For six decades, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has stood at the forefront of international development, working alongside governments, communities, development partners, and the private sector to tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
As the organization marks its 60th anniversary in 2025, it celebrates an extraordinary legacy of advancing sustainable development, reducing poverty, strengthening democratic governance, promoting gender equality, responding to humanitarian crises, and driving innovation across more than 170 countries and territories.
Established in 1965 through the merger of the Expanded Programme of Technical Assistance and the United Nations Special Fund, UNDP has evolved from providing technical assistance to becoming the world’s largest development agency and the operational backbone of the United Nations system. Today, its work is closely aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), supporting countries in building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable societies.
A Legacy Built on Human Development
One of UNDP’s most significant contributions to global development came in 1990 with the launch of the first Human Development Report, developed by renowned economists Mahbub ul Haq and Amartya Sen. The report introduced the Human Development Index (HDI), fundamentally changing how the world measures development.
Rather than focusing solely on Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the HDI evaluates progress based on three key dimensions: life expectancy, education, and standards of living. This people-centered approach shifted the global conversation toward improving human well-being, reducing inequalities, and ensuring that economic growth translates into better lives for all.
Today, the Human Development Index remains one of the world’s most influential development indicators, guiding policymakers, researchers, and international organizations in designing evidence-based development strategies.
Delivering Impact Across the Globe
UNDP’s reach extends across more than 170 countries and territories, where it works hand in hand with governments and local partners to address development challenges.
Since 2022, the organization and its partners have achieved remarkable results, including:
- Delivering essential services to over 160 million people.
- Connecting 259 million people to financial services.
- Expanding access to clean energy for 82 million people.
These achievements represent tangible improvements in people’s daily lives—from families accessing affordable healthcare and financial services to communities gaining electricity for education, businesses, and economic growth.
Supporting Africa’s Innovation and Youth
Recognizing Africa’s growing innovation ecosystem, UNDP has launched transformative initiatives that empower young entrepreneurs and innovators.
Among its flagship programmes is the timbuktoo Initiative, which aims to support 10,000 African technology start-ups, helping unlock the continent’s innovation potential while creating sustainable employment opportunities.
Similarly, YouthConnekt Africa has already empowered more than 12 million young Africans and seeks to create 10 million dignified jobs, reinforcing the importance of youth-led development in shaping Africa’s future.
These initiatives demonstrate UNDP’s commitment to supporting entrepreneurship, digital transformation, and inclusive economic growth across the continent.
Leading Global Climate Action
Climate change remains one of the defining challenges of our time, and UNDP continues to play a leading role in supporting countries to strengthen climate resilience and meet international commitments.
Through its Climate Promise 2025, UNDP assists governments in preparing their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, helping countries increase their climate ambitions while working toward limiting global warming.
The organization also supports biodiversity conservation through its Nature Pledge, which has assisted over 140 countries in developing national biodiversity strategies.
One notable success is the BIOFIN (Biodiversity Finance Initiative), which has helped mobilize more than US$1.6 billion across 41 countries to finance biodiversity conservation through innovative mechanisms such as green bonds and blended finance.
Promoting Good Governance and Democracy
Strong institutions remain central to sustainable development. For decades, UNDP has worked with governments to strengthen democratic governance, improve public administration, and build accountable institutions.
Since 2022, UNDP has supported more than 830 million voters participating in 62 elections across 44 countries, providing technical assistance that enhances electoral integrity and citizen participation.
Beyond elections, UNDP supports:
- Public sector reforms.
- Rule of law.
- Human rights protection.
- Access to justice.
- Local governance.
- Institutional capacity building.
These efforts contribute to more transparent, inclusive, and effective governance systems worldwide.
Advancing Gender Equality
Gender equality has become a defining pillar of UNDP’s development agenda.
Since the late 1970s, the organization has championed women’s empowerment and has contributed to landmark global frameworks including:
- The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
- The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
- UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.
- The Sustainable Development Goals.
Today, gender equality is integrated across all 17 SDGs, ensuring that women and girls benefit from climate action, economic development, governance reforms, and peacebuilding initiatives.
In 2022, more than 100 countries incorporated gender considerations into their national climate action plans with UNDP support, highlighting the organization’s leadership in promoting inclusive development.
Supporting Countries in Crisis and Recovery
UNDP has consistently supported countries affected by conflict, disasters, and humanitarian emergencies.
The organization currently operates in some of the world’s most challenging environments, including:
- Afghanistan
- Gaza
- Haiti
- Myanmar
- Ukraine
- Yemen
Since 2015, UNDP stabilization programmes have benefited nearly 17 million people, helping restore essential services, rebuild infrastructure, strengthen livelihoods, and enable more than 6 million displaced people to return home.
Its work includes clearing debris, restoring electricity, supporting small businesses, rebuilding communities, and fostering social cohesion after conflict.
Innovation and Digital Transformation
Innovation continues to shape UNDP’s approach to development.
The organization’s Digital Strategy 2022–2025 introduced a Digital by Default approach, making UNDP the first UN agency to embed digital transformation across its programming.
Today:
- Digital initiatives operate in over 90 countries.
- Digital technology features in approximately 70% of UNDP projects.
- National digital strategies reached more than 200 million people in 2024.
- These strategies attracted over US$1 billion in investments.
Complementing these efforts are UNDP’s Accelerator Labs, operating in 115 countries with more than 6,000 innovation projects, identifying locally driven solutions that can be scaled globally.
Financing Sustainable Development
Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals requires significant investment. Developing countries currently face an estimated US$4.3 trillion annual SDG financing gap, making innovative financing increasingly important.
Between 2022 and 2024, UNDP helped promote more than US$867 billion in SDG-aligned investments through partnerships with governments, international financial institutions, and the private sector.
These investments support poverty reduction, climate action, clean energy, education, healthcare, and inclusive economic growth.
Looking Ahead
As UNDP celebrates 60 years of partnership and pioneering solutions, it remains committed to adapting to an increasingly complex global landscape marked by climate change, conflict, technological disruption, and economic uncertainty.
Its journey from providing technical assistance in the 1960s to leading innovation, digital transformation, climate action, governance, and sustainable development demonstrates an organization that has continually evolved to meet changing global needs.
With a strong commitment to multilateralism, inclusive development, and innovation, UNDP looks forward to forging new partnerships that will help build a future where everyone can live in peace, dignity, equality, and on a healthy planet.
