Overview of Feature Enhancements and Bug Fixes in the eTools Release (August 29, 2025)
gPD
Enhancements & Fixes
- HACT fields added under Metadata tab (GPD): HACT Assessment Rating and HACT Last Assessment Date are now visible (for UNICEF users only) under the Metadata tab in PDs, improving partner profiling and assurance visibility.
- Signatures & Dates permissions clarified (GPD): Editing behavior in the Signatures & Dates section was inconsistent across Development, Review, and Approved statuses. Logic and permissions have been clarified and aligned with expected workflows.
Total: 2 updates
Partner Reporting Module
Enhancements & Fixes
Admin page crash with too many realms: Users with 100+ realms caused the admin user page to crash with a 400 Bad Request error. Resolved by removing inline realm editing for such cases; management can now be done through the separate Realm admin interface.
Allow PRP reporting until PD is Closed: Previously, reporting on indicators was blocked when PD status changed to “Ended.” Now, partners can continue to report until the PD is officially marked as “Closed.”
Update labels from SSFA to SPD: In alignment with IPM Handbook updates, all references to “SSFA” are now replaced with “SPD” across the PRP interface (menus, filters, exports, etc.).
Ensure full report export: Previously, PRP Excel and PDF exports included only reports in ACCEPTED and SUBMITTED status. Now, all reports—regardless of status—are included.
Automated location removal from indicators when removed from Strategy tab: Locations removed from Strategy now auto-remove from related indicators, avoiding validation errors during PD workflow transitions.
User sync fix: Addressed issue where user was not syncing to PRP.
Total: 6 updates
Partnership Management Portal
Enhancements & Fixes
- Indicators export restored (PDF & XLS): Users were unable to export indicators in PDF and Excel. Functionality has now been restored for both formats, ensuring smooth data sharing.
- Split “Import eCN” from “Add New PD” icon: Previously, “Import eCN” was nested under “Add New PD,” causing user confusion. It is now displayed as a standalone button for easier access.
- Remove “Government” page from left menu: The “Government” tab was redundant and caused confusion. Government-type filters remain available under the “Partners” section.
Budget Owners will now receive ePD notifications: Budget Owners will be notified of key triggers such as PRC review, partner acceptance, and PD submission. Email content includes PD reference, partner name, action required, and due date. This mirrors existing focal point notifications.
Notification preferences (opt-in/out): Budget Owners can opt out of specific notifications via role adjustment or with administrator support.
Total: 5 updates
Field Monitoring
Enhancements & Fixes
New question type: Multiple Choice: A new answer type has been added to the checklist question dropdown, enabling multiple-choice responses. This addresses challenges with analyzing free-text responses and improves data consistency across COs.
Add objective field + checklist in plan page: A new “Objective” text field has been added.
A multi-select checklist has been introduced with predefined categories (e.g., Programme Implementation Monitoring, Outputs and Results Verification, Risk and Compliance Monitoring, etc.). Enhances clarity on the purpose of the visit and supports structured monitoring workflows.
Unify exported date format: In Excel exports, date fields now follow a standardized YYYY-MM-DD format to ensure consistency and enable proper pivoting and analysis.
Detect unsupported style tags in pasted content: Pasting formatted text (e.g., from MS Word) into FMM input fields previously broke PDF exports. The system now detects unsupported formatting and prompts users to remove styles using the in-app editor.
Verify Action Points and attachments display in exports: Action Points now appear at the end of PDF exports after the “Findings” section. Attachments (e.g., photos and docs) are linked with clickable URLs for reference.
Total: 6 updates
Enhancements & Fixes
Improved sign-up validation and field clarity: "Display Name" renamed to “Full Name”; "Given Name" → “First Name”; "Surname" → “Last Name”. All name fields are now mandatory at sign-up and in user role edits. Validation prevents saving blank fields. “Position” field corrected to reflect that it is required.
Total: 1 update
General System Improvements
Enhancements & Fixes
Bulk deactivation of location records: New admin functionality allows users to bulk deactivate outdated locations, improving data hygiene without requiring one-by-one edits.
Critical ECN outage fix: The ECN portal (https://ecn.unicef.io/) was inaccessible across browsers and devices. The issue has been resolved to restore access to training and onboarding resources.
PostgreSQL database upgrade to v16: The main eTools backend database has been upgraded to PostgreSQL v16. Includes security, performance, and compatibility improvements. All modules passed smoke tests successfully.
Total: 3 updates