New Exemption Criteria for the SESP

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Currently proposed projects below $500K are exempt fro the SESP requirement. Starting March 1, 2016, the $500K threshold  will be replaced with the following expanded list of risk-based exemption criteria:

• Preparation and dissemination of reports, documents and communication materials

• Organization of an event, workshop, training

• Strengthening capacities of partners to participate in international negotiations and conferences

• Partnership coordination (including UN coordination) and management of networks

• Global/regional projects with no country level activities (e.g. knowledge management, inter-governmental processes)

• UNDP acting as Administrative Agent

The $500,000 threshold was originally introduced as a way to phase in the screening procedure. Now, four years after the screening was introduced, it has become clear that projects valued under $500K can have significant risks related to safeguarding the rights of people and the environment. The SESP provides an important tool to help identify and manage risks for all sizes of projects.