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UNDP, Global Initiatives Announce the 5th Responsible Business Forum

We are delighted to announce that the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will be working together with Global Initiatives, as co-organizers of the 5th annual Responsible Business Forum on Sustainable Development, held once again at Marina Bay Sands Singapore, 22 - 24 November 2016.

Thailand Flag
Statement attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on the Death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej

The Secretary-General expresses his deep condolences to the Royal family, Government and people of Thailand on the passing of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Global LGBTI Forum Calls for New Narratives to Combat Discrimination

Community advocates, artists, filmmakers, academics, government representatives and human rights experts from across the world gathered in Thailand last week to explore new narratives to counter discrimination and stereotypes of LGBTI people, and to promote greater visibility and inclusion.

UNDP Global Goals Soccer Team
#SDGMinute: The Sustainable Development Goals: A 60-second Perspective

Joseph D'Cruz, UNDP Asia-Pacific Regional Team Leader for Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development, gives us his take on the Goals and why they're vital for the world.

UNDP Administrator Helen Clark with Bangladesh PM HE Sheikh Hasina
FEATURED STORY | Bangladesh public service innovations earn global plaudits

Participants at a side event during the UNGA, heard about the partnership between UNDP and the government in pioneering over 10,000 digital centres across the country that offer citizens over 100 public services, and has so far saved users an estimated half a million dollars in time and expenses in six years.

UNDP, Baoshang Bank to foster entrepreneurship and innovation among youth

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the China-based Baoshang Bank today announced a new partnership to fund and nurture entrepreneurship and innovation among youth in Asia and the Pacific. The partnership sees youth as a major driver for sustainable development in the region, and will seek to empower youth to overcome key barriers to participation in economic, civic and political life in their communities.

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Papua New Guinea | 'Phones Against Corruption' receives global award

“Phones Against Corruption” initiative from Papua New Guinea received a global GovInsider Innovation Awards as the “best citizen engagement” project. The project was recognized as one of the most innovative public sector practices from across Asia. The award was presented at the Innovation Labs World, global event held in Singapore last week.

A Time of High Ambition: UNDP Asia Pacific Launches 2015-16 Results Report

The UN Development Programme (UNDP) has leveraged low-cost innovations, knowledge exchanges between countries in the region, and emerging technologies, to provide new opportunities to some of the most marginalized communities in the Asia-Pacific region, says its 2015-16 Results Report.

Dili football practice
BLOG | Four lessons for youth-led startups from the Social Good Summit in Timor-Leste

Harnessing the power of communication technology, the main hub in Dili connected to three rural districts to ensure participation from youth in remote locations and was broadcast live on prime-time TV.

Panda Cubs
After global search, film star Michelle Yeoh announces names of UNDP’s youngest and cutest ambassadors – a pair of panda cubs

The competition to name the pandas saw thousands of people enter from 116 different countries. It was held in association with dozens of zoos around the world, many of which have their own pandas, including Toronto Zoo in Canada, Chiang Mai Zoo in Thailand, Adventure World and Ueno Zoo in Japan, Zoo Atlanta in the US, Edinburgh Zoo in the UK, and Adelaide Zoo in Australia.

Syria
Under-pressure communities hosting refugees also need world’s support more than ever

Speaking at a Global Migration Group event ahead of the 2016 United Nations Summit for Refugees and Migrants in New York next week, key UNDP leaders said that it is crucial that host communities receive all the support they need to cope with recent influxes of refugees and migrants.

MOU Signing Ceremony
UNDP and China to Cooperate on Belt and Road Initiative

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the People’s Republic of China signed today a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) on the margins of the 71st United Nations General Assembly during Premier Li Keqiang’s visit.

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
Game of Thrones star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau blows whistle on poverty at world’s first women’s amateur soccer World Cup

Globally acclaimed Danish actor and star of HBO’s Game of Thrones Nikolaj Coster-Waldau kicked off his role as Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme by refereeing the world’s first amateur women’s World Cup soccer tournament in New York.

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Haoliang Xu: Speech at the CSR Asia Summit 2016

Achieving the SDGs is a historic undertaking. According to the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), between $3.3 trillion and $4.5 trillion a year in government spending, private investments and aid will be needed to meet the targets.

Making natural resource revenue sharing work
BLOG | Making natural resource revenue sharing work

Despite a peace agreement signed last year, Libya remains embroiled in violent conflict. At the heart of the conflict is oil, which accounts for more than 90 percent of government revenue.

Podcast | Highway 2030: The ambition to ‘Leave No One Behind’
Podcast | Highway 2030: The ambition to ‘Leave No One Behind’

Nicholas Rosellini, UNDP’s Deputy Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific and Osnat Lubrani UNDP’s Resident Representative with the Pacific Office in Fiji give a bird’s eye view on development challenges in a region that is home to the world’s most populous nation and the smallest island territory.

UN calls for a move to prioritize SDGs
Papua New Guinea | UN calls for a move to prioritize SDGs

In the run-up to the first anniversary of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the UN in Papua New Guinea urges Leaders to prioritize SDGs in a bid to ensure good implementation.

Nepal Climate Change
Nepal pilots a new diagnostic for climate budgeting

Nepal’s pioneering efforts to tackle climate change through the budget and enhanced public financial management (PFM) has moved a notch ahead thanks to new initiatives taken by government

Photo from the event
Unlocking youth potential, planning for era of ageing, are key to sustainable future for Asia-Pacific

Demographic change in Asia and the Pacific is happening at a rate the world has never seen say experts, with some countries in the region headed into an era of ageing even as others experience a peak in working age populations.


Out and Proud at the Rio Olympics

The fundamental principle of Olympism states that “Every individual must have the possibility of practicing sport, without discrimination of any kind.”

Asia youth
FEATURED | Op-Ed : Youth can power Asia's next development miracle

When countries have a greater share of people who can work, they have the potential to transform their societies. Greater prosperity, far from being an end in itself, can ensure longer and healthier lives, access to education, human rights and dignity -- the cornerstones of human wellbeing.

Pakistan textiles training
Jobs and social inclusion for youth remain drivers for peacebuilding in Asia and the Pacific

As UNDP’s Asia Pacific Regional Human Development Report 2016 noted: An astonishing one-third of youth—around 220 million people—are neither in school nor the labour market.

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China launches National Human Development Report 2016

The purpose of this Human Development Report entitled “Social Innovation for Inclusive Human Development” is to explore policy options to help address the upcoming challenges through innovations in social policies and public administration.

women and conflict
FEATURED | Waging War for Women in Peace

I am no stranger to war. Many times, I consider myself a product of it. I was born in Liberia, a country where 14 years of violent civil war pushed my family to relocate to the United States.

Trainees in India
INDIA | Specialized vocational training in plastic engineering builds skills, new futures for women

First batch of young women successfully completed a three-month training course on plastic engineering in Haryana, a state with one of the lowest female workforce participation rates in India.

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VIDEO | Choices! All of UNDP Afghanistan in 2 minutes

What do schools, bridges, the police and wind farms have in common? See how UNDP ties all of its work together in 2 minutes of beautiful animation.

RHDR Cover
UNDP: Fastest Population Shift In History Means Make Or Break For Asia-Pacific

The report, entitled “Shaping the Future: How Changing Demographics Can Power Human Development”, notes that Asia-Pacific countries now have more working-aged people and fewer dependents than at any point in history, providing a springboard for growth. Region-wide, 68 percent of people are of working age and only 32 percent are dependents.

Tiger cubs
How a little alarm protects tigers, landscapes – and us

Layers of prey species – in this case sambar deer, spotted deer etc. – prompted by the fear factor, move and behave in a way that sustains the complex functioning and vital biodiversity of ecosystems.

e-waste dumpsite
BLOG | Our Smart devices deserve smarter endings

Across the world, landfills or open dumps are brimming with microchips and circuit boards, which release toxic chemicals into the air, water and soil.

OGP
Open Government for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific: The results are in!

Earlier this summer, the UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub and OGP launched a call for information on open government initiatives that are contributing to or have the potential to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Asia-Pacific region.

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Indonesia | Sister Villages: Linking Communities for Disaster Preparedness

The Sister Village Initiative pairs villages located in the most hazardous areas close to the volcano’s crater with other villages with whom they traditionally have strong links.

Singapore commuters
From shorter bus queues to safer cities for women and girls, winners of the Big Ideas Competition announced

Winners of the Big Ideas Competition are out and they include a diverse set of solutions all using Big Data for public service, from shorter queues for public transport to safer public spaces for women and girls.

PNG
Papua New Guinea to develop information systems for disasters

In partnership with the PNG National Disaster Center, UN Development Programme (UNDP) is working on setting up country’s first integrated information system for disasters.

Michelle Yeoh
Actor and UNDP Ambassador Michelle Yeoh in Nepal to advocate for disaster preparedness, resilience

Award-winning global movie star and Nepal earthquake survivor Michelle Yeoh travelled back to Kathmandu last week as a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Goodwill Ambassador. She visited the capital and surrounding villages and exchanged stories with fellow survivors of overcoming fear and loss and gaining strength and hope.

Man drinks at water pump
Indonesia | How a water pump in one tiny village is making ripples in national policy circles

Water is critical for life. It is a cliché but in Palanggai village, the newly-installed solar-powered water well has transformed the lives of people living there. Palanggai is a small village set on arid, hilly land overlooking the sea, in East Sumba.

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China hosts workshop on Community Disaster Reduction and Relief

The meeting, organized in partnership with Department for International Development of the UK (DFID) and the National Disaster Reduction Center of China (NDRCC), brought together governments, pilot communities enterprises, academia, civil society organizations from China, Bangladesh, Nepal and the UK

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#UNDP50 | Celebrating 50 years of partnerships and progress in India

An animated short film on fifty years of unprecedented growth in India and partnership with UNDP.

Haoliang Xu
Two-day conference discusses political stability and development in Melanesia

In a two-day conference, representatives from governments, parliaments and civil society from Melanesia discussed how to best promote strong, inclusive and peaceful institutions for sustainable economic growth and development.

launch ceremony
Four out of 10 in Pakistan live in multidimensional poverty, new data reveals

Pakistan’s first ever official report on multidimensional poverty was today launched by the Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform.

NEWS | UNDP and city of Seoul announced new innovation partnership "City-I-LEAPS"

The new partnership will tap into innovative approaches by the city of Seoul to tackle urbanization’s toughest challenges, and the UNDP’s experience in local governance and innovation.

Tonga
PACIFIC | Progress on Public Health in Tonga: A Shared Journey

Energy, ideas and ground-level partnerships for local action are at the heart of implementation approaches towards dealing with public health challenges in the Pacific Island of Tonga. This video tells their story towards ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all

Global Goals
BLOG | Transforming the UN to keep up with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

At the respectable age of 70 it is about time the UN gets back into shape. With all our help and a good training plan, it might be able to run the marathon. Of which the 2030 Agenda is only the beginning.

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NEWS | Youth network gives new voice to development aspirations in Asia and the Pacific

Youth community leaders from over 10 countries in Asia and the Pacific announced, on Friday, a new network that will empower young people in the region to effectively engage with the Sustainable Development Goals, in partnership with UNDP and United Nations Volunteers.

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UNDP climate change film voices fears of millions facing displacement in Asia Pacific

A UNDP-supported documentary on the threat sea-level rise poses to 30 million Bangladeshis premiered in New York City on Monday 13th June.

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Mongolia launches National Human Development Report 2016, themed on youth and development

This National Human Development Report (NHDR) of Mongolia -the sixth in the se-ries – focuses on youth. Through the me-dium of the human development approach, it analyses the opportunities, choices and challenges facing young people in Mongo-lia today.

Photo from Royal Visit
BHUTAN | Their Majesties the King and Queen of Sweden to visit UN projects during State visit

Their Majesties King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden will commence a three-day State visit to Bhutan at the invitation of His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.

Eggs Factor: How recycled egg trays are giving Bhutanese youth a fresh start in life

At age 11, Dorji Youngten was among the top ten students in his class and dreamt of becoming an army captain; but that was a different life. A life before drugs and alcohol.

UNDP 50 years in Asia Pacific
#UNDP50 | Fifty years of partnerships and development in Asia and the Pacific

On the occasion of our 50th anniversary, UNDP is looking toward the future of people and planet. That future is uncertain. On the one hand, climate change, political turbulence, economic inequality, and other challenges. On the other hand, technological advances, tremendous economic growth, and an unprecedented global consensus about the best way forward.

@UNDPAsiaPac on Twitter

undpasiapac Thank you for joining our #RBAPfuture Q&A. Here is a brief summary: https://t.co/Bnu8qGHDsg . We look forward to wo… https://t.co/GjSs3EvBlC

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