United Nations Development Programme China The Changing World

United Nations Development Programme China The Changing World of UN Development Cooperation By Kerstin Leitner former RC/RR UNDP, China Berlin 2007

United Nations Development Programme China The 20 th Century a century of wars, civil strife, many conflicts, genocides and disasters, but as a redeeming feature there has been development cooperation. (A retiring aid administration official in 2000)

United Nations Development Programme China 1950 s/60 s: Post-colonialism and the Cold War – setting up institutions and organizations – respecting the chosen political structure – staying technical and neutral

United Nations Development Programme China 1950 s/60 s: Delivery of UN Technical Assistance – highly centralized – OPAS – long-term experts – tripartite system

United Nations Development Programme China 1970 s: the Cold War heats up in Development Cooperation - developed vs. developing countries - political loyalty vs. development needs and requirements - multilateral vs. bilateral programmes - 0. 7 percent of GNI as a target

United Nations Development Programme China 1970 s: Delivery of UN Technical Cooperation - IPF system government execution mix of expert types emphasis on training

United Nations Development Programme China 1980 s: The Developing World comes politically into its own – regional blocks – the Group of 77 and China – LDCs, threshold countries, regional blocks – globalization – doubts and confusion

United Nations Development Programme China 1980 s: Delivery of UN Development Cooperation • IPF system crumbles • tripartite system breaks up • national execution emerges • capacity building the most urgent demand • consultants/sub-contracts increase

United Nations Development Programme China 1990 s: the Cold War is over – now what? – globalization – one system “wins” – the UN emerging as an indispensable world forum – the UN system in a deep structural crisis

United Nations Development Programme China 1990 s: Painful Adjustments to a New World Order – the SG’s reform package of July 1997 – the emergence of new funds, e. g. GEF, Montreal Protocol, – and new funding modalities, e. g. multi-bi, MSAs, cost-sharing

United Nations Development Programme China 1990 s: Delivery of UN Development Cooperation • policy support • followup to international conferences • TCDC / South-South cooperation • national professional experts • all previous modalities are used • emergency assistance vs. development cooperation

United Nations Development Programme China The New Millennium and the Challenges of the 21 st Century – combining poverty elimination and globalization – expanding trade and creating domestic markets – raising living standards without depleting natural resources

United Nations Development Programme China The New Millennium and the Challenges of the 21 st Century – protecting human rights and solving conflicts through negotiations – increasing ODA in exchange for policy adjustments – from dependence on governments to partnerships with civil society

United Nations Development Programme China The New Millennium and the Challenges of the 21 st Century – working on the basis of comparative strength and as a team – working to the same script: MDGs – working on a global agenda in a national and regional context

United Nations Development Programme China The Role of UNDP– Responding to Challenges – addressing imbalances and disparities: the quest for equity – tackling environmental threats: keeping the world safe for human habitation – democracy: allowing for participation and inclusion – coordination: bringing partners together

United Nations Development Programme China Thank you! For information on UNDP’s work, please visit the website: www. undp. org