The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is a UN agency entrusted with assisting countries in overcoming poverty and achieving long-term economic and human development. The UNDP places a strong emphasis on building local capacity to achieve long-term self-sufficiency and development. It oversees programmes aimed at attracting investment, technical training, and technological advancement, as well as providing experts to assist in the development of legal and political institutions and the expansion of the private sector.
The UNDP is supported completely by voluntary donations from UN member states and operates in 170 countries. Its efforts are increasingly focused on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as combating HIV/AIDS and ensuring environmentally sustainable development, in addition to addressing national development objectives. The UNDP is administered by a 36-member executive board that is led by an administrator, who is the UN's third-highest ranked official after the Secretary-General and Deputy Secretary-General.
The UNDP places considerable emphasis on building local capacity in order to achieve long-term self-sufficiency and development. It manages programmes to attract investment, technical training, and technological development, as well as providing experts to assist in the development of legal and political institutions and the expansion of the private sector. UNDP personnel frequently coordinate with local officials, nongovernmental organisations, and other international agencies to provide assistance at the request of national governments.