UNDP and the UN

UNDP and the UN System

UNDP is the UN's global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. Traditionally UNDP's current priority is to help all countries achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015, including the overarching goal of cutting extreme poverty in half. UNDP, using its worldwide network, is coordinating global and national efforts to reach these Goals.

In January 2007, prior to the request of the Government, Rwanda was selected to be one of the eight pilot countries for the Delivering as One UN System reform, alongside, Albania, Cape Verde, Mozambique, Pakistan, Tanzania, Vietnam, and Uruguay. The objective of this reform is to improve the impact, coherence, efficiency, and positioning of the UN System at country-level to better assist the Rwanda in achieving the MDGs, and to guide it to the fulfillment of the Vision 2020. The UN in Rwanda is now “results-driven” rather than “funding-driven”.

The DaO System does not merge together all UN agencies operating in Rwanda in a single entity. Instead, all UN agencies work closely and jointly to ensure that operations are guided by strategic development objectives. Under the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) , the shared programming process maximizes the benefits of using agency-specific skills, individual agency’s comparative advantages and mandates.

Within the framework of Delivering as One UN in Rwanda, UNDP works closely with the Government, as well as with development partners and civil society, and all other UN agencies operating in the country in order to build institutional capacity and effect sustainable development. UNDP in Rwanda acts as the seat of the Resident Coordinator and performs an important coordinating role with all other UN agencies including the World Bank and the IMF.

UNDP Programmes in Rwanda, in conjunction with other UN agencies programmes, support the work of the Government of Rwanda in finding and implementing solutions in the three focus areas together with the Millennium Development Goals:

  • Poverty reduction
  • Democratic Governance and Peace Consolidation
  • Environment and energy

Throughout these areas, UNDP advocates for gender equality and the empowerment of women. In all programme areas, a clear and determined focus exists to work towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

UN agencies in the country