COMMEMORATIONS OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNDP

UNDP at 50: World must step up to beat poverty by 2030

23 February, 2016, New York City—Meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is only possible with a broad coalition of leaders from government, civil society, multilaterals and the private sector, said Helen Clark, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, (UNDP) on the eve of a major Ministerial Meeting to mark the organisation’s 50th anniversary.

The SDGs are the 17 ambitious goals that set out the world’s development agenda between now and 2030, and include a commitment to eradicate poverty, reduce inequality and spread peace and justice.

“Government leadership is vital for achieving the SDGs, together with partnerships with civil society, the private sector, philanthropy and the multilateral system. Working together, we can achieve our goals of a world which is free of poverty and inequality,” Helen Clark said.

“Using the Sustainable Development Goals as our guide, a world where economies and societies are more inclusive can be built, and the planet can be protected from the worst effects of climate change and other forms of environmental degradation,” she added.

Clark noted that UNDP is well placed to play a critical role in achieving the SDGs after 50 years on the frontlines of global development. In that half-century, UNDP has helped build institutions, increase resilience, and support countries as they implement vital reforms. It also continues to lead the co-ordination of the essential work of the UN system.  

“Our work has contributed to major development gains in many countries around the world. As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, the UNDP recommits itself to this task,” Clark said.

To mark the anniversary, more than 80 Ministers from across the world will meet in the United Nations General Assembly in New York on February 24 to chart a course for the future of global development.

Ministers will be involved in high-level debates on how to translate ambitious global commitments – from financing development, eradicating poverty, reducing inequality, addressing climate change and building peace – into concrete action and results. They will share their visions on making the SDGs a reality, building a more prosperous, fair, and inclusive world for all.

Contact Information

Adam Cathro, Communications Specialist, UNDP, +1 212 906 5326, adam.cathro@undp.org

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UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. On the ground in more than 170 countries and territories, we offer global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations. 

STATEMENT BY THE UN RESIDENT COORDINATOR AND UNDP RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE ON THE OCCASION OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF UNDP

24TH FEBRUARY 2016

Today marks the 50th Anniversary of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Founded in 1966, UNDP now works in some 170 countries and territories to help eradicate poverty and reduce inequalities and exclusion.

In Tanzania, UNDP support began in May 1978. Since then, UNDP has continued to serve as a critical member of the UN team in the country, which has collectively supported the government in achieving its development agenda through aligning its support specifically to the national development priorities. In addition, UNDP has helped strengthen the government’s capacity to manage and coordinate international development assistance through the development of strategies, action plans and an improved aid management system to facilitate national leadership.

UNDP in particular has supported the development of a national framework for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, as well as of local capacity to manage forest carbon projects. In addition, UNDP continues to support the government to integrate environment and energy issues into national policy, as well as build local and regional capacity. Through a UNDP and Global Environment Facility (GEF) initiative some 8,400 households in the northern region of Mwanza were given solar energy systems. Following this success, the Government now requires all local authorities in Tanzania to include solar planning in their budgets, and has removed all taxes and duties on solar energy appliances.

In terms of democratic governance, capacity development has been provided to the National Assembly of the United Republic of Tanzania and to the Zanzibar House of Representatives, thereby ensuring that MPs can better   exercise their interrelated functions of law making, oversight and representation of citizens.

In the health sector, UNDP has over the last two decades strengthened the institutional capacity of the Tanzania Commission for AIDS (TACAIDS) and the Zanzibar AIDS Commission (ZAC) to respond to HIV/AIDS and its impact as well as social-economic factors that lead to the epidemic.

Allow me, in this context, to thank our Development Partners and to acknowledge the spirit of active engagement and collaboration which has characterized the process through which our support to Tanzania has progressed. Indeed, I would like to take this opportunity and to renew our readiness to strengthen further the cooperation with all our partners.

Last year, the world seized a unique opportunity to set a transformational global agenda for sustainable development, by reaching global agreements on financing for development, the post-2015 development agenda, and climate change. These 17 new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will continue the journey towards progress for everyone that aims at going even farther to focus the world on ending poverty, hunger and major health problems, among others. I believe we will achieve substantial results by taking on the many interconnected challenges we face together.

UNDP’s new strategy in Tanzania to 2021 builds on an established and strong relationship with the Government of Tanzania over the past three decades. The Country Programme Document (CPD) followed the imperative of national ownership, with our actions firmly determined by country needs and will be delivering on three major pillars: inclusive economic growth, environmental sustainability and inclusive democratic governance. Reaching out to women and youth of this country remains a top priority for UNDP and shall guide our focus and energy.

Going forward, partnerships and co-ordination will be critical, especially through increased engagement with South-South and triangular co-operation; deeper co-operation with emerging partners on shared development priorities; and partnerships with other stakeholders, including regional bodies, civil society organizations, and private sector entities.  In doing this we will also seek to support the data revolution necessary to inform policymaking, monitor progress, and enhance accountability.

To celebrate these achievements, on 7 March 2016, we will organize a Youth Symposium, aimed at discussing how to mainstream youth perspectives and youth-related issues in development planning processes. These youth will be the biggest beneficiaries when the SDGs are accomplished. We invite you to reflect on our shared history, and take part in the great work ahead—crafting strategic interventions where development assistance can be most effective.