The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) helps developing countries eliminate poverty, preserve and regenerate the environment and strengthen the capabilities of people and institutions. By thus promoting sustainable human development, UNDP also contributes to building the foundations for increased human security and global peace. This dual mission, which springs from the United Nations Charter, still remains valid today.

UNDP is the world's largest multilateral grant development assistance organization. Through a global network of 132 offices, of which 128 are in program countries, UNDP works with people and governments in 175 countries and territories in Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Arab States and Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States. As the decentralized operational arm of UNDP, this network of country offices renders more extensive and more varied services than any other comparable system: from providing upstream policy advice, designing country-wide programs and devising and executing specific projects, to monitoring, evaluating and enhancing ongoing development work. All these activities are undertaken in partnership with the governments and people of developing countries. In addition, country offices provide a worldwide network for information exchange; training for government personnel and UNDP and agency staff; and support and cooperation among UN organizations, developing countries and the donor community. More than 80 percent of UNDP's over 6,600 staff members serve in these country offices. Most of them are locally recruited nationals of the host countries. 

Each UNDP office is headed by a Resident Representative who sometimes also acts as Director of the UN Information Center. For purposes of effective programming and decentralization, each Resident Representative is authorized to approve projects costing up to US $1 million in UNDP funds. Those exceeding that amount are approved by the UNDP Administrator.

Resident Representatives are usually also designated by the UN Secretary-General as Resident Coordinators of operational activities for development of the UN system. When natural disasters, conflicts and emergencies occur, Resident Coordinators, jointly with the UN Department of Humanitarian Affairs, play an important role in mobilizing the international community to provide rapid and effective assistance. 

UNDP's chief executive officer is the Administrator who is appointed by the UN Secretary-General, confirmed by the General Assembly and reports to a 36-member Executive Board.

In rendering assistance to program countries, UNDP maintains political neutrality and respects the sovereignty, independence and self-reliance of developing countries. These principles, coupled with UNDP's continuous on-site country presence and dialogue, have helped UNDP win the trust of developing countries, and thereby access to leadership-in both government and civil society.

Finances and Activities

UNDP is funded by annual voluntary contributions from governments which are members of the United Nations or its participating agencies. An internationally agreed formula-known as the Indicative Planning Figure (IPF)-is used to decide on how to share these core resources among program countries. This formula takes into account a country's population and per capita gross national product (GNP). Additional criteria favor countries that face the greatest geographic disadvantages, such as land-locked countries; or economic difficulties, such as high debt service costs and deteriorating terms of trade. Based on this formula, each country is assigned a national IPF, which is an advance estimate of UNDP assistance available over a five-year period.

Eighty-seven percent of national IPFs are allocated to countries with an annual per capita income of $750 or less. Least developed countries (LDCs) receive 58 percent of total national IPFs. In applying these criteria, close to 80 percent of UNDP funds go to the African and Asia-Pacific regions, which contain the most populous and poorest countries. 

Coordinating Resources and Technical Assistance

In recent years, to give its activities more focus, UNDP has stressed a program approach with specific areas of concentration, rather than an emphasis on projects alone. Programs are designed to ensure sustainability and impact. A built-in system of evaluation monitors their progress and ensures in-depth analysis and feedback.

The UNDP has adapted to global political, economic and social changes while continuing to serve the citizens and governments of program countries. As an international model of development cooperation, UNDP is committed to helping developing countries make fuller use of their own resources to strengthen their economies, enrich the lives of their people and contribute to the greater well-being of the world community.

From the 1990 United Nations Development Program Annual Report.