A PARTNER OF CHOICE IN AFRICA

Inspired by the richness and untapped potential of the continent, we collaborate closely with governments and institutions, including the private sector, regional and international financial institutions (IFIs), to harness Africa’s vast resources to foster sustainable human development across the continent. Our partnerships are rooted in trust, aimed at assisting countries in unlocking their abundant natural, human, and economic resources. Together, we strive to advance both the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and the aspirations outlined in the African Union's Agenda 2063, aligning with regional development priorities, the goals of individual governments and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Strategic Offer.

Renowned for our adaptable, innovative, and reliable business process, UNDP in Africa stands as a steadfast ally in advancing development agendas alongside our partners. Our efforts include crafting forward-looking and analytical knowledge products and executing impactful initiatives, driving significant progress and scalability throughout the continent.

African governments are among the biggest investors in Africa. Our work presents an invitation to likeminded partners to be a part of meaningful work, whose impact echoes into the ages to come.

Partnerships for development impact

As the UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa, we support capacity strengthening in Africa, through our programmatic and longer-term flagship development initiatives. Be it the long-standing partnership with Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), or initiatives like timbuktoo, the Sahel Offer, the Africa Minigrids Program, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) partnership, our partnerships exist to mobilize results, strengthen capacity and expand development. 

In addition, other flagship initiatives include the Emergency Programme for Community Development (known by its French acronym as PUDC), implemented by UNDP with cost-shared financial support of targeted African Governments (Democratic Republic of Congo, Gambia, Liberia, Senegal and Togo). This initiative has helped in providing rural communities with basic socioeconomic infrastructure including health, administrative, and education facilities, which creates strong attraction for private investment.

Partnership with African Governments

Over the last few years, it is with pride and admiration that we have observed the trend of African Governments being among the top contributors of African development. This is a trend which we as UNDP Africa— with great expectation— look forward to seeing grow.

Partnership with the African Union (AU)

UNDP’s Strategic Offer for Africa (the Africa Promise) aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the AU Agenda 2063. The long-standing partnership with the African Union continues to be reflected in key partnerships such as:

• Sahel Resilience Project

• Silencing the Guns Initiative

• African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)

• Africa Facility to Support Inclusive Transitions (AFSIT)

• African Young Women Leaders Fellowship Programme

• Africa Credit Rating Resource Platform

UNDP is also working with the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) on the credit rating initiative.

Partnership with International Financial Institutions (IFIs)

IFIs are historic supporters of UNDP’s work, with country offices financing several projects through their grants and loans. UNDP provides support in three areas: the design of fruitful projects; implementation of those projects and their monitoring and evaluation. As we work towards greater access to development financing as one of the cornerstone enablers in the UNDP Africa Strategic Offer, we continue to rely on partnerships with IFIs in supporting work in the country offices. 

Partnership with OECD-DAC countries

Much of the core funding we receive is attributable to the Core Funding UNDP receives yearly from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development 's (OECD) Development Assistance Committee (DAC) partners. This funding is proportioned between all the Bureaux in UNDP, depending on the resources available every year. 

NEW Partnerships

In recent years, we have seen the emergence of new players in the international sectors of technology, trade, finance, and development, amongst others. This shift reflects new strategic partnerships for UNDP that move beyond the familiar faces of the last few decades. These partnerships are welcomed as we work together towards achieving the SDGs.

Partnership with the Private Sector

It is increasingly apparent that partnerships for the SDGs would remain unrealized without partnership with the private sector. With a future-forward vision for the advancement of development, it is certain that engagements with corporate enterprises and family foundations will remain of utmost relevance.

Partnership with Influencers, Academia and Think Tanks

UNDP also partners with African Influencers under its flagship initiative ‘African Influencers for Development (AI4Dev)’ to unlock Africa’s resources for Africa’s development. 

Our partnerships with Academia and think tanks like Brookings, and regional institutions foster knowledge generation to influence policies to advance sustainable development across Africa.