UNDP in the world
UNDP is the UN's global development network. The mandate of UNDP is to provide assistance to the national governments of a country that they become partners with. This assistance is generally in the form of co-ordination work that they do on the ground, using the resources, schemes and funding of the government and other partner agencies involved in the development sector and up-streaming it to create policy impact. Thus, they help people build a better life by working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. They are operational on the ground in 166 countries. In all their activities, they promote the protection of human rights and the empowerment of women.
For more comprehensive information on the UNDP global activities visit their web site www.undp.org
UNDP in India
For a long time UNDP has been supporting India in strengthening its national institutions and in the dissemination of advanced know-how in diverse areas.
The UNDP Head office is situated at Delhi, the national capital. After the two recent large-scale disasters that rocked the nations, namely the super cyclone in Orissa in 1999 and the earthquake in Bhuj in 2000, they became operational at the state levels in Gujarat and Orissa. Starting with co-ordination with rescue and relief works they have now established themselves in these two states in the planning of sustainable habitats and overall social development.
Read about the ‘new country programme' (2003-2007) in the UNDP WEB site , ‘NEWS FRONT Saturday-Sunday, 6-7 November 1999'.
UNDP in Orissa
UNDP arrived in Orissa after the super cyclone in 1999. Their immediate response was to organize effective rescue, relief and temporary rehabilitation and reconstruction. After assessing
the staggering loss of life and property and making detailed studies of the desperate situation, the head office at Bhubaneshwar initiated the Shelter Project. The project aims at the holistic planning and development of a sustainable habitat by way of promotion of appropriate (cost-effective and disaster resistant) building technologies and capacity building of the community. The aim of the project is to enable the people to re-build their own settlements and thus find livelihood options through the building activity. As per their mandate, they work in partnership with the local Government bodies and other developmental organizations. In coastal Orissa, the shelter project is currently operational in four of the worst cyclone affected districts of Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara and Balasore. In western and Southern Orissa it has been initiated in the drought affected tribal villages. |
The UNDP, rescue team |
