UNDP
UNDP is the UN's lead development agency working in ~170 countries on poverty eradication, governance, crisis resilience, and climate action, funded by voluntary member-state contributions and delivering technical assistance, digital public infrastructure, and AI-enabled crisis response.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1965
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What UNDP does
UNDP is the United Nations' lead development agency, operating in approximately 170 countries and territories through country offices supported by its New York headquarters and regional/representation offices. Its mandate focuses on four interconnected areas: eradicating poverty and reducing inequality, strengthening governance, building crisis resilience, and protecting the planet through climate action. UNDP provides technical assistance, policy advisory, and capacity development to national and local governments at no cost to programme countries, while serving as the operational backbone for more than 70 UN agencies and entities with services spanning HR, finance, procurement, and digital solutions.
UNDP's technology portfolio centers on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and data-driven development platforms. Its core products include the Data Futures Platform, Data to Policy Navigator, and GeoHub for evidence-based policymaking; the open-source MOSIP digital identity platform and OpenG2P social protection platform deployed through the Africa Accelerator for Digital Public Infrastructure (AA4DPI); and satellite imagery combined with AI for crisis damage assessment under a UNITAR framework that delivers integrated reports within 48 hours. Innovation programs such as the timbuktoo Pan-African initiative, University Innovation Pods (UniPods), Youth Co:Lab, and the SDG Blockchain Accelerator extend UNDP's reach into startup ecosystems and frontier technology adoption.
UNDP is funded entirely through voluntary contributions rather than commercial revenue. Core ("regular") and earmarked resources come from UN Member States — with Switzerland committing $120 million for 2026-2028 and Norway contributing $40.3 million in 2023 — alongside multilateral partners (GEF, Green Climate Fund, EU), the private sector (Samsung, Citi Foundation, KOICA), and foundations. The organization reports $2.8 billion in annual global procurement volume, $867 billion in SDG-aligned public and private finance mobilized, and operates with more than 10,000 personnel globally. The current UNDP Administrator is Alexander De Croo (Belgium), who assumed office on 2 December 2025.
UNDP firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- UNDP
- Legal name
- United Nations Development Programme
- Website
- https://undp.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1965
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- UNDP is the UN's lead development agency working in ~170 countries on poverty eradication, governance, crisis resilience, and climate action, funded by voluntary member-state contributions and delivering technical assistance, digital public infrastructure, and AI-enabled crisis response.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
UNDP industry classification
Industry- Product category
- International Development and Technical Assistance
- NAICS
- Public Administration (92), National Security and International Affairs (928)
- SIC
- Services-Facilities Support Management Services (8744)
- akta.pro primary industry
- United Nations System & Specialized Agencies (BPADAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- ERP Implementation & Systems Integration Services (BPAEAGAA), Public Sector & Government ERP (HDAEAEAG), Facility Emergency Response Plans (ERP) & Integrated Contingency Plans (ICP) (EUAHALAB)
Keywords
Where UNDP is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices7 records
Markets served
UNDP business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Voluntary Contributions from Member States: UNDP depends entirely on voluntary contributions from UN Member States in the form of unrestricted regular resources (core) and contributions earmarked for specific themes, programmes or projects. Key contributors include Switzerland ($120 million for 2026-2028), Norway ($40.3 million), and Bangladesh's annual core resources contribution. These fund UNDP's operations across more than 170 countries.
- Multilateral Organization Contributions: Contributions from multilateral organizations including GEF (Global Environment Facility), Green Climate Fund, EU, and other international financial institutions earmarked for specific environmental, climate, and development projects.
- Private Sector and Foundation Contributions: Partnership contributions from private sector entities and philanthropies for specific development initiatives, such as Samsung partnership for Youth for Circularity 2030 and Citi Foundation for Youth Co:Lab innovation challenges.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
UNDP product offering
Product offeringCore offering
UNDP is the United Nations' global development agency, working in approximately 170 countries and territories to help eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities, build crisis resilience, and advance the Sustainable Development Goals. It provides policy advisory, technical assistance, and capacity development services to national governments through Country Programme Documents approved by its Executive Board. It also serves as an operations backbone for over 70 UN agencies, providing shared services in procurement, finance, human resources, IT, and digital solutions.
Product overview
UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) operates as a development agency rather than a commercial software product company. UNDP's technology offerings consist of data platforms, digital transformation support services, and innovation programs that help countries achieve sustainable development goals. Key platforms include the Data Futures Platform, Data to Policy Navigator, and GeoHub for data analytics; AA4DPI supporting open-source Digital Public Infrastructure through MOSIP and OpenG2P; and the timbuktoo innovation initiative with the AgriTech Hub. UNDP also provides crisis response tools including satellite imagery-based damage assessment, and supports digital talent development through University Innovation Pods across multiple countries. The organization works with over 120 countries on digital transformation, focusing on building sovereign digital capabilities rather than proprietary products.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Human Development Report (HDR): UNDP's flagship independent publication providing analysis on human development globally
- Climate Promise
- Youth Co:Lab
- timbuktoo
- Vidvazhna
- Africa Accelerator for Digital Public Infrastructure (AA4DPI)
- Sustainable Finance Hub
- AI Hub for Sustainable Development
Products and services
- Data Futures Platform
- Data to Policy Navigator
- GeoHub
- Africa Accelerator for Digital Public Infrastructure (AA4DPI)
- MOSIP (Modular Open Source Identity Platform)
- OpenG2P
- timbuktoo Initiative
- University Innovation Pods (UniPods)
- SDG Blockchain Accelerator
- FANFAR Flood Forecasting System
- Satellite Imagery Crisis Analysis
- Digital Transformation Support
- Youth Co:Lab
Quantifiable outcome
- 132 countries supported to help people escape multidimensional poverty (2022-2024)
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use UNDP
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
UNDP technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability6 records
Feature6 records
UNDP partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- UNHCRcoreFour-year Joint Collaboration Framework (2026-2030) to help forcibly displaced people move beyond aid dependency and rebuild lives. Shifts from coordination to joint strategic delivery, focusing on strengthening national systems, expanding economic opportunities, and mobilizing development and climate finance in displacement-affected areas.
- FAOcoreFive-year (2020-2025) joint collaboration on agriculture and land-use planning with €20 million German funding through BMU/IKI. Supporting 10-12 developing countries in building effective agriculture and land-use plans to accelerate NDCs under Paris Agreement.
- IRENAcorePartnership to support countries in accelerating renewable energy deployment to meet Paris climate goals. UNDP launched Climate Promise initiative aiming to support 100 countries in enhancing climate pledges.
- SamsungmajorPartnership since 2019 entering new phase focused on community-led experimentation. First initiative Youth for Circularity 2030 launched February 2026 in Sierra Leone, bringing together universities and youth networks for circular economy solutions.
- UN WomencoreGender Justice Platform jointly led with UN Women operating in 40+ countries, improving access to justice for 300,000+ women globally. CSW70 side event co-organization with 12 countries.
- Citi FoundationmajorCo-lead Youth Co:Lab National Innovation Challenge 2026 with UNDP India, attracting 350+ applications from startups across 28 Indian states, with winners receiving seed funding.
- EkStep FoundationmajorIndia-Kenya-Italy trilateral partnership co-led by EkStep Foundation, Kenya's Ministry of ICT, and Italy's AI Hub, working with UNDP to deploy sovereign AI solutions in agriculture, health, education, and public services.
- GSMAmajorAI Capacity-Building Programme for Policymakers in Egypt with regional participation from Libya, Sudan, Tanzania, and Jordan, focusing on AI governance frameworks and regulatory approaches.
- UNITARmajorFramework agreement to streamline crisis analysis combining satellite imagery with ground assessments, producing integrated damage reports 30% faster. Critical damage/needs information within 48 hours post-crisis.
- City Bank PLC (Bangladesh)minorMoU signed March 2026 to support issuance of Bangladesh's first commercial bank green bond, with UNDP providing technical assistance on green bond framework aligned with international standards.
- UNCDFmajorBusiness Resilience Toolkit partnership in Fiji with Fijian Government and Fiji Business Disaster Resilience Council to help businesses prepare for cyclones, flooding, and economic shocks.
- ACDFmajorLarge-scale reforestation initiative on dried Aral Sea bed, planting 90,000 saxaul and halophytic seedlings across 90 hectares in Aralkum desert.
- SamsungmajorYouth for Circularity 2030 programme in Sierra Leone launched February 2026, connecting students to hands-on innovation spaces, mentorship, and green entrepreneurship pathways for circular economy solutions.
- UNHCRcoreFour-year partnership launched May 2026 in Tokyo to support forcibly displaced people in rebuilding lives through enhanced national systems, expanded economic opportunities, and mobilized development funding.
Scale indicators20 records
Expansion highlights7 records
UNDP competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- World Bank Group: Multilateral development institution providing financing, policy advice, and technical assistance to developing countries. Directly comparable to UNDP as both operate globally on poverty reduction, governance, and development mandates with similar donor constituencies.
- UNICEF: UN specialized agency focused on children's welfare, health, and education in developing countries. Shares UNDP's UN system affiliation, voluntary contribution funding model, country office structure, and development programme delivery approach.
- UNFPA: UN sexual and reproductive health agency. Shares UNDP's governance structure (joint Executive Board with UNDP and UNOPS), funding model, and country-level development programme delivery.
- World Food Programme (WFP): UN agency addressing food insecurity and emergency food assistance. Shares UNDP's operational footprint in fragile and conflict-affected states and its humanitarian-development nexus programming.
- UNHCR: UN refugee agency with which UNDP has a four-year Joint Collaboration Framework (2026-2030). Shares UNDP's crisis response mandate, country presence, and donor base in humanitarian contexts.
- UN Women: UN entity dedicated to gender equality and women's empowerment. Operates the Gender Justice Platform jointly with UNDP across 40+ countries, indicating close programmatic partnership and overlapping donor networks.
- WHO: UN specialized agency for international public health. Shares UNDP's UN system positioning, voluntary contribution funding, country office structure, and development partner network.
- ILO: UN agency focused on labour standards, employment, and decent work. Shares UNDP's UN system affiliation, tripartite governance, country presence, and development programme delivery model.
- Global Environment Facility (GEF): Multilateral fund addressing environmental challenges. A core UNDP funding partner implementing environmental and climate programmes; comparable in its multilateral governance and project-based funding model.
Broad incumbents
- International Monetary Fund (IMF): Multilateral institution focused on global financial stability and economic development. Comparable as a sister multilateral institution with overlapping development finance mandates, though primarily macroeconomic rather than programmatic.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
UNDP social profiles
Digital presenceUNDP financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
UNDP leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
UNDP subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries13 records
UNDP funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
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UNDP M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments18 records
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Frequently asked questions about UNDP
What does UNDP do?
UNDP is the United Nations' global development agency, working in approximately 170 countries and territories to help eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities, build crisis resilience, and advance the Sustainable Development Goals. It provides policy advisory, technical assistance, and capacity development services to national governments through Country Programme Documents approved by its Executive Board. It also serves as an operations backbone for over 70 UN agencies, providing shared services in procurement, finance, human resources, IT, and digital solutions.
Is UNDP a public or private company?
UNDP is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was UNDP founded?
UNDP was founded in 1965. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is UNDP based?
UNDP is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does UNDP make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Voluntary Contributions from Member States are the primary driver. The others are multilateral Organization Contributions and private Sector and Foundation Contributions.
Who are UNDP's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are World Bank Group, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Food Programme (WFP), UNHCR, UN Women, WHO, ILO and Global Environment Facility (GEF). International Monetary Fund (IMF) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does UNDP have an API?
No public API is recorded for UNDP.
What industry is UNDP in?
UNDP's product category is International Development and Technical Assistance. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPADAAAA, United Nations System & Specialized Agencies, with a secondary code of BPAEAGAA, ERP Implementation & Systems Integration Services. Its NAICS code is 92 and its SIC code is 8744.