26 April 2013 | 27 years after the Chernobyl disaster
STATEMENT BY THE SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SECRETARY–GENERAL
27 YEARS AFTER THE CHERNOBYL DISASTER
As we today mark 27 years after the Chernobyl disaster, we honour the emergency workers who risked their lives responding to the accident, the more than 330,000 people uprooted from their homes and the millions of people living in contaminated areas who have long been traumatized by lingering fears about their health and livelihoods. The countless women, men and children affected by radioactive contamination must never be forgotten.

18 March 2013 | “The South needs the North, and increasingly the North needs the South,” says 2013 UNDP Human Development Report
Mexico City, 14 March 2013 — Leading countries of the developing world, including key countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, are together reshaping global power dynamics in a new era of human development progress, according to the United Nation Development Programme’s (UNDP) 2013 Human Development Report.

30 November 2012 | UNDP Administrator: Message on World AIDS Day
This World AIDS Day, we have so many reasons to take heart:

At the end of 2011, at least eight million people were receiving life-saving treatment, new HIV infections rates had dropped sharply in many countries, and 81 countries had increased domestic spending for AIDS by more than fifty per cent over the preceding five years.  The global AIDS response has propelled a broader mobilization on global health generally, including an expanded multi-sectoral response to non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and depression.  With access to antiretroviral treatment, most people living with HIV can remain healthy and productive, with a near normal life expectancy – and with a far smaller toll on already overstretched health systems.

17 October 2012 | The UNDP Administrator: message on international day for eradication of poverty
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty offers an opportunity for reflection on progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

25 September 2012 | Citizens’ voices key to renewed post-2015 development agenda, says UNDP Chief
New York — Public consultation in more than 50 developing countries will be part of a global process to ensure citizens’ views underpin the design of a post-2015 human development agenda, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Helen Clark said today.

15 September 2012 | Helen Clark: Message on the International Day of Democracy
International Day of Democracy is the occasion to reaffirm our commitment to human dignity, equal rights and equal opportunities, freedom and solidarity.  In celebrating democratic accomplishments around the world, we remember that the struggle to build more inclusive and fair societies, economies, and governance systems continues in many countries, and can also involve threats to life and personal security.

06 September 2012 | UNDP Launches Collection of Innovative Development Stories in Europe and Central Asia
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched today a new publication at its Executive Board meeting showcasing transformative development achievements in Eastern European and Central Asian countries. Much of these successes are based on innovative new social policies addressing the needs of that region’s chronically poor and marginalized, including the Roma, youth, the long-term unemployed and people with disabilities.

02 July 2012 | With three MDGs achieved, global partnership for development is key to 2015 success
Current economic crisis must not be allowed to reverse progress in reducing poverty
Three important targets on poverty, slums and water have been met three years ahead of 2015, says this year’s Report on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), launched today by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Meeting the remaining targets, while challenging, is possible ─ but only if Governments do not waiver from their commitments made over a decade ago.

22 May 2012 | UNDP Goodwill Ambassador Antonio Banderas invites people to join the global conversation on Rio+20
World renowned Spanish actor and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Goodwill Ambassador Antonio Banderas today launched a public service announcement aiming at inviting people to join the global conversation alongside the 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development“Rio+20”.

22 March 2012 | Urgent international action needed to combat social inequalities and environmental risks, UN Secretary-General tells Istanbul Forum
Istanbul, 22 March 2012—Social justice and environmental protection are equally urgent and intrinsically linked universal goals, with coordinated global action needed on both fronts at the UN’s ‘Rio+20’ Conference on Sustainable Development in June, Secretary–General Ban Ki–moon said in a message to an audience of development experts, civil society leaders and government officials at the first Global Human Development Forum here today. 

15 March 2012 | Global Forum in Istanbul to focus on action agenda for UN “Rio + 20” Sustainable Development summit
Istanbul — Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan of Turkey and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Associate Administrator Rebeca Grynspan will open discussions on March 22 in a high–level forum here for development experts, government ministers from both North and South, business executives, and top UN officials to examine the global policy changes required to ensure a sustainable future for people today and for generations to come.

02 February 2012 | World Business and Development Awards open call for business contributions to sustainable development
London, New York, Paris, The World Business and Development Awards today launched a call for nominations for successful business initiatives that are in line with the Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development.

16 September 2011 | New guide to help developing countries speed up access to climate finance
New York, 14 September 2011 —The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) today launched a guide book aimed at helping decision makers in developing countries to better take advantage of the billions pledged to address climate change.

30 August 2011 | Message on the International Day of Democracy
On this International Day of Democracy, we reflect on the human desire for dignity, inclusion and freedom which has seen millions of people across the Arab world demanding change. Many lives have been lost, and are still being lost, as regimes and their opponents have faced off against each other. 

30 August 2011 | Equator Prize opens worldwide call for sustainable development award nominations
New York, 22 August 2011—A UNDP-led partnership that rewards communities around the world for their conservation and development solutions today launched a call for nominations for the Equator Prize 2012, to be submitted online at www.equatorinitiative.org.

21 June 2011 | UNDP joins the sustainable energy for all campaign
Vienna, Austria – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has joined other UN agencies and partners in a call to provide every human on earth with access to modern energy services within the next 20 years.

27 April 2011 | A Visit to Chernobyl
Twenty–five years ago, the explosion at Chernobyl cast a radioactive cloud over Europe and a shadow around the world. Today, the tragedy at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant continues to unfold,  raising popular fears and difficult questions.

01 February 2011 | Message on the Observance of World Interfaith Harmony Week
The first World Interfaith Harmony Week is an opportunity to focus global attention on the efforts of religious leaders, interfaith movements and individuals around the world to promote mutual respect and understanding between followers of different faiths and beliefs.  These partners play an indispensable role in supporting United Nations efforts for peace.

01 December 2010 | Statement by UNDP Administrator Helen Clark on the occasion of World AIDS Day 1 December 2010
‘Universal access and human rights’ is the theme of this year’s World AIDS day, reminding us of the critical importance of both in effective responses to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

23 November 2010 | UNDP Administrator's message on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
Violence against women is global in scale, spread, and impact. Up to six out of every ten women will experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. This violence is rooted in unequal power relations between men and women, and is a clear violation of women’s human rights.  While the serious human impact of these violations is incalculable, the economic and social costs are staggering, impeding economic growth, human development, and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

14 October 2010 | UNDP Administrator's message on the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
From Poverty to Decent Work: Bridging the Gap
The human development approach asserts that development is about far more than just increasing GDP per capita. Fundamentally, development must also be about improving people’s ability to shape their own lives. The global recession forced many millions of workers into unemployment, or into less secure and more vulnerable employment. The number of workers struggling to survive on under $2 a day is estimated to be as high as 1.4 billion worldwide.

22 September 2010 | UNDP puts forward new approach to speed up progress on anti-poverty goals
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) presented today the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Acceleration Framework, an innovative approach designed to help countries identify and resolve barriers to eradicating extreme poverty, and achieving sustainable development. 

09 September 2010 | How can we end Poverty? Join the Global Conversation with UNDP Administrator Helen Clark on Facebook
In the run–up to the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Summit in September, UNDP Administrator Helen Clark will host a live, online Facebook conversation on the global fight against poverty and the actions required to achieve sustainable development. The conversation, the first of its kind to be hosted by UNDP, aims to engage the public on the MDGs and the action plan that will be discussed by world leaders during the upcoming Summit. 

08 September 2010 | United Nations Joins “One Day on Earth” to Capture Peoples's Stories across the Globe
New York, 8 September 2010—On October 10, 2010, people across the world participating in the “One Day on Earth” project will capture an unprecedented global video snapshot of a single 24–hour period. Participants, ranging from teenagers with cell phones to Academy–Award nominated documentarians using the latest HD cameras, will film the world from their own perspective.

17 June 2010 | UNDP puts forward eight-point action agenda to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development
New York, 17 June 2010 — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched, today, an extensive assessment of what must be done to advance sustainable development and reduce global poverty.  The report, titled What Will It Take To Achieve The Millennium Development Goals? An International Assessment, identifies a concrete action agenda to be included in the outcome of the World leaders’ MDG Summit in New York, this September.

14 June 2010 | Drogba and Zidane launch “There are no spectators, we are all Players” TV Spot
New York/Cape Town, South Africa, 14 June 2010 — To kick-off the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Goodwill Ambassadors, Didier Drogba and Zinedine Zidane, launched an anti-poverty TV spot appealing for the world to live up to the challenge and join the team that will beat poverty.

19 May 2010 | 2010 World Business and Development Awards Launched
London, New York, 19 May 2010 —The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the International Business Leaders Forum (IBLF) are pleased to open nominations for the 2010 World Business and Development Awards in support of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – eight internationally-agreed goals to alleviate poverty by 2015.

14 May 2010 | UNDP launches “We Can End Poverty” photo contest
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with Olympus Corporation and the Agence France-Presse (AFP) Foundation, launched the second annual Picture This photo contest today in Johannesburg, South Africa. The contest, titled Picture This: We Can End Poverty, seeks to show the inspirational work that is being done in many countries to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), eight goals agreed on by world leaders to halve extreme poverty by 2015. 

18 March 2010 | Antonio Banderas appointed as UNDP Goodwill Ambassador
Geneva/ New York-17 March 2010—The United Nations Development Programme today announced the appointment of Spanish actor Antonio Banderas as a Goodwill Ambassador for the fight against poverty. In his new role as an advocate for the poor, Antonio Banderas will set his sights on the Millennium Development Goals, a set of eight globally agreed targets that seek to halve world poverty by 2015 by combating hunger, disease, illiteracy, environment degradation and discrimination against women.  

10 December 2009 | Statement from UNDP Administrator Helen Clark on the Occasion of International Human Rights Day
One of the founding principles of the United Nations is our faith in the dignity and worth of every person, without distinction on the basis of race, colour, sex, language, religion, property, birth or other status. Today, however, on International Human Rights Day, we are reminded that discrimination in all its forms continues to undermine this principle.

02 December 2009 | Statement by Helen Clark, UNDP Administrator on the occasion of World AIDS Day
The international community observes World AIDS Day each year on December 1st.  On this day we focus this year on the need for effective HIV/AIDS prevention, care, treatment, and support. Data released by UNAIDS this week in its 2009 AIDS Epidemic Update suggests that new HIV infections around the world have been reduced by seventeen percent since the 2001 signature of the United Nations Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS. 

14 October 2009 | Statement by Helen Clark, UNDP Administrator on the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
As we mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, millions of people across Asia and the Pacific are trying to pick up the pieces of their lives after being hit by a relentless barrage of tropical storms, earthquakes, and tsunamis. Sadly many people died in these disasters.

20 July 2009 | Biggest-Ever Youth Gathering on Climate Change to Call for Real Action in Copenhagen
Daejeon (Republic of Korea)/Nairobi(Kenya), 20 July 2009 – Emerging leaders representing three billion people – the children and youth of the planet – will converge on the Republic of Korea to voice their demands for action on climate change at the Copenhagen meeting. The Tunza International Children and Youth Conference, in Daejeon (Republic of Korea) on 17–23 August, will be the biggest youth gathering on climate change before the UN climate conference in December.

07 July 2009 | Ban Ki-moon to appoint Ad Melkert as Special Representative for Iraq
The Secretary–General has informed the Security Council of his intention to appointed Ad Melkert of the Netherlands as his Special Representative for Iraq. Mr. Melkert currently serves as the Associate Administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), and will replace Staffan de Mistura, who has taken up his duties at the World Food Programme (WFP).  The Secretary–General is grateful for Mr. de Mistura’s valuable leadership in a challenging security environment in Iraq.

08 June 2009 | The first International Millennium Festival will be held in Brussels
The Festival has been created to promote documentary films and their authors – a cinema scene reflecting social and cultural, economic, humanitarian and environmental issues. It is dedicated to documentary films that reflect the broad objectives of the 8 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

05 June 2009 | World Environment Day Statement by UNDP Administrator
Today, World Environment Day, is a reminder to us all to treat our planet better and lighten our carbon footprint. Climate change is a threat to everyone. But without action, the brunt of the impact would be felt by poor and vulnerable people in developing countries. With little capacity to cope, many more would become malnourished and in some circumstances struggle to find water, and even be displaced. This highlights just how intertwined the tasks of addressing climate change, reducing global poverty, and reaching the Millennium Development Goals.

06 April 2009 | Helen Clark unanimously confirmed as new head of UNDP
The United Nations General Assembly this afternoon unanimously approved Helen Clark of New Zealand as the new Administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) for a term of four years. Secretary–General Ban Ki–moon nominated Helen Clark last week to replace outgoing Administrator Kemal Dervis of Turkey.  

31 March 2009 | Higher death and school drop-out rates threaten poor countries as they face the global economic crisis
The current global economic crisis, which began with the severe strains on the financial and banking system in parts of the developed world, now risks triggering a human development catastrophe in the world’s poorest countries. As the leaders of the richest nations set off to London for the G–20 summit this Thursday, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) warns that those most vulnerable to the crisis are living outside the spotlight and their predicament should be addressed at the table.

25 February 2009 | EU and UNDP help Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus reduce illicit drug trafficking
KYIV, 25 February 2009 – Drug control Conventions have reached major achievements, but face many challenges, the participants in a joint EU–UNDP Final Conference of the Programme for the Prevention of the Drug Abuse and the Fight against Drug Trafficking in Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova (BUMAD) stated today in Kyiv.

10 December 2008 | Human Rights Day Statement by UNDP Administrator, 10 December 2008
Today we  commemorate  the 60^th anniversary, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.   Seldom has a document exerted such a moral, political and legal influence, well beyond the aspirations of its original drafters. Adopted by UN Member States as a consensual and global normative framework for the promotion and protection of human rights, Member States aptly proclaimed it as the “common standard of achievement for all people and all nations.”

12 November 2008 | The Match Against Poverty 2008, Fes, Morocco
Junhinho, Tymoschuck and Sun Jihai among 40 international players who will join UNDP Goodwill Ambassadors Ronaldo and Zidane for the sixth edition of the Match Against Poverty

UNDP Goodwill Ambassadors Ronaldo and Zidane announced that at least 40 friends and colleagues will be joining them on the pitch for the Match Against Poverty at the Complexe Sportif de Fes, at 18:00 local time, on November 17 in Fes Morocco.

16 October 2008 | Message by Kemal Dervis, Administrator of UNDP on the Occasion of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
This year’s International Day for the Eradication of Poverty comes at a particularly challenging time for the world’s poor. While we are yet to see the full impact of the global financial crisis on developing countries, it’s clear that together with high and volatile food and fuel prices, current global economic conditions threaten the gains that have been made to reduce poverty and advance development for large numbers of people.

21 August 2008 | Successful trade talks can boost global economy and livelihoods, says UN official
A successful outcome to global trade talks is vital to strengthening the world economy and improving the livelihoods of millions of poor and vulnerable people, the head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said today, following the recent collapse of the Doha round of trade liberalization negotiations.

01 July 2008 | New Report Unveils Business Strategies for Engaging the Poor
Creating Value for All: Strategies for Doing Business with the Poor, a new and groundbreaking report released today by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) offers strategies and tools for companies to expand beyond traditional business practices and bring in the world’s poor as partners in growth and wealth creation.

26 June 2008 | UN Secretary-General Message on the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking
Ten years ago, in response to the seriousness of the world drug problem, Member States of the United Nations convened a Special Session of the General Assembly, where they committed themselves to a vigorous plan of action to reduce both the supply and demand for drugs. 

25 April 2008 | UN Action Plan Prepared for Chernobyl Decade
At a high-level meeting of UN agencies convened today to mark the 22nd anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear accident on 26 April 1986, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) presented a draft “action plan” covering UN work on Chernobyl until 2016. Preparation of the plan was mandated by a 2007 General Assembly resolution, which proclaimed 2006-2016 the Decade of Recovery and Sustainable Development of areas affected by Chernobyl.

02 April 2008 | Maria Sharapova and LeBron James team up against poverty
London - Maria Sharapova, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Goodwill Ambassador, has invited National Basketball Association star LeBron James to "Team Up Against Poverty" on a new UNDP advertisement to garner support for achieving the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). World-renowned photographer Patrick Demarchelier photographed both stars for this new series of UNDP pro bono advertisements.

25 March 2008 | The humble toilet can dramatically cut child deaths and generate economic growth, says the UN
Access to a clean and safe toilet and hygiene education could cut child deaths from diarrhoea by two thirds and could generate US$66 billion-worth of economic benefits, said the United Nations today ahead of World Water Day on 22 March, as it called for increased commitment to tackling the global sanitation crisis.

12 December 2007 | Post-Communist Transition Takes Toll on Women
Bratislava, Slovak Republic, 12 December 2007 – The post-communist transition in Central and Southeast Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States has seen reductions in women’s wages and employment rates relative to men’s, as well as declines in political representation and well-being, according to the December issue of Development and Transition, which is being released today.

12 December 2007 | Statement by the Secretary-General to the General Assembly on the Algiers attack
Words cannot express my sense of shock and outrage. This was a despicable strike against individuals serving humanity's highest ideals under the UN banner. One Head of Government speaking today in Bali said it well: those serving the UN serve us all ? and so this was an attack on all of us. We are still counting the dead, tending to the wounded, and looking for the missing not only from our own UN staff, but also innocent Algerians. My heart goes out to the victims.

28 November 2007 | Climate Change and Development: The central challenge of our time
Imagine that a huge asteroid is hurtling towards Earth. Scientists tell us that there is a ten percent chance of a collision in 10 years and the consequences of its impact will be catastrophic. Your government advises you not to panic and reminds you that there is a 90 percent chance that the asteroid will miss the Earth. Do you decide not to worry, or do you demand that your government mobilizes all of the resources at its disposal to eliminate the risk?

19 November 2007 | UN proclaims “decade of sustainable development” for Chernobyl
New York, 19 November 2007—The United Nations General Assembly is today expected to adopt a resolution proclaiming the period to 2016 as a “decade of recovery and sustainable development” for territories in Belarus, the Russian Federation, and Ukraine that were affected by the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident. The goal of the decade is “a return to normal life” for affected communities. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been tasked with drafting a unified UN action plan and coordinating UN work on the decade.

01 November 2007 | The UN, Google and Cisco Unveil Online Resource in the Fight to Decrease Global Poverty
United Nations, 1 November – The United Nations, Google and Cisco today unveiled a pioneering online site that tracks progress towards decreasing global poverty by 2015, a global campaign known as the Millennium Development Goals, or MDGs.

16 October 2007 | Message by Kemal Dervis, UNDP Administrator, on the occasion of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, 17 October 2007
Seven years ago the world came together and committed to tackle poverty in all its forms and work to build a better world for everyone. This vision was encapsulated in the Millennium Declaration and the eight Millennium Development Goals that emerged from it, which include halving the number of people living in extreme poverty and hunger by the year 2015; achieving universal primary education; promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment; reducing child and maternal mortality; combating HIV/AIDS and other diseases and ensuring environmental sustainability.

14 September 2007 | Ad Melkert, UN Under-Secretary General and Associate Administrator for UNDP: “The Montreal Protocol: A model of global cooperation for the greater environmental good”
Today we commemorate the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Montreal Protocol, a groundbreaking international agreement that curbed and eventually reversed the thinning of the ozone layer, and ushered in a new era of environmental responsibility. By any measure, the Protocol has been a resounding success. Its 191 signatories have together phased out more than 95% of ozone-depleting substances, and we expect the Earth’s protective ozone layer to return to its pre-1980 levels no later than 2075.

02 July 2007 | Progress Towards Development Targets Is Mixed, UN Finds Secretary-General Says Political Leaders Must Honour Commitments
Halfway to a 2015 deadline, there has been clear progress towards implementing the Millennium Development Goals, a set of global commitments to lift millions of people out of extreme poverty. But their overall success is still far from assured, a progress report by the United Nations has found.

27 June 2007 | Belgian companies do business and help development in Eastern Europe
Brussels, 26 June 2007 - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belgium, the Federation of Enterprises and AGORIA held a seminar on “Public Private Partnerships in Southeast Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States” today. The event responded to a call from Belgian businessmen interested in investing responsibly in emerging markets.

05 June 2007 | Statement by Kemal Dervis, UNDP Administrator, on the occasion of World Environment Day
World Environment Day is an opportunity to take stock of the condition of the natural world, and a reminder of its singular importance in the lives and livelihoods of all people, at every stage of development. Protecting the environment, our common resource and responsibility, is one of the United Nations’ most important concerns.

26 April 2007 | UN Secretary-General, tennis star Maria Sharapova mark Chernobyl 21st anniversary
In a statement issued on the 21^st anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident, a spokesman for United Nations Secretary–General Ban Ki–Moon called on the world to remember the pain and loss caused by the disaster, but at the same time spoke optimistically about the prospects for a return to normalcy in the affected regions.

22 March 2007 | Statement by Kemal Dervis, UNDP Administrator, on the occasion of World Water Day
As we stand at the mid–point toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals, which include a specific target on halving the number of people without sustainable access to safe water, the world still faces serious challenges in water supply and sanitation. Today, over 900 million more people need to gain access to an improved water source by 2015, and over 1.3 billion people need access to improved sanitation, if the specific targets are to be met.

19 March 2007 | The match against poverty 2007
UNDP Goodwill Ambassadors Ronaldo and Zidane announce that around 40 friends and colleagues will be joining them on the pitch for the Match Against Poverty on March 19 at the Stade Velodrome at 8.30 pm in Marseille, France. Ronaldo and Zidane will each captain an international side for this friendly aimed at inviting the public to mobilize against poverty.

06 March 2007 | International Women’s Day Statement from the UNDP Administrator Kemal Dervis, 8 March 2007
"... we can say that we have made some progress against the violence that women confront on a daily basis. The clandestine trafficking industry - the buying and selling primarily of women and girls for commercial sex; the use of rape as a weapon of war and the role this plays in the spread and feminization of HIV; honour killings, forced marriages and dowry-related violence including domestic violence – each of these crises are being more clearly articulated than before."

22 February 2007 | Ronaldo and Zidane announce next Match Against Poverty
Football legends Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane are inviting some of the world's top players to join them in an all-star line-up for the fourth "Match Against Poverty: Ronaldo and friends vs. Zidane and friends," which takes place on 19 March 2007 at the Stade du Velodrome in Marseille, France. As Goodwill Ambassadors for the UNDP, Ronaldo and Zidane will each captain an international team for this friendly aimed at mobilising the public in the fight against poverty.

14 February 2007 | Maria Sharapova is appointed UNDP Goodwill Ambassador
At a ceremony today at United Nations headquarters, the world’s top-ranked women’s tennis player, Maria Sharapova, was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). At the same time, Sharapova announced a donation of $100,000 to UNDP Chernobyl-recovery projects.

12 February 2007 | ILO, UNDP join forces to promote growth to promote growth for decent jobs
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) have agreed to strengthen their collaboration and partnership in a major new effort to bolster UN actions designed to reduce poverty and create more decent work. ILO Director-General Juan Somavia and UNDP Administrator Kemal Dervis signed the joint agreement here today in a public ceremony.

01 February 2007 | Kori Udovicki joins UNDP as Director of Bureau for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States
Today, Kori Udovicki assumes her responsibilities as an Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant Administrator of UNDP and Director of the Regional Bureau for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Udovicki has held several senior management positions in the Government of the Republic of Serbia.

11 January 2007 | EC, UNDP to promote responsible business in new and prospective EU members
Under the US$1.36 million project, UNDP will work with enterprises and other stakeholders in eight countries – EU members Bulgaria, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland and Slovak Republic, as well as in candidate countries Croatia, Macedonia, and Turkey. The project will assist the integration of social and environmental concerns in business operations and in corporate interaction with government, trade unions, business associations and communities on a voluntary basis.

08 December 2006 | Message of the UNDP Administrator Kemal Dervis
on the occasion of Human Rights Day, 10 December 2006
"UNDP emphasizes that a human rights-based framework is essential in bringing about more equitable development. The UN Secretary-General’s High Level Panel report, Delivering as One, published last month, argues that actions to integrate human rights into all aspects of the UN’s work will help to make our development efforts significantly more effective."

05 December 2006 | Message from the UNDP Administrator
on International Volunteer Day
"On this day we wish to commemorate the spirit of volunteerism and the commitment of individual volunteers giving their expertise to improve the lives of others. We are grateful to each and every volunteer, around the world, for making a valuable contribution in advancing human development, inclusive growth and sustainable peace."

09 November 2006 | World water and sanitation crisis urgently needs a Global Action Plan
Each year, the authors report, 1.8 million children die from diarrhoea that could be prevented with access to clean water and a toilet; 443 million school days are lost to water–related illnesses; and almost 50 percent of all people in developing countries are suffering at any given time from a health problem caused by a lack of water and sanitation.

08 November 2006 | Ïðàâà ÷àëàâåêà íà âàäó: ñòðàòýã³÷íûÿ ³íâýñòûöû³ ³ ¢çâàæàíàÿ ïàë³òûêà ìîãóöü çàáÿñüïå÷ûöü íàéáÿäíåéøàå íàñåëüí³öòâà ñüâåòó ÷ûñòàé âàäîé
"Àïîøí³ì ÷àñàì ìû ÷óåì ïðàãíîçû àá íåïàçüáåæíûõ «âîäíûõ âîéíàõ» - ïðàäêàçàíüí³, ÿê³ÿ ãðóíòóþööà íà çàíåïàêîåíàñüö³, øòî äçåëÿ çàäàâàëüíåíüíÿ ïàòðýáࢠíàñåëüí³öòâà Çÿìë³, ÿêîå õóòêà ðàñüöå ³ ¢ðáàí³çóåööà, ïðýñíàé âàäû ïðîñòà íÿ õîï³öü".

16 October 2006 | Message by Kemal Dervis, UNDP Administrator, on the occasion of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, 17 October 2006
The theme for the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 2006 - "Working Together Out of Poverty" - signals that eradicating poverty requires a collective commitment to address the diverse dimensions of poverty. The United Nations Development Programme, as the UN’s global development network, is committed to this endeavour.

13 July 2006 | Keeping the G8’s Promises to the Poor
Kemal Dervis: "Gleneagles concluded with ambitious promises—promises which must be kept in St. Petersburg. If these summits are to have meaning, each one must lead to concrete steps towards lasting improvement in the daily lives of the world’s poor – and bring us closer to effective multilateralism."

19 June 2006 | Businesses convene in Vienna to promote corporate social responsibility in Eastern Europe & the Commonwealth of Independent States
On Monday, 19 June over 200 representatives from the private sector and the international development community will convene at the Vienna International Centre to align social objectives with investment opportunities in Southeast Europe, the new EU member states and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

12 June 2006 | UN declaration on HIV/AIDS will tackle the stigma that fuels the virus, says UNDP
The UN declaration adopted by UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on AIDS in New York is a political blueprint that will strengthen the response to HIV/AIDS and tackle the stigma and discrimination that fuel the spread of the virus, according to UNDP Associate Administrator Ad Melkert.

05 June 2006 | Statement of the UNDP Administrator on the occasion of the World Environment Day, 5 June 2006
"Today, on World Environment Day, we focus on the obstacles facing us in this International Year of Deserts and Desertification, and on what we must to do overcome them. Reaching the Millennium Development Goals will be especially challenging in these fragile ecosystems. Dryland populations face continued land degradation. They are both geographically and politically marginalised. They lack modern energy services. They are largely unprepared for climate change."

23 May 2006 | Acclaimed filmmakers Jane Campion and Gaspar Noe focus  on the environment and AIDS in UNDP-supported shorts
Renowned directors Jane Campion and Gaspar Noe have trained their lenses on a new cast of stars: The United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals.

19 May 2006 | UNDP/IFES report says effective budgeting is essential to avoid political expense
The first comprehensive analysis of the cost of elections, launched in New York, illustrates how to make the voting process more affordable, transparent and legitimate. It provides a step-by-step guide to election processes around the world.

28 April 2006 | Statement by Kemal Dervis, UNDP Administrator, at the Special Commemorative Session of the UN General Assembly devoted to Chernobyl, 28 April 2006
"As the United Nations Coordinator of International Cooperation on Chernobyl, I am pleased that the United Nations has been able to play a prominent role in the many commemorative events that have been held to mark this solemn 20th anniversary. It is an occasion both to remember the enormous human cost of the Chernobyl disaster and take stock of the many problems that linger two decades later."

26 April 2006 | Statement Attributable to the Spokesman for the Secretary-General on the 20th Anniversary of the Chernobyl Disaster
As we look back over the past two decades, we need to remember the selfless heroism of the emergency workers who responded to the accident; the suffering of the more than 330,000 people who were resettled from contaminated regions; the risks and fears experienced by millions of people living in surrounding areas; and the painstaking and costly measures undertaken over many years to limit the population’s exposure to radiation and to mitigate the accident’s impact on health and the natural environment.

24 April 2006 | Chernobyl recovery is possible, says UN Assistant Secretary-General Kalman Mizsei
United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and UN Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Director Kalman Mizsei today called on the world to remember the suffering caused by the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident. He also expressed confidence in the potential for the region’s social and economic recovery.

24 April 2006 | Speech by Mr. Kalman Mizsei UN Assistant Secretary General and UNDP Assistant Administrator
"The human impact of the Chornobyl accident has been far more disturbing than the fate of the damaged reactor. Yet the residents of the region have yet to see a comparable outpouring of international financial generosity to assist in their own recovery."

14 April 2006 | Chernobyl’s myths and misconceptions by Kalman Mizsei and Louisa Vinton
The twentieth anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear accident of April 26, 1986 is prompting a new wave of alarmist claims about its impact on human health and the environment. As has become a ritual on such commemorative occasions, the death toll is tallied in the hundreds of thousands, and fresh reports are made of elevated rates of cancer, birth defects, and overall mortality.

27 March 2006 | European Forum to discuss environment, market opportunities for the South
On March 30th and 31st 2006 over 600 Senior Business Officials and CEOs, together with representatives from civil society and governments will gather in Paris to discuss the issues of “sustainable development and responsible management”. It will be the fifth edition of the European Forum for Sustainable Development and Corporate Responsibility organized by the French major daily economic newspaper Les Echos in close collaboration with UNDP.

08 March 2006 | Statement by Kemal Dervis, UNDP Administrator, on the occasion of the International Women’s Day, 8 March 2006
"Newly-elected women leaders give hope to women worldwide that from the highest political level to the most personal, equality between women and men is a goal that can be achieved. On this International Women’s Day, UNDP reaffirms its commitment to ensure that we help to provide women with the capacity to make this goal a reality."

03 March 2006 | Secretary-General appoints Mark Malloch Brown as Deputy Secretary-General
Secretary-General Kofi Annan today announced the appointment of Mark Malloch Brown, his current Chef de Cabinet, as Deputy Secretary-General. Mr. Malloch Brown will assume his new functions upon the departure of the Deputy Secretary-General, Louise Frechette.

30 January 2006 | 'Landmark' book offers tools to manage global risks
Innovative financial mechanisms that could dramatically reduce the cost of managing global risks can now be implemented by governments across the world, according to a ground-breaking book launched at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos last week by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

10 January 2006 | World Business Awards deadline extended
With the nomination deadline extended to 20 January 2006, companies and business associations around the world have an extra few weeks to enter projects for the 2006 World Business Awards in support of the Millennium Development Goals.

19 December 2005 | United Nations signs disaster management partnership with DHL
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) signed a far-reaching partnership agreement with international leading express and logistics provider DHL.

09 December 2005 | Statement by Kemal Dervis, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme on the occasion of Human Rights Day, 10 December 2005
"The international language of human rights has become widely accepted and spoken in the fifty-seven years since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This was underlined in September, when global leaders at the 2005 World Summit firmly stated that human rights along with development, peace, and security are the pillars of the United Nations system."

05 December 2005 | Message from Kemal Dervis on International Volunteer Day, 5 December 2005
"In this, my first message on occasion of International Volunteer Day as Administrator of UNDP, I welcome the opportunity to applaud the efforts of volunteers worldwide who, together with the United Nations and the international community, are contributing to global efforts to fight extreme poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)."

05 December 2005 | New Global Community Aids Award launched
A new international award celebrating community action on AIDS was launched today on World AIDS Day to honour grassroots leadership in fighting the AIDS epidemic. The first-ever Red Ribbon Award: Celebrating Community Leadership and action on AIDS will be presented at the XVI International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2006), to be held in Toronto, Canada, from 13-18 August 2006.

01 December 2005 | Statement by Kemal Dervis, Administrator of the UNDP, on the occasion of World AIDS Day, 1 December 2005
This year’s World AIDS Day follows on the heels of the 2005 World Summit where international leaders reaffirmed their commitment to intensify global and national HIV/AIDS responses. The fundamental challenge now is to ensure we all adhere to that commitment, and take the necessary actions to deliver results.

15 November 2005 | UN General Assembly endorses new approach to Chernobyl challenge
The United Nations General Assembly yesterday adopted a resolution encouraging the international community to redouble its efforts to mitigate the consequences of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident. The body also took into account a report by the Secretary General on efforts to promote recovery in areas affected by the Chernobyl legacy.

09 November 2005 | Helping Chernobyl survivors face the future
UNDP is bringing together governments, international experts and business to help residents of Chernobyl-hit regions break out of the dependency culture that continues to stunt development nearly two decades after the world's worst nuclear accident.

20 September 2005 | Community of Democracies welcomes new UN Fund
United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and UNDP Administrator Kemal Dervis welcomed steps taken at the UN 2005 World Summit to strengthen democratic institutions, including the establishment of the new UN Democracy Fund, in remarks to a gathering of the Community of Democracies, a five-year old association of countries working to build democracy internationally.

05 September 2005 | Chernobyl: The True Scale of the Accident
A total of up to four thousand people could eventually die of radiation exposure from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant (NPP) accident nearly 20 years ago, an international team of more than 100 scientists has concluded. As of mid-2005, however, fewer than 50 deaths had been directly attributed to radiation from the disaster, almost all being highly exposed rescue workers, many who died within months of the accident but others who died as late as 2004.

02 September 2005 | Major report stresses natural resources as path out of poverty
A report that challenges conventional approaches was released at a critical moment in the battle against poverty. The report, World Resources 2005: The Wealth of the Poor: Managing Ecosystems to Fight Poverty, stresses the urgent need to look beyond aid projects, debt relief and trade reform and focus on local natural resources to address the crisis of poverty in all parts of the globe.

25 August 2005 | Energy & Environment for Development
UNDP Administrator Kemal Dervis presented The Sustainable Difference: Energy and Environment to Achieve the MDGs. The Report makes the case that the role and costs of energy and environment should be explicitly factored into national MDG strategies. Not doing so, say the authors, will only entrench poverty, constrain the delivery of social services, limit opportunities for women, and erode environmental sustainability.

16 August 2005 | Former Turkish Economics Minister takes helm at UN Development Programme
Kemal Dervis, a former Turkish Minister of Economic Affairs, Member of the European Convention and World Bank executive, took office today as the new Administrator of the United National Development Programme (UNDP), the UN’s global development network and its largest agency. A world-renowned economist, Mr. Dervis, 56, succeeds Mark Malloch Brown, who was appointed as the UN Secretary-General’s Chief of Staff in January.

01 August 2005 | Partnering for Poverty Reduction: The Growing Sustainable Business Initiative
Widespread poverty reduction can only be achieved by improving access for the world’s impoverished to needed goods and services, as well as creating employment opportunities. Business investment in developing countries and regions can drastically improve livelihoods by establishing infrastructure, delivering access to basic necessities and generating local economic development.

12 May 2005 | Norway, UNDP sign aid agreement for Caucasus
10 May Zephirin Diabre, Associate Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and Jan Petersen, Foreign Minister of Norway, signed a Memorandum of Understanding committing Norway to providing $10 million for UNDP projects in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia over the next three years.

05 May 2005 | UN General Assembly unanimously confirms Kemal Dervis as next UNDP
The United Nations General Assembly, representing 191 countries, today unanimously confirmed Kemal Dervis, a former finance minister of Turkey and senior World Bank official, as the next Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Mr. Dervis, presently a member of Turkey's parliament, is expected to officially start his four-year term on 15 August 2005. Mr. Dervis will succeed Mark Malloch Brown, who in January 2005 was appointed as Chief of Staff to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

04 April 2005 | UN Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Report warns worsening ecosystem changes put Millennium Development Goals at risk
A recently launched report co-sponsored by UNDP, entitled Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) Synthesis Report, reveals that 60 per cent of the ecosystem services such as fresh water, fishery and air and water regulation are putting pressure on the planet’s capacity to sustain future generations. The assessment “points the way towards the measures that all sectors of society must take if we are to eradicate poverty, sustain growth and achieve the Millennium Development Goals,” says UNDP Administrator and the UN Secretary-General’s Chef de Cabinet Mark Malloch Brown.

10 March 2005 | Democratic Governance: Linking the Security and Development Agenda
In bringing together some 100 nations committed to supporting and promoting democracy in their own countries, globally, the Community of Democracies is today playing an important role in addressing what is one of the fundamental challenges of our time, namely, how to consolidate the wave of democratization we have witnessed in so many parts of the world over the past thirty years, and how to assist other countries and their citizens on this same liberating path of democratization.

22 February 2005 | UNDP Launches New Development Website for Europe and the CIS
UNDP's Regional Bureau for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) is launching today its redesigned and revamped website. The new site represents an important step in UNDP's effort to collect, store and disseminate development knowledge on Central and Southeastern Europe and the CIS.

10 February 2005 | Private sector to adopt islands in the Maldives
Big businesses are readying to adopt small islands in the Maldives through a pioneering effort aimed at helping people affected by the tsunami to rebuild their homes. The ADOPT AN ISLAND initiative was officially launched in the Maldives today by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at precisely 9:30 am, the exact time the gigantic tsunami devastated one-third of the Maldives' inhabited islands, just over a month ago.

28 January 2005 | Brown, Benn and Malloch Brown urge world community to turn words into anti-poverty action in 2005
2005 is the crucial year for taking effective international action against global poverty, UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown told a high-level development forum here on Wednesday. The forum on development, finance, debt and trade issues was co-sponsored by UNDP and the UK’s Department for International Development and featured the participation of prominent development figures including Hilary Benn, UK Secretary of State for International Development; Mark Malloch Brown, UN Secretary-General’s Chief of Staff and UNDP Administrator; Donald Kaberuka, Minister of Finance of Rwanda, and Pär Nuder, Minister of Finance of Sweden.

25 January 2005 | Administrator addresses Executive Board on UN reform
The United Nations development system needs a leader in capacity development, and the most suitable entity would be UNDP, recognizing the organization’s cross-sectoral mandate and the global platform it offers. At the same time, each agency, fund and programme has a contribution in its own sector.

17 January 2005 | Practical Action Plan to Combat Poverty Unveiled at UN Today
UN Millennium Project’s “Investing in Development” presented to Secretary-General Annan, welcomed by experts as cost-effective blueprint for achieving Millennium Development Goals by 2015

10 December 2004 | Message of the UNDP Administrator Mark Malloch Brown for the Human Rights Day, 10 December 2004
As we mark International Human Rights Day we remember the many improvements that have been made in human rights and recognize the countless efforts of human rights defenders worldwide. It is also an opportunity when we are forced to recognize that violations of human rights are still frighteningly common. Recent reports from Dafur, Sudan and many other parts of the world bear witness to terrible abuses, where human rights protection is failing miserably. And as we consider specific instances of human rights violations, we too recall that global poverty is also in itself an infringement of human rights, exposing millions of people to a life where human dignity is difficult to uphold.

25 October 2004 | IDEP 2004 spotlights Youth: a new voice for the Millennium Development Goals
UNDP marked IDEP 2004 by presenting the Poverty Eradication Awards at the United Nations in New York in recognition of young leaders making the greatest impact towards meeting MDGs. A winner from each of the five world regions received an award. On 22 October 2004, UNDP held its 8th annual Poverty Eradication Awards ceremony at United Nations headquarters.

18 October 2004 | Visit new UNDP Goodwill Ambassadors web site
They are at the top of their field, whether it's broadcasting, the literary world or the football stadium. UNDP Goodwill Ambassadors share a deep concern for the poor and a commitment to making the planet a better place, ridding it of poverty, combating HIV/AIDS, ensuring environmental sustainability, protecting human rights, empowering women, thus helping to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

06 October 2004 | Annan says UN working on new tools to foster rule of law and transitional justice
The United Nations is working on developing "important new tools" to strengthen its support for the rule of law and transitional justice in States that are either still facing or just emerging from conflict, Secretary-General Kofi Annan told the Security Council.

26 April 2004 | Chernobyl: needs great 18 years after nuclear accident
On the 18th anniversary of the accident at the Chernobyl power plant, Mr. Jan Egeland, the UN’s Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, is urging the international community not to turn its back on the people still affected by the world’s worst nuclear accident.

01 March 2004 | Europe’s Economic Growth Threatened by AIDS
“HIV/AIDS is a growing challenge for the entire continent of Europe, from Dublin to Moscow,” Kalman Mizsei, Regional Director for Europe and the CIS of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), warned European leaders gathered here to discuss a regional response to the epidemic.

17 February 2004 | New Report Warns East European and CIS Policy Makers about the Risks of a Generalized HIV/AIDS Epidemic
Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States have some of the fastest growing rates of HIV/AIDS infection in the world. The impact is compounded by still insufficient public awareness, frequent stigmatization and lack of adequate policy instruments to cope with the disease. Nonetheless, the region also has success stories, from which valuable lessons should be taken.