Poverty Reduction

Approach
Poverty reduction is the overarching goal of the United Nations Development Programmes (UNDP) work to bring about real improvements in peoples lives. As a trusted multilateral partner working in 177 countries and territories around the world, UNDP is uniquely positioned to help advocate for change, connect countries to the knowledge and resources they need, and coordinate the efforts of the UN at the country level. UNDP invests nearly US$1 billion every year in fighting poverty and advancing progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Much of UNDPs work on poverty reduction focuses on public policy interventions that help to rectify the social, cultural and economic conditions that created poverty in the first place. UNDPs work in poverty reduction is guided by a broad, comprehensive approach meant to achieve sustainable human development, including work in: gender equality and womens empowerment; democratic governance and support to political transitions; crisis prevention and recovery; climate change mitigation and adaptation; and the elimination of stigma related to HIV and AIDS.

R E S U L T S
Poverty reduction
UNDP fights poverty and works toward achievement of the MDGs through advocacy; diagnosis of existing problems; support to pro-poor country-level plans and policies; and pursuing a programme of inclusive development.

In the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic, the countrys

most recent UNDP-supported National Human Development Report, focusing on employment and livelihoods, guided the formulation of the Governments 2011-2015 National SocioEconomic Development Plan, which places special emphasis on job creation.

In Mexico, with UNDPs support, the state of Chiapas

enshrined the MDGs in its Constitution as its guide for developing social policy. This has resulted in effective pro-poor policies and government investments that favour women and indigenous peoples; local government and the state legislature are also legally required to appropriate 33 percent of their budget to MDG achievement.

MDG achievement
A high priority for UNDP is the acceleration of MDG progress in developing countries. As a result, in 2010 UNDP developed the MDG Acceleration Framework (MAF), providing a systematic way for countries to develop their own action plans based on existing best-practices in other countries. The Framework helps governments in particular respond to the needs of the poor and other vulnerable groups. To date, the Framework has been rolled-out in more than 44 countries across the world.

UNDP Global Highlights on Poverty Reduction

Developed the MDG Acceleration Framework to help governments respond to the needs of the poor and other marginalized and vulnerable groups. To date, the Framework has been rolled-out in more than 44 countries across the world. Supported 50 countries in introducing social protection schemes that specifically include youth, women and vulnerable groups. Established pro-poor public/private partnerships in 22 countries, ensuring that low-income households and small businesses have access to a broad range of financial and legal services. Piloted successful poverty reduction projects, allowing for scaling up or replication in 89 countries. Assisted 29 countries in adopting official policies that promote small enterprises and womens entrepreneurship.

In Ghana, UNDP assisted the Government in developing an

MDG Acceleration Framework Action Plan aimed at improving maternal health by building and improving health care facilities in at-risk communities. The new Framework led directly to a European Union grant of EUR52 million ($70 million) for projects in family planning, maternal health and emergency obstetrics and newborn care.

In Colombia, UNDP assisted the Government in applying the

Frameworkwith a special focus on improving job creation, food security and nutrition, reproductive health of women, water sanitation and infant mortality ratesacross 76 territories.

Scaling up local development innovations

UNDP has been working with many countries to scale up local innovative pilot projects by increasing project coverage and informing policy dialogues reforms at the national level.

In Niger, UNDP assisted the Government in developing an

action plan based on the MAF to address an ongoing food security and nutrition crisis. To demonstrate its commitment to this plan, the Government allocated $30 million towards it, prompting the European Commission and Japan International Cooperation Agency to provide strong donor support.

In Mongolia, a microfinance initiative supported by UNDP

and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) has served more than 71,000 borrowers, 87 percent of whom are poor or near poor and 53 percent of who are women.

Building resilience and reducing vulnerabilities

Development can be inclusiveand reduce povertyonly if all groups in a society contribute to creating opportunities, share the benefits of development and participate in decision-making. UNDP works with developing countries to improve the way inclusive development policies and programmes are designed and implemented.

In Mali, multifunctional platformsdiesel-powered

machines that can power devices ranging from pumps and grain mills to generators and cell phonesare a UNDPsupported innovation that is providing modern energy services to poor women in rural areas. These machines are now serving seven million people who had little or no access to the power grid.

In Nepal, a UNDP energy project is extending access to

In Bangladesh, UNDP assisted the Government with a social

safety net project, called Employment Opportunities through Public Assets, which improved the lives of 24,400 womenheaded households in six districts of the country, lifting around 50,000 people out of extreme poverty. Participants income levels more than doubled. As a result of the projects success, the Government proposed replicating this successful initiative on a national level, and its national social protection strategy is using lessons learned from the initiative.

renewable energy in poor, rural areas. The project was initiated at the local level and has been replicated in 40 districts of Nepal through a decentralized, community-based approach. Its success has had a large influence on the Governments rural energy policy.

In the occupied Palestinian territory, UNDP, through its

Deprived Families Economic Empowerment Programme, created 12,000 permanent jobs through grants for microenterprises and has helped over 66,000 families to graduate from poverty.

In Jamaica, a highly-indebted country under considerable

fiscal stress (even before the 2008 financial crisis), a UNDPsupported Government initiative resulted in domestic debt restructuring that released $479 million per year, for the next 10 years, in order to allow for greater investment in health, social welfare and education.

For more information: United Nations Development Programme Office of Communications One United Nations Plaza New York, NY 10017 www.undp.org March 2013