Welcome to UNDP An Induction Toolkit for New Hires Office of Human Resources Bureau for Management Services WELCOME TO UNDP! As a new member of UNDP, we know you are keen on making an impact that matters. This interactive induction toolkit is designed to provide you with a brief overview of UNDP, help familiarize you with our history and our work, link you to helpful knowledge and resources, as well as guide you through your first 30 days. Happy learning and we look forward to our journey together! Table of Contents (click to jump to page) 1. Introduction to the United Nations 2. Introduction to the United Nations Development Programme 3. UNDP and the United Nations System 4. UNDP in the United Nations Family 5. UNDP’s Workforce 6. Our Vision: 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals 7. UNDP Strategic Plan 2018-2021 8. Realizing Our Strategic Plan 2018-2021 9. UNDP’s Administrator 10. UNDP’s Leadership 11. Our Values and Culture 12. Making UNDP a Great Place to Work 13. Guideline to Your First 30 Days Introduction to the United Nations The United Nations is a unique international organization of 193 member states established in 1945. Its goals are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations amongst nations, promote social progress, protect human rights and create better living standards. Its member states are bound together by the principles of the UN Charter , an international treaty that spells out the rights and duties of member states. Due to the powers vested in its Charter and its unique international character, the United Nations can take action on the issues confronting humanity in the 21st century such as: peace and security, climate change, sustainable development, human rights, disarmament, terrorism, humanitarian and health emergencies, gender equality, governance, food production, and more. The UN also provides a forum for its members to express their views in the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, and other bodies and committees. By enabling dialogue between its members and by hosting negotiations, the Organization has become a mechanism for governments to find areas of agreement and solve problems together. The UN's Chief Administrative Officer is the Secretary General, Mr. Antonio Guterres. History | Member States |“We are not here to talk, we are here to make history” 1 Introduction to the United Nations Development Programme The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) was born in 1966, when the Expanded Programme and the UN Special Fund were merged into one entity. 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. UNDP provides solutions to development challenges by developing national and local capacities that will help achieve human development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP’s work is concentrated on three main focus areas: Democratic Climate and Sustainable Governance Disaster Development and Resilience Peacebuilding In all activities, UNDP encourages the protection of human rights and the empowerment of women, minorities and the poorest and most vulnerable. The annual Human Development Report, commissioned by UNDP, focuses the global debate on key development issues, providing new measurement tools, innovative analysis and often controversial policy proposals. The Global Report's analytical framework and inclusive approach are applied to regional, national and local Human Development Reports, also supported by UNDP. 2 3 UNDP in the United Nations Family The UN Family The UN system, also known unofficially as the "UN family," is made up of the UN itself and many affiliated programmes, funds, and specialized agencies all with their own membership, leadership, and budgets. While the programmes and funds are financed through voluntary contributions rather than assessed contributions, the Specialized Agencies are independent international organizations funded by both voluntary and assessed contributions. Please click here for a list of Specialized Agencies in the UN System. The United Nations Development Group: UNDP is central to the United Nations Development Group (UNDG), a network that spans 165 countries and unites the 32 UN funds, programmes, specialized agencies and other bodies working to advance sustainable development. The UNDP Administrator serves as Chair, providing strategic leadership, vision and oversight and setting priorities for the UNDG and its various working mechanisms. UNDP has a critical advisory role in driving the development agenda, based on Member States’ priorities and country context. UNDP participates in 66 “Delivering as One” initiatives, providing country-level support for implementation to reduce transaction costs and duplication of efforts while enhancing cost-effectiveness. UNDP also reinforces joint action on development in such forums as the Economic and Social Council and the General Assembly of the United Nations. 4 UNDP’s Workforce UNDP works in some 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion. UNDP helps countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities and build resilience to sustain development outcomes. Some of our expertise at a glance: Click here for 2016 Annual Review of Hardship Duty Stations 5 Our Vision: 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals In 2015 the world witnessed something historic – the United Nations unanimously ratified a bold and comprehensive 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals. This vision and plan for a better future comes not just from the negotiating chambers of the UN, but from a far-reaching conversation that included millions of people worldwide. Now, as the world takes bold steps to achieve the Goals, UNDP stands ready to lead the way by connecting countries to the knowledge, experience, and resources they need to build a better future for themselves, their citizens, and the world. For more details about SDGs, please click here. 6 UNDP Strategic Plan 2018-2021 The Strategic Plan 2018-2021 sets out the direction for UNDP. Under the leadership of our Administrator, Achim Steiner, we will support countries to end extreme poverty, reduce inequality, and achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Achieving the ambitious and complex 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development requires cross-cutting, integrated applications of expertise and investment, customized for each country and circumstance and driven by global best practices and international standards. UNDP's Strategic Plan is deeply rooted in the analysis and understanding of the interconnections between different operational environments and development settings, which will enable UNDP to be flexible yet site-specific. Building on our strengths and expertise, country relationships, and presence on the ground - in over 170 countries and territories - the Plan offers bold new innovative approaches and services to our partners, Member States and UN Agencies. Strong, open partnerships and adding value to the work of the UN family are fundamental to UNDP's mission. The Plan commits us to work closer with partners, the UN system, and to provide support to the UN Development System to collectively deliver on the 2030 Agenda. Partnerships are essential to expand our collective capacity and reach as well as to help countries access expertise and finance to achieve the 2030 Agenda. We will collaborate with international financial institutions, the private sector and non-profit organizations to build closer connections and deliver stronger results that improve people's lives. “[…] delivering on the 2030 Agenda is at the core of what we do, and it will be foundational for our new Strategic Plan.” - Achim Steiner UNDP Administrator 7 Realizing Our Strategic Plan 2018-2021 The Strategic Plan 2018-2021 includes improvements to UNDP's business model to make us more effective, transparent, accountable and better able to deliver—and to measure— stronger results for those we serve. UNDP will further evolve and adapt to become more innovative and efficient in order to remain a trusted development partner of choice and to respond effectively to new and emerging needs in an increasingly turbulent world. In line with the Secretary General's reform agenda and the guidance of Member States, the Strategic Plan 2018-2021 sets out new ways of working to deliver on UNDP's vision: Helping countries to eradicate extreme poverty, supporting them to quickly modernize key sectors to work better for sustainable development and enabling them to prevent crisis and recover faster. Our Six Signature Solutions offer integrated responses to complex development challenges: Poverty Governance Resilience Gender Environment Energy Equality To accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, each Solution will include a mix of policy advice, technical assistance, finance and programmes tailored to country needs. Two platforms will help deliver our work: a) Global Services Platform available for countries to access UNDP's policy, advisory, and operational expertise at all levels and b) Country Support Platforms to assist governments to design and implement integrated solutions and to provide a platform for the UN and other partners to operate. Click here to read the Strategic Plan 2018-2021.