Development Cooperation
“With a view to the creation of conditions of stability and well-being which are necessary for peaceful and friendly relations among nations … the United Nations shall promote:
higher standards of living, full employment, and conditions of economic and social progress and development …”Article 55 of the UN Charter
There was a time when poverty and privation was seen as the unavoidable lot of what came to be called “the third world”. Seemingly, it had always been, and would always be. Even where there were historical records of great civilizations in these lands, the experience of their present suffering and “backwardness” seemed overpowering.
Today, in a world of some 6.8 billion people, one out of three live in poverty and half of them live in extreme poverty — defined as living on less than $1 per day. The causes are political, social and historical. But today, we know the solution is in our hands.
The United Nations is the very embodiment of the belief that the people of the world, working together, can make a difference. Silently, steadily, day-by-day, the UN family of organizations, workers and volunteers take action with a clear purpose — to help raise the quality of life on Planet Earth.
It is not an exaggeration to say that nearly every organization in the UN family has some aspect of development assistance and cooperation as its primary or secondary focus, either directly or indirectly. Beyond that, the United Nations Development Group unites the 33 UN funds, programmes, agencies, departments, and offices that play a primary role in development efforts.
And since the year 2000, the entire UN system has been mobilized to do its part towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Those goals emerged out of the UN Millennium Summit, where world leaders gathered to address the role of this great collective body during the new millennium.
The UN is the only global institution committed to development — and its track record in promoting development is second to none. Taking the lead in this effort is the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which is on the ground in 166 countries.
The UN system as a whole spends some $16.4 billion annually on operational activities for development. These activities assist refugees, the poor and the hungry. They promote child survival, environmental protection, crime and drug control, human rights, women's equality and democracy. And so much more.
In addition, the World Bank Group extends billions of dollars every year in development loans grants, equity investments, and guarantees. In fiscal year 2007, its new loan commitments amounted to $12.8 billion — covering 112 new operations in 34 countries. Its interest-free loans amounted to $11.9 billion. The largest part of that (around 50 per cent) went to Africa, which has 39 of the world’s poorest countries.
Truly, it would take volumes to even touch the surface of the United Nations work to give tangible expression to international cooperation for development. Today, the entire UN system is striving to make the Millennium Development Goals a reality.