United Nations Development Programme

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the United Nations' global development network.
Headquartered in New York City, UNDP advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge,
experience and resources to help people build a better life. It provides expert advice, training, and grant
support to developing countries, with increasing emphasis on assistance to the least developed countries.
The status of UNDP is that of an executive board within the United Nations General Assembly. The UNDP
Administrator is the third highest-ranking official of the United Nations after the United Nations SecretaryGeneral and Deputy Secretary-General.[2]
To accomplish the MDGs and encourage global development, UNDP focuses on poverty reduction, HIV/AIDS,
democratic governance, energy and environment, social development, and crisis prevention and recovery.
UNDP also encourages the protection of human rights and the empowerment of women in all of its
programmes. The UNDP Human Development Report Office also publishes an annual Human Development
Report (since 1990) to measure and analyse developmental progress. In addition to a global Report, UNDP
publishes regional, national, and local Human Development Reports. [3]
UNDP is funded entirely by voluntary contributions from member nations. The organization operates in 177
countries, where it works with local governments to meet development challenges and develop local capacity.
Additionally, the UNDP works internationally to help countries achieve the Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs). Currently, the UNDP is one of the main UN agencies involved in the development of the Post2015 Development Agenda.
UNDP works with nations on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they
develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and its wide range of partners

Founding[edit]
The UNDP was founded on the 22nd of November 1965 with the merger of the Expanded Programme of
Technical Assistance or EPTA and the United Nations Special Fund.[5] The rationale was to "avoid duplication
of [their] activities". The EPTA was to help the economic and political aspects of underdeveloped countries
while the Special Fund was to enlarge the scope of UN technical assistance. [6][7]

Budget[edit]
In 2013, UNDPs entire budget was approximately 5 billion USD.[8]

Functions[edit]
UNDPs offices and staff are on the ground in 177 countries, working with governments and local communities
to help them find solutions to global and national development challenges.
UNDP links and coordinates global and national efforts to achieve the goals and national development
priorities laid out by host countries. UNDP focuses primarily on five developmental challenges:

Democratic governance[edit]
UNDP supports national democratic transitions by providing policy advice and technical support,
improving institutional and individual capacity within countries, educating populations about and advocating
for democratic reforms, promoting negotiation and dialogue, and sharing successful experiences from other
countries and locations. UNDP also supports existing democratic institutions by increasing dialogue,
enhancing national debate, and facilitating consensus on national governance programmes.

Poverty reduction[edit]
UNDP helps countries develop strategies to combat poverty by expanding access to economic opportunities
and resources, linking poverty programmes with countries larger goals and policies, and ensuring a greater
voice for the poor. UNDP also works at the macro level to reform trade, encourage debt relief and foreign
investment, and ensure the poorest of the poor benefit from globalisation.
On the ground, UNDP sponsors developmental pilot projects, promotes the role of women in development,
and coordinates efforts between governments, NGOs, and outside donors. In this way, UNDP works with local
leaders and governments to provide opportunities for impoverished people to create businesses and improve
their economic condition.
The UNDP International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth (IPC-IG)[1] in Braslia, Brazil expands the
capacities of developing countries to design, implement and evaluate socially inclusive development projects.
IPC-IG is a global forum for South-South policy dialogue and learning, having worked with more than 7,000
officials from more than 50 countries.
A 2013 evaluation of the UNDPs poverty reduction efforts states that the UNDP has effectively supported
national efforts to reduce poverty, by helping governments make policy changes that benefit the poor.
[9]
Nevertheless, the same evaluation also states there is a strong need for better measurement and
monitoring of the impacts of the UNDP's work.[10] The UNDPs Strategic Plan 2014-2017 incorporates the
recommendations of this poverty evaluation.[11]

Crisis prevention and recovery[edit]

UNDP works to reduce the risk of armed conflicts or disasters, and promote early recovery after crisis have
occurred. UNDP works through its country offices to support local government in needs assessment, capacity
development, coordinated planning, and policy and standard setting.
Examples of UNDP risk reduction programmes include efforts to control small arms proliferation, strategies to
reduce the impact of natural disasters, and programmes to encourage use of diplomacy and prevent violence.
Recovery programmes include disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants, demining
efforts, programmes to reintegrate displaced persons, restoration of basic services, and transitional justice
systems for countries recovering from warfare.

Environment and Energy[edit]

As the poor are disproportionately affected by environmental degradation and lack of access to clean,
affordable water, sanitation and energy services, UNDP seeks to address environmental issues in order to
improve developing countries abilities to develop sustainably, increase human development and reduce
poverty. UNDP works with countries to strengthen their capacity to address global environmental issues by
providing innovative policy advice and linking partners through environmentally sensitive development
projects that help poor people build sustainable livelihoods.
UNDPs environmental strategy focuses on effective water governance including access to water
supply and sanitation, access to sustainable energy services, Sustainable land management to
combat desertification and land degradation, conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, and policies to
control emissions of harmful pollutants and ozone-depleting substances. UNDP's Equator Initiative office
biennially offers the Equator Prize to recognize outstanding indigenous community efforts to reduce poverty
through the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, and thus making local contributions to achieving
the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

HIV/AIDS[edit]
HIV/AIDS is a big issue in today's society and UNDP works to help countries prevent further spreading and
reduce its impact, convening The Global Commission on HIV and the Law which reported in 2012. [12]

Hub for Innovative Partnerships[edit]

Major programmes underway are:[13]

ART Global Initiative

World Alliance of Cities Against Poverty

Territorial Approach to Climate Change

AfricaKazakhstan Partnership for the SDGs

Human Development Report[edit]

Since 1990, the UNDP has annually published the Human Development Report, which includes topics
on Human Development and the annual Human Development Index.[3]

Evaluation[edit]
The UNDP spends about 0.2% of its budget on internal evaluation of the effectiveness of its programmes.
[14]
The UNDPs Evaluation Office is a member of the UN Evaluation Group (UNEG) which brings together all
the units responsible for evaluation in the UN system. Currently the UNEG has 43 members and 3 observers