UNEX: transforming financial reporting across UN Partner Entities

Managing project expenditures across multiple UN partner agencies has long been a complex undertaking. With diverse reporting formats, multiple currencies, and high transaction volumes, financial oversight often required significant manual effort and offered limited visibility into real-time project delivery status. 

To address these challenges, the UNDP Global Shared Services Centre (GSSC), in collaboration with Information & Technology Management (ITM) and Office of Financial Resources Management /Financial Performance Management and Reporting (OFRM/FPMR), modernized and expanded the UNEX platform—an evolution of legacy Atlas-based reporting processes—transforming it into a cloud-based solution designed to enhance the quality, transparency, and efficiency of financial reporting for external partner entities. Through UNEX, implementing partners can submit project delivery reports directly, track advances aging, and receive immediate system feedback on data completeness and data quality. 

Unlike Quantum, UNDP’s internal financial system, UNEX is tailored specifically for external users. The platform is currently used by 15 key partner agencies, including UNOPS, UN Women, FAO, WHO, and UN-Habitat, which play a critical role in delivering UNDP-supported programmes worldwide. In 2025 alone, UNEX supported the reporting of approximately US$93 million in project expenditures, highlighting both the scale and operational importance of this initiative. 

Built on Oracle Cloud PaaS, UNEX provides the scalability, security, and performance required to support a growing network of partners. Its seamless integration with Quantum and the UNDP data warehouse ensures that financial data remains consistent and synchronized across systems, strengthening overall data integrity. 

“The updated UNEX platform has significantly improved the way we report Project Delivery Reports compared to the previous process of emailing spreadsheets. It is easy to navigate and user‑friendly, enables quicker processing, provides instant feedback on errors, and offers clear traceability of submissions,” says Diana Miriti, Finance and Budget Assistant, Financial Reporting Unit, UNON  

Before the introduction of the enhanced UNEX platform, financial reporting relied heavily on manual processes. Partner agencies submitted quarterly delivery reports through Excel files sent via email to the GSSC. Each submission required detailed review by GSSC personnel, who manually verified figures, currencies, and budget allocations. This approach was resource-intensive, susceptible to human error, and often resulted in delays and fragmented communication. 

UNEX fundamentally changes this approach by introducing a self-service reporting environment. Through an intuitive interface, agencies can upload reports directly into the system, where automated validation checks instantly flag missing or inconsistent entries. These checks cover key elements such as file structure, decimal accuracy, and alignment with the chart of accounts, significantly reducing the need for manual intervention. 

“UNEX allows us to focus on more strategic tasks, as the system takes care of routine validation processes,” notes Naglaa Fouda, GSSC Finance Specialist. 

The platform also introduces standardized multi-currency reporting, enabling agencies to record expenditures in their original currency while ensuring consistency across submissions. This eliminates the need for manual conversions and reduces the risk of discrepancies, making the reporting process more straightforward for all stakeholders. 

In addition, UNEX enforces structured quarterly reporting cycles, removing the need for cumulative submissions and offering a clearer, more organized view of financial data. This supports improved reconciliation and strengthens financial oversight across projects. 

“The built-in validation mechanisms give us greater confidence in the data submitted. Errors are minimized at the source, reducing the need reducing the need for intensive manual checks.,” says Azira Ain Ahmad Zahudi, GSSC Finance Analyst. 

Beyond data submission, UNEX enhances visibility through its advanced reporting features. Agencies can track the status of their submissions, track outstanding balances and projects posted PDR expenditures). This level of transparency reduces reliance on email correspondence and manual tracking, enabling more timely and informed decision-making. 

The evolution of UNEX reflects a strong collaborative effort between the GSSC, ITM and OFRM/FPMR, ensuring that the platform responds effectively to the operational needs of both service providers and partner entities. Launched as an upgraded platform in the fourth quarter of 2025, UNEX replaces and modernizes legacy processes inherited from ATLAS, marking a significant step forward in strengthening UNDP’s financial ecosystem. 

Looking ahead, the GSSC plans to further expand the platform to additional partner agencies while deepening integration with internal systems. As UNDP continues to advance its efficiency and reform agenda, UNEX stands as a practical example of how digital innovation can strengthen service delivery and accountability across the UN system. 

By automating reporting processes and reinforcing data integrity, UNEX enables both GSSC and its partners to dedicate more time and resources to what matters most: delivering impactful results on the ground.