UNDP

What is UNDP? / Introduction

The UNDP or United Nations Development Programme was formed in 1965 by the General
Assembly of the United Nations. Its parenting organization is the ECOSOC – United Nations
Economic and Social Council. Head of the UNDP is Achim Steiner, Administrator (17 May 1961 (age
57 years), Brazil).
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) provides expert advice, training and grants
support to developing countries, with an increasing emphasis on assistance to the least developed
countries. It promotes technical and investment cooperation among nations.
 The UNDP Executive Board is made up of representatives from 36 countries around the
world.
 It is funded entirely by voluntary contributions from member nations.
 UNDP is central to the United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG), a network
that spans almost 170 countries and unites the 40 UN funds, programmes, specialized
agencies and other bodies working to advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
 The UNDP is considered an executive board within the UN General Assembly (UNGA).

Human Development Report

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 analyses developmental progress.
The Human Development Index (HDI) is a statistic composite index of life expectancy, education,
and per capita income indicators, which are used to rank countries into four tiers of human
development.
A country scores a higher HDI when the lifespan is higher, the education level is higher, and the
Gross National Income GNI (PPP) per capita is higher.

Main Goals
 No poverty
 Zero hunger
 Good health and wellbeing
 Quality education
 Gender equality
 Clean water and sanitation
 Economic growth
 Industry innovation and infrastructure
 Reduced inequalities
 Climate action
 Pease justice and strong institution

Membership
• All the nations of the world, both rich and poor are the members in the UNDP.
• The nations meet annually and pledge contributions to the UNDP
• India is a member in the UNDP.

Functions
 It helps countries develop strategies to eradicate poverty by expanding access to various
economic opportunities and resources, i.e. through linking poverty programs with countries’
larger policies and goals, thus ensuring a greater voice for the poor sections.

 It further works to reduce the risk of armed conflicts and promotes early recovery after the
crises. It works through its country offices to support the local government in capacity
development, assessments, coordinated planning and policy.

 UNDP to seek to address environmental issues as poor people are disproportionately affected
by environmental calamities. It works with countries to strengthen its capacity to address
global environmental issues by providing innovative policies.

 It provides policy advice, technical support, and also by improving institutional and
individual capacity, providing education about democratic reforms, promoting negotiation
and sharing successful experiences from other countries to support democratic transitions.

 UNDP believes that human right violations and unequal gender relations fuel the spread of
the HIV epidemic. To eradicate such an epidemic, it works with the United Nations AIDS and
helps countries to put HIV/AIDS at the centre of national development and build national
capacity to mobilize all levels of government and the society.

UNDP and India

India and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have worked since 1951 on various
issues related to human development involving sustainable livelihoods, environment, literacy,
institutional strengthening, sustainable energy and resilience.
 The Government of India aligned with UNDP to work on the India 2030 National
Development Mission and build further Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
 The three major areas of focus for UNDP India’s country programme for 2018-2022 are: o
Inclusive Growth o Environment & Energy o Strengthening Systems & Institutions
 The nodal agency for all matters related to UNDP in India is the Department of Economic
Affairs, Finance Ministry of India.
The UNDP has offices in 6 locations in India-
 Guwahati, Assam (for the North-East)
 Chandigarh, Haryana
 Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
 Mumbai, Maharashtra
 New Delhi
 Ranchi, Jharkhand

Achievements
 Between 1990 to 2015 the population of people living is extreme poverty was cut in half.
 Child mortality rate was dropped more than half since 1990.
 Female representation was extremely doubled from 2000 to 2015.
References
https://byjus.com/free-ias-prep/united-nations-development-programme-undp/
https://www.vedantu.com/question-answer/are-the-functions-of-the-undp-5fc9e3f2455060145fe050e7
https://www.undp.org/executive-board/membership
https://www.government.se/49b74e/contentassets/5ce2619d6aed4112a450f5c5e1db2359/the-united-
nations-development-programme-undp#:~:text=UNDP's%20overall%20goal
https://www.acted.org/en/partners/united-nations-development-programme-undp/

THANK YOU!!