.

  • Why was UNDEF established?

  • Democracy and democratization have long been part of the UN's overall agenda, as reflected in many UN documents including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), the Agenda for Democracy (1996) and the Millennium Declaration (2000) which put emphasis on popular participation in governance.

    Specific entities of the UN System have been explicitly addressing these issues for some time, notably the UN Department of Political Affairs, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and UN Development Programme.

    In the wake of the UN reform, the wish to re-emphasize the importance of this issue and further develop efforts in this regard was materialized in the Secretary-General proposals to the 2005 World Summit. One of these proposals was the creation of the Democracy Fund at the United Nations, which was welcomed by Member States.

  • How does UNDEF work with other UN entities?

  • The Fund attempts to complement existing activities, and respond to requests that go beyond the reach of existing mechanisms. It works closely with other UN bodies to ensure coordination.

    In order to do so, one of the key actors of the UNDEF’s governance structure is the Programme Consultative Group (PCG). The PCG is composed of representatives from
    the UN Department of Political Affairs, the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations, the UN Development Fund for Women, the UN Development Programme, the UN development Group, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights giving substantive and scientific advice to the UNDEF Office and the Advisory Board on project proposals and funding criteria.

  • What are the sources of UNDEF's funding?

  • UNDEF is a voluntary fund, established as a Trust Fund by the Secretary-General under the UN Financial Rules and Regulations. For an updated version of the current funding, please refer to the Financial Contributors section of the UNDEF website.

  • Who can submit project proposals to UNDEF?

  • A wide range of democracy and governance actors can submit a project to the UNDEF: National and International Non Governmental Organisations and Civil Society Organisations, National, regional and local governments and public institutions, Independent and Constitutional Bodies, UN Departments, Agencies, Funds and Programmes, Global and regional inter-governmental bodies, organizations and associations

    More detailed information on funding priorities and on how to submit project proposals is available in the Project Proposal Guidelines.

  • Is UNDEF's funding subject to conditionality?

  • No, UNDEF will regularly call for proposals and these will be selected and decided on their merits. The Project Proposal Guidelines, however, specify certain eligibility criteria for funding and underline specific considerations also taken into account while selecting the received project proposals.
    UNDEF aims at supporting action-oriented projects that promote democracy and whose outputs would strengthen, for instance, the relations between Civil Society and Governmental Bodies, the inclusion and participation of marginalized segments of society and vulnerable groups, or foster South-South cooperation.
    On the contrary, UNDEF gives low-priority to activities where a substantial part of the budget covers institutional recurrent costs and/or personnel costs, official/UN travel and/or conference services, or research activities.

    For more detailed information, please refer to the Project Proposal Guidelines available in the “Programming Documents” section of this website.

  • Could UNDEF funding be used as a tool for political interference?

  • The purpose of the Fund is to build capacities for democratic governance, especially at the country level. This can only be done effectively in a supportive institutional environment. Activities funded by the UNDEF will not be imposed on a country. The approach will be one of cooperation and support.

  • Who decides what projects will be funded?

    Final decisions on funding are taken by the Secretary-General on the basis of recommendations from the Advisory Board. The Board has 17 members, composed of Member States, representatives appointed by the Secretary General including representatives from civil society and the Executive Director of the UN Office for Partnerships.

  • How will projects be evaluated?

  • Agreed project documents will require implementing partners to provide regular reports. Monitoring will be conducted by the executing agent or another party appointed by UNDEF. Evaluation modalities and implementation arrangements, as well as audit exercise will be decided directly by UNDEF. The Fund also submits reports to the ACABQ and the Fifth Committee of the General Assembly as required.

  • What are the organizational arrangements for UNDEF?

  • The Democracy Fund has its own Executive Head and staff. The Executive Head reports directly to the Advisory Board on substantive matters and reports to the Executive Director of UN Office for Partnerships for administrative purposes.

    UN Office for Patnerships provides the necessary administrative and financial support in a cost-effective way.

  • Where is UNDEF located?

  • UNDEF is based in UN Headquarters, New York, within the UN Office for Partnerships which provides management oversight to the Fund.

    updated November 2007