Many of the huge numbers of people not covered by social insurance programmes are informal workers, low-waged, women and young people, refugees and migrants, and people with disabilities – and they are the ones hardest hit by this crisis. Photo: UNDP Bangladesh/Fahad Kaizer

At a moment in time when the COVID-19 is pushing millions of people back into poverty, the approval on 18^th of November 2020 by the Swiss Federal Council of CHF 52.7 million of  funding for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and its hosted UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) for 2021 is critical to respond to the impacts of the crisis and help developing countries get back on track with the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Over the past months, the pandemic has wreaked havoc on the health and livelihoods of millions of people around the world, stressing every country it touches with devastating social and economic effects. This continued Swiss support comes at a critical juncture, as global human development – a combination of the world’s education, health, and living standards – is on the course to decline this year for the first time since UNDP developed the concept in 1990.

UNDP welcomes this announcement, yet another sign of Swiss support to multilateralism and global solidarity. Switzerland is indeed a vital partner in UNDP’s mission to end extreme poverty and accelerate the structural transformations to recover forward better and greener. As the 7^th largest donor to core resources (flexible, unearmarked funding), Switzerland’s investment in UNDP is making a concrete difference to the lives of the poorest and most vulnerable and enables us to help countries address the development challenges that are compounded by the COVID-19 crisis.

This flexible funding will also allow us to work further together in areas that Switzerland and UNDP believe are important for development, including improving democratic governance, supporting conflict prevention and recovery, mitigating and adapting to the impacts of climate change, empowering women and young people and encouraging digital innovation. These areas of shared commitments are reflected in the Swiss Message for International Cooperation 2021-2024.

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet.

Learn more at undp.org or follow at @UNDPGeneva.

Maria Luisa Silva
Director
UNDP Geneva Presentation Office