UNDP: United Nations Development Programme – Core Contributions 2015-2017

UNDP is the only UN agency fully specialized in development policies and operations. UNDP is known for its ability to influence policy and build capacity. A universal presence with its large country office network, the unique convening power and a core coordination function within the United Nations development system allow UNDP to influence the whole UN Development System, and thus delivering better results in the field. At the global level, UNDP is the depositary of the MDGs and rates countries worldwide against the Human Development Index. It also maintains a leading role in the reform of the UN development system and the management of the Resident Coordinator system. At the country level UNDP is focusing its work on: a) How to adopt sustainable development pathways; b) How to build and/or strengthen inclusive and effective democratic governance; and c) How to build resilience.

The overarching goal of Switzerland’s international cooperation for 2013-2016 is sustainable global development to reduce poverty and mitigate global risks. This goal is coherent with UNDP’s vision to help countries achieve the simultaneous poverty eradication and significant reduction of inequalities and exclusion through the achievement of the UNDP Development Outcomes as set out in UNDP’s Strategic Plan 2014-2017: 1. Inclusive and sustainable growth and development; 2. Stronger systems of democratic governance; 3. Universal access to basic services; 4. Reducing gender inequality and promoting women’s empowerment; 5. Reducing likelihood of conflict and lower the risk of natural disasters; 6. Early recovery; 7. Development debates and actions at all levels prioritize poverty, inequality and exclusion.

Making the UN system more effective and efficient is one of the main strategic goals of Switzerland at the United Nations. UNDP’s coordination and leadership role of the UN development system is crucial to advance the reform aiming at delivering better results at the country level.

Finally, UNDP is an important partner of Switzerland in the achievement of the MDGs as well as in the formulation and then implementation of the Post-2015 development framework.

UNDP’s contribution to development results has remained satisfactory, in particular on disaster risk reduction, conflict prevention and early recovery, inter alia through expanding national capacities to mitigate and manage conflicts. As such, UNDP supported 14 countries to establish national structures for dialogue, mediation and conflict management, among them Colombia, Bolivia, Chad, and Nepal.

UNDP has also achieved notable progress in the field of inclusive and effective democratic governance, particularly in the areas of justice, security, rule of law and participation in political processes. As such, UNDP election process support benefitted 68 countries, adding 43 million new voters.

UNDP has shown leadership within the UN Development Group and contributed substantially to improving the UN Resident Coordinator system.

UNDP has improved its use of performance data, to produce high quality, contextualized and meaningful reports on its results achieved.

Due to its engagement via the Executive Board and its policy dialogue with UNDP, Switzerland has successfully contributed to:

• the adoption of a corporate Gender Equality Strategy, an integrated UNDP budget and a harmonized cost recovery rate;
• the increased independence of the UNDP Independent Evaluation Office and the formalized request to the UNDP management to provide adequate funding to its evaluation function;
• the implementation of the various mandates contained in the 2012 Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review QCPR;
• maintain UNDP’s focus on fragile contexts and consolidate its expertise through the institutional reform, in particular regarding Rule of Law and the ability of UNDP to cooperate with UN peacekeeping and political missions;
• raise awareness within UNDP management of the importance Switzerland attaches to the number of Swiss nationals working for.

Furthermore, an agreement was signed between Switzerland and UNDP on the provision of JPOs and the first JPO has been deployed with UNDP. Additionally, various UNDP UN Youth Volunteers have been deployed.

Under the umbrella of its overall vision to help countries achieve the simultaneous eradication of poverty and significant reduction of inequalities and exclusion, UNDP delivered in an overall satisfactory manner on the development outcomes of its Strategic Plan 2014-2017. Switzerland’s interactions with UNDP were guided by the objective to achieve particular progress in the following results areas:

• Growth and development are inclusive and sustainable, incorporating productive capacities that create employment and livelihoods for the poor and excluded, especially women and youth.
• Countries reduce the likelihood of conflict and lower the risk of being affected by natural disasters; and achieve early recovery and rapid return to sustainable development pathways in post-conflict and post-disaster settings.
• Citizen expectations for voice, development, the rule of law and accountability are met by stronger systems of democratic governance.
• UNDP’s coordination role, as well as its leadership and management of the Resident Coordinator system are further strengthened.

• Switzerland contributed to the development of UNDP policies, operational strategies and tools, as well as to its capacity to respond to crisis,  allowing UNDP to achieve progress in conflict prevention, crisis governance, livelihoods/economic recovery, rule of law.
• Switzerland contributed to the implementation of the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QCPR) and thereby strengthended UNDP’s coordination and leadership role in the United Nations development system aiming at delivering better results, including in fragile contexts.
• Through the Swiss partnership with the UNDP Independent Evaluation Office and engagement in the Executive Board of UNDP, Switzerland contributed to improved quality of decentralized evaluations and a strengthened results-oriented evaluation, reporting, monitoring and planning culture within UNDP.
• An increased number of Swiss nationals work for UNDP as a result of continued policy dialogue as well as the provision of Swiss JPOs and UN Youth Volunteers.
• Evidence based policy dialogue with UNDP and improved understanding in Swiss Cooperation Offices SCOs for UNDP’s role and functioning is achieved through a strengthened link between SDC headquarters and SCOs.

With the proposed triannual core contribution of CHF 60 million annually and the recent currency fluctuation, from 2014 onwards Switzerland will be the top 6 donor (2013: top 7).

Core contribution ranking for 2013 (most recent official consolidated figure): 1. Norway 2. Sweden, 3. United Kingdom, 4. Japan, 5. USA, 6. Netherlands, 7. Switzerland, 8. Denmark, 9. Canada, 10. Germany.

Switzerland is member of a group of 13 like-minded donors. Switzerland promotes and discusses its priorities and positions within this so called Utstein group, seeking to build common understanding on relevant issues and coordinating with each other in order to make use of synergies.

Phase 41 01.01.2015 - 31.12.2017   (Completed)