Annual Report
2024

However, the risks the world faces and threats to security—climate change, conflict, economic instability, mass migration—are rooted in chronic development failures. These challenges transcend borders and will not pause while debates about the value of international cooperation continue. To de-risk the future and create a more secure and prosperous world, we must confront these issues head-on. And to succeed, we must do so together – by acknowledging our shared interest and investing in each other’s development pathways.

There are no simple answers to the current development emergency. But emerging technologies hold immense promise as accelerators of progress. Digital transformation and artificial intelligence offer unprecedented opportunities—from creating jobs for the 21st century to building resilient infrastructure and optimizing resource management. However, these technologies must be harnessed responsibly through international cooperation, investments in digital public infrastructure, upskilling, and ensuring equitable access to avoid exacerbating disparities. A future where 8 billion people can thrive depends on this approach.

Despite the disruptions of 2024, UNDP stood firm in its mission to deliver development results where they were needed most. This Annual Report reflects our unwavering commitment to advancing development across different contexts—demonstrating our capacity to adapt and innovate in an increasingly complex world. Our ability to partner and respond to countries’ specific development priorities with tailored support is among our greatest assets. UNDP’s track record illustrates our commitment to be forward-looking, constantly learning, and continually evolving our offer to those we serve – whether by investing in women-led enterprises in Afghanistan or providing medicine for people living with HIV in Zimbabwe.

As we look ahead into what promises to be a tumultuous 2025, UNDP sees not just challenges but opportunities—opportunities that arise when we choose collaboration over division, and solidarity over isolation. The greatest progress will come when we turn toward each other once again, united by a shared vision for a better future for all.