Assignment grant is provided to staff members at the beginning of their assignment or when they are reassigned. Its aim is to provide staff members with a reasonable cash amount for covering pre-departure expenses and settling expenses.

In cases where the staff member has not completed the period of service in respect of which the assignment grant has been paid, the grant shall be adjusted proportionately and recovery made under conditions established by the Secretary-General who, in exceptional circumstances, may decide to waive recovery.

The assignment grant is normally payable to staff in the Professional and higher categories appointed under the 100 or 200 series of the Staff Rules, who are authorized on travel involving relocation on initial appointment, assignment or transfer, and the period of service at the new duty station is expected to be for at least one year. It is not payable in the case of appointment or assignment to a special mission.

The assignment is comprised of two portions:

• Daily Subsistance Allowance (DSA) portion: (DSA x 30 days for the staff member) + (50% of DSA x 30 days for each dependant)
  
  
• Lump-sum portion: one month of net remuneration. If an assignment of less than 3 years' duration is subsequently extended to 3 years or more, a second 1-month lump-sum is payable at the time of extension providing the three year service. Please note however, the second month lump-sum is not applicable for staff assigned to HQ-Duty Stations.