UNDP's Executive Board welcomed the appointment of Achim Steiner as the organization’s new Administrator. Over nearly three decades, Mr. Steiner has been a global leader on sustainable development, climate resilience and international cooperation. He has worked tirelessly to champion sustainability, economic growth and equality for the vulnerable, and has been a vocal advocate for the Sustainable Development Goals. He replaces Helen Clark, who served two successive terms as UNDP Administrator.

Learn how the Indian Railways, one of the world’s largest railway networks, is adopting a range of energy efficient technologies that can support the vision of an environment-friendly rail network for India.

An e-learning module on Sustainable Development Goals and Gram Panchayats that aims to provide interactive learning on SDG-oriented planning to resource persons and trainees is to be launched.

Read about how UNDP will assist the Department of Justice design an interface that will help citizens access legal services. The pro-bono legal services initiative will connect advocates interested in providing legal aid to the people who need it.

April 19 marks UNDP Administrator Helen Clark's final day in office. Look back at her tenure by reading and watching her blogs and speeches over the years.

Read a new photo story about how the Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network is helping to improve vaccination systems in Manipur

Commissioned by UNDP, among others, Green Hub invites proposals from filmmakers from north-eastern India. The commissioning of documentary films is part of the Green Hub Festival from 13 to 15 May, at Tezpur Assam. The festival aims to raise awareness, celebrate, debate and examine wildlife, environment, biodiversity, gender and development issues specific to the Northeast region. The deadline for submissions is 25 April. Click for more information.

UNDP India Country Director Jaco Cilliers spoke at the conference, 'Decarbonising the Indian Railways'. A new study launched at the conference found that the Indian Railways could achieve the target of 5 GW of solar by 2025. Suresh Prabhu, Union Minister for Railways, and Piyush Goyal, Minister of State (IC) for Power, Coal, New and Renewable Energy and Mines, released the study and delivered keynote addresses.

On the occasion of International Women’s Day 2017, NITI Aayog, in partnership with the UN in India and MyGov, presents the second edition of Women Transforming India, an online contest to celebrate women achievers, leaders and change makers from across the country. Read more to find out how to participate.

It is important that the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and targets are explained from the perspective of local governments and presented to them in a way that can be used in local planning and implementation. This handbook is a resource for elected representatives in local governments, and trainers, to provide them information on SDG-oriented local planning.

Watch UNDP Ukraine's short summary of the content of the Human Development Report 2016 using international and Ukrainian sign language, thanks to the help of UN Volunteer Rupmani and her interpreter Mariana.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Kalinga Institute of Social Science (KISS) sign Memorandum of Understanding to support skill development in the state

A stronger focus on those excluded groups, and on actions to dismantle these barriers is urgently needed to ensure sustainable human development for all. These are among the key findings of the Human Development Report 2016 entitled ‘Human Development for Everyone’, released on 21 March by UNDP. Find out more at hdr.undp.org.