FAQs - Joint Programmes/Initiatives

Find all the frequently asked questions on the Joint Programmes/Initiatives right here.

Why can't I see the Joint Programmes/Initiatives in the suboutput dropdown?

If a sub-output ends after the JP's end date or starts before the JP's start date, the JP will not appear as an option. Remember, sub-outputs should fall within the timeframe of the Joint Programme; otherwise, then clearly you are trying to align a sub-output that does not derive from the Joint Programme, which is not correct.

I have multi-entity suboutputs and the system is not allowing me to link them to JPs.

This is correct. The system will not allow you to link any multi-entity sub-output to any JP, as we want to ensure that all sub-outputs are single entity in the long run. This way, you can showcase the components each UN entity is responsible for within a JP. So, if a JP involves three UN entities, there should be at least three sub-outputs associated with that JP, with each component providing details on the exact interventions from each agency.

UN entities have reported broad suboutputs in some cases (for example: UN entities CPDs outputs reported as suboutputs), so we cannot link them to JPs because the resources from those suboutputs are not only related to the JPs but those suboutputs also include other programmatic interventions. For example, a single suboutput can include 6 different projects/programmes and one of those is a Joint Programme.

We advise you to create sub-outputs specifically for each JP. We understand that if you have five Joint Programmes, this will increase the number of sub-outputs. However, this approach will allow you to better showcase those JPs in the Data Portal in the future and run analytics, as you will be able to easily identify each JP’s specific geolocation, implementation partners, contributing partners, SDGs, markers, funding, and more.

Where can I find the video on the Joint Programmes/Initiatives?

You can find it here - UN INFO Capturing Joint Programmes and Joint Initiatives. This folder is in the DCO Knowledge Portal (https://unitednations.sharepoint.com/sites/DCO-WG-UNSDG_CF), so anyone who already has access to it should be able to see it.

Some JP have a lifespan of before the current CF but running into the current CF, if we enter the total budget will this not have implications on the current CF resources which include for example 2020 and 2021 budgets? How do we handle this?

No worries about this. The JP's total budget is entered only once, which is why we are pulling information on sub-outputs only regarding the expenditure in the last year for sub-outputs linked to those JPs. For example, if you have a JP that started in 2020 and ends in 2025, we understand that the total budget is implemented across two different plans (your old UNDAF, and the current Cooperation Framework for 2022-2026). The total budget you report for the JP is not used to report the total budget for the Cooperation Framework for a specific year. For that, we use the sub-output information.

This means that, in the future, you will have sub-outputs from different Cooperation Frameworks linked to the same JP. Of course, the sub-outputs under the same JP will be associated with different outputs and outcomes from different CFs, and this is completely expected.

On the term “Not part of a Joint program or Joint Initiative”. What do we mean? Does it means that sub-output is not part of a joint program or initiative?

Yes correct. It is expected that most sub-outputs to be marked as "Not part of a program", unless they belong to a joint program or initiative. By default, any sub-output you create will be marked as that, unless you specify the JP or JI they belong to.

When it comes to linking with sub-outputs, do we need to link all sub-outputs or we just link only those sub-outputs that are joint programme or joint initiatives?

You are only expected to link those sub-outputs that actually belong to a Joint Programme or Joint Initiative. Please be sure to watch the recordings if you were not in the meetings and also the definitions included in the ppt. We do not expect that many Joint Programmes and Joint Initiatives. So, it should not take you that long to update the information. It is expected that must of your suboutputs to be marked as "Not part of a program".

Is the date matching restriction also for joint initiatives? I was unable to link the sub-output to joint initiative as well.

es, you cannot align sub-outputs beyond the timeframe of the Joint Programme and Joint Initiative. Sub-outputs aligned to a JP or JI must fall within the timeframe. Otherwise, it does not make sense to align them in the first place, as it would be clear that you are trying to align interventions that are actually outside of the JP or JI.

Could you please advise whether the Joint programme like EU-UN Spotlight Programme which has started in 2020 during UNDAF (2016-2022) and finished in 2023 during CF should be still captured in UNINFO as a Joint Programme. Considering 2023 Spotlight budget has been already reflected in UN Agencies sub-outputs in 2023 I have already included Spotlight as a Joint Programme however due to difference in the period of implementation I cannot link any related sub-outputs. Please advise.

Remember to prioritize the active Joint Programmes for now. It is good that you want to report previous ones, since we are planning to add visuals on UN INFO Data Portal on JPs next year, and you would like to show case that one that finished in 2023 (where your CF started). But please prioritize the active JP, since these will be the ones pulled by IMS when it comes to reporting this year.

You can always report the Joint Programme end date as 2023 and include under that JP the suboutputs associated with that JP. Of course, you will not have all the suboutputs from previous years associated for that JP. But remember that what we pull from suboutputs are the agencies, SDGs and expenditure. In this case, since this JP finished in 2023 it will not be pulled in IMS for this year, since we are interested in last year's expenditure (which by then it will be 2024).

What if the Spotlight Fund recipient UN Agency has mobilized additional resources and now continues implementation of interventions on the same sub-output. In this case the implementation will be until 2024 and thus I will not be able to link this sub-output with the Spotlight programme. Does it mean that in this case I have to split again single output into small sub-outputs increasing the number of sub-outputs with the same formulation?

You have agencies' CPD outputs as suboutputs in UN INFO, which has already given you trouble when it comes to reporting Gender Marker for example.

Yes, you will have to split the suboutput, because if not it will look like that Joint Programme is still under implementation, when in reality it is not the case. The scope of your current suboutputs is too broad that it makes it hard for you to identify the scope of the suboutput. Your current suboutput has interventions that are directly related to the Joint Programme and also other interventions outside of the scope of the Joint Programme. This is why we have designed this new feature this way, to properly capture the specific interventions under the Joint Programmes.

One of our Joint programmes is under final consideration by SDG Fund management and soon will be approved and thus we cannot formulate any sub-outputs for this JP "Transforming Food Systems for Better Nutrition in Tajikistan" by end of August 2024. Shall I delete it now? But it can be approved perhaps by end of August as its implementation is expected in September 2024

I would suggest keeping it, since the IMS period is until November, you will probably have the information by that time. Estefania will run an analysis by the end of August or beginning of September on the number of JPs reported and we want to capture as many active Joint Programms as possible. Do you know the planned start date for that Joint Programme? I assume that JP will start their implementation until next year, so even if it is approved this year, if the starts date is 2025, it will not be pulled on IMS this year as an active JP.

For Sub-outputs were UN agencies coming together to share cost for support national reporting such as the UPR, CRC convention, can we tag these as Joint initiative?

Yes, for support where entities are collaborating on support to national reporting processes, you can mention these as joint initiatives.

What is the policy/programming team advice on UNAIDS?

Regarding the question on UNAIDS. Here is the policy/programming team advice on UNAIDS. Whilst acknowledging that UNAIDS is a Joint Programme, UNAIDS is also a signatory to the Cooperation Framework, full member of the UNCT (and a UNSDG member). So for the purposes of consistency in UNINFO – and ease of analytics - UNAIDS – already included as UNCT member - should not be reflected as a Joint Programme implemented at country level. Instead, UNAIDS is encouraged to contribute to the JWP by providing details on the sub-outputs which contribute towards achieving the Cooperation Framework results. If there are initiatives under the joint HIV/AIDS plan at the country level, we suggest that they be captured in UNINFO in one of the following ways:Scenario 1 (Funding Source UNAIDS) – If UNAIDS is the source of funds for an HIV/AIDS initiative being implemented by other UN entities (e.g. UNFPA, UNDP), create a sub-output listing UNAIDS in the sub-output details. In order to showcase the collaboration on this entity-specific sub-output, including UNFPA and UNDP (or applicable entities) as the implementation partners. Scenario 2 (Funding Source UN Entity Other Sources of Funding) - If a UN entity is implementing an initiative under the HIV/AIDS Workplan in the country with its agency funds (core or non-core), create a sub-output listing the UN entity as the Agency in the sub-output details. You can then create a "Joint Initiative" and link those interventions under the same Joint Initiative.