For the international community—and the United Nations system—2002 was a time of enormous challenges. We witnessed the relentless spread of HIV/AIDS and other diseases worldwide, the appearance of new conflicts and famine in Africa, renewed instability in some democracies in Latin America, and economic setbacks across many of the Arab States and parts of Central Europe.  Our 2003 Annual Report showcases how UNDP is now playing a much more effective role in addressing the world’s biggest development challenges.

Highlights

• Expertise: By the close of the year, almost 2,500 UNDP staff had joined knowledge networks affiliated with the practices, building their professional skills and broadening communication on these issues across the organization.
• Partnership: In 2003, UNDP and its UNDG partners piloted initiatives for synchronizing programming policies. A new generation of harmonized country programs, which guide the work of UN agencies on the national level, came on line.
• Response: In over 60 developing countries during 2002, UNDP supported the preparation and implementation of Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers, World Bank and IMF initiatives designed to help the poorest countries map out national development programs.