Understanding UNDP

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Understanding UNDP

• Geoffrey D. Prewitt
• Poverty Reduction and Civil Society Advisor,
• Bratislava Regional Center, UNDP

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UNDPs Current Mandate

• UNDP is the UNs global development network, an
  organization advocating for change and connecting
  countries to knowledge, experience, and
  resources, to help build a better life

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Institutional Structure

• Founded in 1965 and coordinates most of the
  technical assistance of the UN system
• World-wide network of 130/- countries that serve
  Governments, organizations, and people in 166
  countries
• 85 of 5000 staff located in developing
  countries
• As an intergovernmental organization, governed by
  a rotational Executive Board of 36 member states
  (with an equal vote)
• Spearheads the UN Development Group

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Core Areas of Competency

• Overall mission along with other UN agencies
  achievement of the MDGs by 2015
• Core focus areas
• Promotion of Democratic Governance
• Reduction of Poverty
• Crisis Prevention and Recovery
• Sustainable Energy and Environment
• Mitigating HIV/AIDs
• Promotion of gender equality underlies all areas
  of focus

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HOW IT BEGAN...

• Millennium Summit September 2000 where 149
  heads of States, representing all 189 member
  states of the UN met at the UN Headquarters in
  New York.
• Millennium Declaration bold new development
  agenda, based on the UN Charter and the various
  human rights and other international conventions,
  and. sets out within a single framework the key
  challenges facing humankind and establishes time
  bound and measurable goals and targets.

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THE MDGS AT A GLANCE

• Goal 1 Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
• Goal 2 Achieve universal primary education
• Goal 3 Promote gender equality and womens
  empowerment
• Goal 4 Reduce child mortality
• Goal 5 Improve maternal health
• Goal 6 Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other major
  diseases
• Goal 7 Ensure environmental sustainability
• Goal 8 Develop a global partnership for
  development

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Why we do what we do? Fast Facts

• More than 1 billion people in the world live on
  less than one dollar a day
• Everyday HIV/AIDS kills 6,000 people
• More than 40 of women in Africa do not have
  basic education
• More than 1 billion people still use unsafe
  sources of drinking water

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Competitive Advantage

• Universality (all countries have a voice in key
  policy decisions)
• Impartiality (we do not represent and particular
  national or commercial intereststrust)
• Global Presence (worlds largest network)
• Comprehensive Mandate (social, economic, and
  emergency needs)
• Commitment to our charter we, the peoples of the
  United Nations

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UN(DP) and CSOs - Potential

• United Nations
• International Covenants/Declarations
• Millennium Development Goals
• Cardosa Report
• UNDP
• Civil Society Advisory Committee to the
  Administrator
• N(HDR)s
• Trusted, Impartial Partner (neutral broker role)
• Progressive Policy Tools and Instructional Guides
• Statement on Civic Engagement, NGO Execution,
  Information Disclosure, etc.
• Sourcebook, Partners in Human Development, The
  BlueBook

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UN(DP) and CSOs - (limitations)

• United Nations
• Unilateralism, Iraq war, and terrorism
• Private Sector Emphasis
• UNDP
• Distance from the Client
• Target orientation and the preoccupation of
  delivery
• Do we have the illusion of plurality, diversity,
  and social inclusion?

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For more information

• www.undp.org
• www.undp.org/partners/csos
• www.undp-act.org
• THANK YOU!