Standard Letter Of Agreement Between The Government Of The Republic Of Latvia And United Nations Development Programme For The Provision Of Support Services

Excellency,

1. Reference is made to consultations between officials of the Government of the Republic of Latvia (hereinafter referred to as "the Government") and officials of United Nations Development Programme (hereinafter referred to as "UNDP") with respect to the provision of support services by the UNDP office in Latvia for nationally executed programmes or projects. The Government and UNDP hereby agree that the UNDP office in Latvia may provide such support services at the request of the Government through its Executing Agency designated in the relevant programme support document or project document, as described below.

2. For the purpose of this agreement:

(a) the term "Executing Agency" — the institution appointed by the Government, which implements projects or programmes supported by UNDP;

(b) the term "Government Coordinating Authority" — the institution authorized by the Government to coordinate projects or programmes supported by UNDP.

3. The UNDP office in Latvia may provide support services for execution activities, such as assistance with reporting requirements and direct payment. In providing such support services, the UNDP office in Latvia shall ensure that the capacity of the Executing Agency is strengthened to enable it to carry out such activities directly. The costs incurred by the UNDP office in Latvia in providing such support services shall be recovered from the administrative budget of the office. The costs incurred by the UNDP office in Latvia in providing such support services shall be recovered from the administrative budget of the office.

4. In addition, the UNDP office in Latvia may provide, at the request of the Executing Agency, the following support services for implementation activities:

(a) identification and assistance with and/or recruitment of project and programme personnel;

(b) identification and facilitation of training activities, including fellowship, short-term training and study tours;

(c) procurement of goods and services provided in the project document;

(d) access to UNDP-managed global information systems, the network of UNDP country offices and specialized systems containing operations information, including rosters of consultants and providers of development services.

5. The procurement of good and the recruitment of project or programme personnel by the UNDP office in Latvia shall be in accordance with the UNDP regulations, rules, policies and procedures. Support services described in Paragraph 4 above shall be detailed in an annex to the programme support document or project document, in the form provided in Attachment hereto. If the requirements for support services by the country office change during the life of a programme or project, the annex to the programme support document or project document is revised with the mutual agreement of the UNDP Resident Representative and the Executing Agency.

6. The relevant provisions of the UNDP Standard Basic Assistance Agreement with the Government signed on 23 December 1992, including the provisions on liability and privileges and immunities, shall apply to the provision of the support services. The Government shall retain overall responsibility for the nationally executed programme or project through its designated Executing Agency. The responsibility of the UNDP office in Latvia for the provision of the support services described herein shall be limited to the provision of such support services detailed in the annex to the programme support document or project document.

7. Any claim or dispute arising under or in connection with the provision of support services by the UNDP office in Latvia in accordance with this letter shall be handled pursuant to the relevant provisions of the Standard Basic Assistance Agreement.

8. The manner and method of cost recovery by the UNDP office in Latvia in providing the support services described in Paragraph 4 above shall be specified in the annex to the programme support document or project document.

9. The UNDP office in Latvia shall submit to the Government Coordinating Authority progress reports on the support services provided and shall report on the costs reimbursed in providing such services, as may be required.

10. Any modification of the present arrangement shall be effected by mutual written agreement of the Government and UNDP.

11. If you are in agreement with the provisions set forth above, please sign and return to the Office two signed copies of this letter. Upon your signature, this letter shall constitute an agreement between your Government and UNDP on the terms and conditions for the provision of support services by the UNDP office in Latvia for nationally executed programmes and projects.

Yours sincerely,

For the Government of Latvia: Valdis Birkavs Minister of Foreign Affairs

Signed on behalf of UNDP: Jan Sand Sorensen UNDP Latvia Resident Representative

Riga, 15 January 1999

Attachment

Standard Annex To The Programme Support Document / Project Document On UNDP Office In Latvia Support

Annex On UNDP Office In Latvia Support

1. Reference is made to consultations between the Executing Agency ( name of Executing Agency ) designed by the Government of the Republic of Latvia and officials of UNDP with respect to the provision of support services by the UNDP office in Latvia for the nationally executed programme or project ( programme or project number and title ) , "the Programme" ( or "the Project" ).

2. In accordance with the provisions of the Letter of Agreement signed on ( date of agreement ) and the programme support document ( or project document ), the UNDP office in Latvia shall provide support services for the Programme ( or Project ) as described below.

3. Support services to be provided:

1.

2.

3.

4. Description of functions and responsibilities of the parties involved.