EU and UNDP Discuss Global Development Challenges

EU and UNDP Discuss Global Development Challenges and Priorities

Brussels, 27 April 2015 – United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Helen Clark and European Union Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development Neven Mimica jointly opened today in Brussels a high-level policy dialogue between both institutions. The dialogue focuses on the current development challenges and priorities such as the ongoing negotiations on a new global development framework and the collective actions needed to advance sustainable development for all countries and people.

The Millennium Development Goals expire at the end of 2015 and a new set of sustainable global goals will be agreed at a summit in New York in September.

“Together with partners like UNDP, the EU has been working to improve the lives of millions of people around the world. 2015 offers an opportunity we cannot miss to tackle the interlinked challenges of poverty eradication and sustainable development in an integrated and balanced way. The agenda should also be rights-based and address issues such as justice, governance and peaceful societies”, said Commissioner Mimica.

The policy dialogue reviewed progress of the major global conversations on the new development agenda and reflected on the support the developing countries will need to deliver on the sustainable goals.

“2015 provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape a development agenda which eradicates poverty and preserves the planet for future generations,” said Helen Clark. “I look forward to continuing our strong partnership with the EU to achieve these goals.”

Among the themes discussed are supporting inclusive participation and resilience in Africa, with a particular focus on electoral assistance. The EC-UNDP partnership on electoral assistance has supported elections in over fifty countries by strengthening national capacities to carry out free and fair elections, and promoting women’s participation as both voters and candidates.

UNDP is also partnering with the European Commission in the European Year for Development 2015, which raises awareness of development across Europe to show the mutual benefits of investment in development, both for countries in Europe and the world's poorest countries. As part of this awareness campaign, the European Commission and UNDP host a series of lectures, called the Kapuscinski Development Lectures, at universities across Europe.

The partnership between UNDP and the European Commission started in 2004 when a Strategic Partnership Agreement was signed outlining “the shared goal of establishing the solid foundations for peace and recovery from crisis and to promote the Millennium Development Goals, particularly, the fight against poverty.’

Since then, UNDP and the EU have partnered in 115 countries to deepen democratic governance, prevent or recover from conflict and natural disasters, build resilience, and adapt to climate change and are currently working together on 167 projects worldwide in these areas.

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