Mr. Steiner brings more than three decades of leadership experience in global development issues and international cooperation. He is a passionate advocate for the Sustainable Development Goals and the need for unprecedented global cooperation to deliver on this ambitious agenda.

The articulation of industrialisation strategies at the continental and national levels is a worthwhile exercise. That is why UNDP’s Africa Regional Programme supports countries to integrate and implement the principles set out in the AMV into their national plans and strategies.

The island of Idjwi is a land of green hills surrounded by the fresh waters of Lake Kivu in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). With a surface of just 310 km², it is among the most populated areas of the country with a population of around 300 000.

‘Would forced migration end, if people knew that they could thrive and survive in their homeland’? The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) asks this pertinent question as we observe World Day to Combat Desertification, on 17 June, focused on examining the important link between land degradation and migration.

After the outbreak, UNDP and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, with support from the Government of Finland through the Ebola Multi-Partner Trust Fund, collaborated to give volunteers the skills they needed to reintegrate in their communities and be able to make a living.

New York, 14 June —The high level plenary of the UNDP Annual Rule of Law Meeting outlined priorities on how best to support the rule of law and human rights within the Sustaining Peace agenda, and reflected on strategic priorities for the future of international rule of law assistance. “A strong rule of law...

The report documents horrific cases of sexual violence, extrajudicial killings, looting, large-scale destruction of homes and property (a scorched earth policy), kidnappings, arbitrary arrests and detention, torture and the recruitment of child soldiers.

In Niger, recurring droughts, inconsistent rainfall patterns and other weather-related stressors are impacting the overall stability of the country’s economy. People are forced to migrate, tensions rise, and women – already a marginalized group – are further cast to the side. Sewing provides an alternative livelihood.

Recognizing that the wellbeing of present and future generations is inextricably linked to the health and productivity of the ocean, countries collectively agreed in the Call to Action “to act decisively and urgently, convinced that our collective action will make a meaningful difference to our people, to our planet and to our prosperity.”

Saint-Louis is facing a lot of challenges. Chief among them is the dual threat posed by rising waters and overfishing. Both jeopardize the city’s very survival, its unique heritage and its economy. Rising waters threaten the old historic city, even more so since the canal built to protect from river’s overflow burst its banks in 2004, prompting UN Habitat to declare Saint Louis the “African city the most at risk from rising sea levels”.

Our ocean is life. It gives us food to eat, fresh water to drink, and jobs to make a living. It protects us from the worst effects of climate change. But humanity hasn’t been too kind to our ocean. We’ve polluted, exhausted, and in parts destroyed this valuable resource. Today, 40% of our oceans are considered heavily affected by human activity.

Loans for small businesses that quarry, manufacture and trade gravel, clay, granite, gypsum and other local materials critical for development in five African countries

 The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) held its Gender Seal Awards Ceremony on Monday 5 June to recognize of country offices' work in advancing gender equality. The event was held at the Asia Society, in New York City, as a prelude to a three-day Global Gender retreat organized by UNDP’s Bureau for...

It was with profound sadness that we at UNDP learned of the sudden passing of Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin.  UNDP and UNFPA have had a joint governing body since 1973.  Dr. Osotimehin’s spirit of cooperation and substantive engagement has been a huge part of making our Board meetings productive with high quality...

The island nation of the Seychelles is globally recognized for its rich marine biodiversity. The Aldabra Atoll, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the world’s second largest coral atoll, is renowned for its spectacular and abundant terrestrial and marine life.

Since the Benguela Current is a shared resource between Angola, Namibia, and South Africa, conventional coastal and ocean management approaches are not enough. UNDP, through a series of projects funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) has been assisting the three countries in jointly managing the precious ocean resources they share.

A surge in the number of voluntary commitments to take action to improve the health of the ocean by countries, businesses and civil society groups has been recorded, and more are expected as the Ocean Conference gets underway Monday, 5 June at United Nations Headquarter in New York.

The Ministry of Public Health, together with the Global Fund, UNDP as Principal Recipient, other UN agencies (WHO and UNICEF) and other partners, is launching the national Campaign for the distribution of Long-Lasting Insecticide-treated nets (LLINs) to protect more than 2 million children and adults from malaria, the leading cause of disease and death in the country.

Remarks by Ms. Ruby Sandhu-Rojon Deputy Regional Director, UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa Joint UNDP/UNFPA/UNOPS Executive Board June Regular Session 2017 New York   Mr. President of the UNDP Executive Board, Distinguished Members of the Executive Board, Representative of the Government of Cameroon,...

Mr. President, Members of the Executive Board, Colleagues and friends, I am pleased to welcome you to the UNDP segment of the 2017 Annual Session of the Executive Board. These are exciting times for UNDP as we prepare for the arrival of a new UNDP Administrator and UNDG Chair, Mr. Achim Steiner on 19 June. Mr....

No one can deny the effect of climate change as one of the factors that have led to the current food crisis. The severe drought that is raging in this part of the world is wreaking havoc. Nevertheless, other factors must equally be taken into account. The UN Secretary-General recently stated that the combination of conflict, drought and disease has resulted in a nightmare situation.

Preventing Violent Extremism and International Development Agenda: Putting Theory into practice A New York Roundtable Event — 26 May 2017 Assistant Administrator and Director, UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am pleased to attend this Roundtable on “putting into practice, the...

The AIDS and Rights Alliance for Southern Africa (ARASA) and UNDP Regional Service Centre for Africa, under the Africa Regional Grant on HIV: Removing Legal Barriers, will host the second Africa Regional Dialogue on HIV, TB and the Law on 3-4 August 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

African governments need to integrate entrepreneurship more fully into their industrialisation strategies, according to the African Economic Outlook (AEO) 2017. The Outlook is produced annually by the AfDB, OECD and UNDP.

The EDI is a composite index made up of three weighted components – the extractive sector’s contribution to export earnings, fiscal revenues and GDP – and ranges from 0 to 100 with 100 being the highest dependence score.

New York — UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Africa convened a high level event hosted by the African Union Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations on Tuesday 16 May 2017. Billed as a knowledge building and sharing event, the meeting, which was attended by more than 100 participants, including 16 Permanent...

Refugees and host communities turn challenges into opportunities

With climate change, continuing urbanization trends and demographic growth – especially also in coastal areas, the impacts of floods are expected to increase dramatically in the next decades. Finding innovative and sustainable ways to work together with rather than against nature for effective flood risk reduction will be critical.

This first edition of the biennial Africa Data Revolution Report aims to address issues on the process of transforming data ecosystems, from the status quo to an aspirational state where data from both conventional and new sources are being harnessed to better inform decision-making and enable sustainable development with contributions from diverse data communities.

In doing its work, UNDP’s programmes are informed by past experiences and lessons from interventions implemented, wherever the organisation has a footprint, to address emerging issues and new realities– whether in the form of policy support, capacity building, technical advice or knowledge brokering. The issues that define development are unique from country to country and region to region – from climate change to conflicts – the knowledge generated from UNDP’s interventions, when managed efficiently and utilized effectively, has the potential to give the organisation an even more unique character.

Excellences, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is with great pleasure and honor that I am attending, on behalf of UNDP, this high-level government seminar on collective leadership. The Gambia is entering a phase of renaissance. The trauma has been deep as it lasted 23 years, almost a generation. It will take sustained...

The Lake Chad basin in Nigeria is on the brink of famine. For seven years, Boko Haram insurgents have descended on communities, driving people from their homes and killing thousands. The level of destruction is breathtaking. But more shocking is the vulnerable position survivors are in now. There are 5.7 million...

People in Mozambique are feeling the impacts of climate change. Natural disasters such as droughts, floods and cyclones are hitting the country hard. However, communities are not prepared for the repercussions. Many locals depend on the environment for their daily needs and disasters increase the risk of them falling into poverty.

In the run up to the Ocean Conference in June, this blog series explores issues related to oceans, seas, marine resources and the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14, Life below water. On Africa’s West Coast, the ocean is everything. For thousands of years, its bounty has provided food for families,...

Climate change portends bigger wildfires that are more difficult to control. As a result, wildfire management is becoming more important in order to reduce the damage to people, the economy and the environment.

Abidjan, 27 April 2017 — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the GSMA are joining forces to harness the power of mobile technology to accelerate implementation of the universal Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs, otherwise known as the Global Goals, are a universal call to action to end...

Abdoulaye Mar Dieye Growth without resilience is but the ruin of the economy  Financial Afrik: Many African countries have engaged in medium- or long-term emergence programmes. What is your overall analysis of the situation? This is a topical issue. I am aware of a total of 27 African countries engaged in a...

New York, 25 April —13 million people will soon receive long-lasting insecticide treated bednets in some of the hardest to reach and conflict-affected regions of Chad. As regional insecurity continues to affect population movements in the country, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Fund...

North-east Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen are facing conflict and drought and are now approaching famine, with 20 million people near starvation in the worst preventable humanitarian crisis since World War II. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for US$4.4 billion by July to avert “catastrophe” in the four countries.

After more than a decade of conflict in which rape has been used as a weapon, sexual violence is sadly a fact of life for both women and men in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Congolese men and women are working courageously to eradicate this scourge. Here are some of their stories.

New York – The President of the Executive Board of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) today welcomed the appointment of Achim Steiner as the Organization’s new Administrator. Mr Steiner’s nomination for UNDP Administrator was forwarded by Secretary-General António Guterres to the General...

UNDP Farewell Party for Helen Clark Statement by M. Abdoulaye Mar DIEYE, UNDP Regional Director New York, 18 April 2017   I have been attending, lately, a series of Farewell parties for Helen Clark. I have heard a bouquet of testimonies on her leadership skills, her political acumen and her phenomenal human touch. No...

Gender inequality is costing sub-Saharan Africa on average US$95 billion a year, peaking at US$105 billion in 2014– or six percent of the region’s GDP – jeopardising the continent’s efforts for inclusive human development and economic growth, according to the Africa Human Development Report 2016: Accelerating Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Africa, published today by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).