UNDP is proud to be part of the Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, being hosted by India in New Delhi from 2 – 5 November 2016. The Conference was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India, Mr Narendra Modi, and aims to adopt an ‘Asia Regional Plan for implementation of the Sendai Framework’. The Sendai Framework for disaster risk reduction was adopted in 2015 to substantially reduce ‘disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health and in the economic, physical, social, cultural and environmental assets of persons, businesses, communities and countries’.

ON DD News | Preparations and Investments Crucial for Disaster Risk Reduction Says Jaco Cilliers

One of the fastest growing economies in the world, India still faces significant challenges from rising inequality and service delivery shortfalls, particularly in poor communities. UNDP is helping the Government of India to meet these challenges through the Development Support Services. Funded with a combination of domestic and international finance, these allow the ready application of UNDP expertise and technical resources, on demand, to current and emerging development priorities. Services are carefully chosen to unlock rapid progress, on a large scale, under flagship national and state development programmes.

Functional and Aesthetically Pleasing Low-cost Housing Could Make A Difference

Stories from 25 years of environmental innovation for sustainable development

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Asia-Pacific Development Effectiveness Facility (AP-DEF) opened a two-day meeting on aid ahead of the upcoming Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation. More than 100 government delegates and development experts are exploring how to design integrated national financing frameworks for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Asia-Pacific. “Domestic sources of finance are emerging as a key driving force for sustainable development in Asia-Pacific,” said Haoliang Xu, UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Director for Asia and the Pacific. “These new sources of finance allow us to expand the existing development cooperation and partnership.”

Young women like Muskaan in Maharashtra are spreading the word that women can secure meaningful jobs. Watch how a growing cadre of committed young women are pushing change in their communities.

On this International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, let us listen to and heed the voices of people living in poverty. Let us commit to respect and defend the human rights of all people and end the humiliation and social exclusion that people living in poverty face every day by promoting their involvement in global efforts to end extreme poverty once and for all.

The Government of Assam today released the Assam Human Development Report 2014 Managing Diversities, Achieving Human Development. The Report presents a comprehensive overview of human development in the state. The most distinguishing feature of the Report is going beyond the usual way of looking at district level aggregate scenarios of human development and bringing in the myriad diversities of the state, even within the districts, in to perspective while analysing varying degrees of human development outcomes.

We're bringing together young leaders, youth related regional institutions, civil society and experts from Asia-Pacific. We are focusing on core challenges of online civic space, as well as practical solutions and considerations for action. Speakers will include young researchers, activists and practitioners, civil society and development organisations, governance experts and country representatives. Do you want to join us?

2 October 2016 – India today ratified the Paris Agreement on climate change at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, bringing the treaty's entry into force "tantalisingly" close. “The country is embarking on a sustainable development pathway. Prime Minister [Narendra] Modi calls it 'development without destruction,'” UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson said after witnessing India becoming the 62nd country to deposit a legal instrument of ratification for the climate pact during a commemorative event on the International Day of Non-Violence.

A new initiative in Jharkhand aims to rejuvenate the Ganga river by improving sanitation practices and linking them to livelihoods. This exciting partnership was launched by the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, NAMAMI GANGE and the Government of Jharkhand. Its supported by UNDP. Watch the launch of the project here.

The Government of Assam, in partnership with UNDP, will set up an Innovation Lab, which aims to design and deliver an innovation service model to support Assam. It also aims to develop capacity to internalize innovation, co-design and develop the next generation public services by prototyping new ideas, and scale solutions that address Assam’s development priorities.

The Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (or eVIN) rolled out by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in October 2015 across all districts of Rajasthan, is helping the state health officials in maintaining the temperature of vaccine stores and keeping a tab on their availability.

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.

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

Checkout each SDG and the stories around them.

Women Transforming India Awards 2016 recognizes achievements of 12 women from across India for their phenomenal work in transforming societies.

Watch how a UNDP partnership with the Government of Madhya Pradesh is restoring 14,000 hectares of land, reducing deforestation and soil erosion, and raising family incomes of over 700 households by nearly 40 percent

So far 1.04 million benefits have been availed from the government’s social protection schemes including pensions, scholarships, subsidized travel allowances to treatment centres and food subsidies

The publication, produced by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and UNDP, is a compilation of various court rulings, including the Supreme Court of India and High Courts of several states, that have strengthened the Forest Rights Act. The compendium aims to be a guide for authorities that protect the rights of such vulnerable communities.