Frequently Asked Questions about UNDP

1. What is UNDP?

UNDP is the UN's global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life.  UNDP have Country Offices in 166 countries working on local solutions to global and national development challenges.

UNDP Kosovo:

UNDP’s programme in Kosovo is focused on long term development, as part of the UN’s wider peace-building strategy for Kosovo.  UNDP have five flagship areas including the justice and security sector, economic development and employment, democratic governance, social inclusion and communication and media.  

The Resident Representative of UNDP Kosovo, Ms. Osnat Lubrani, is also the United Nations Development Coordinator (UNDC) appointed by the UN Secretary General. The UNDC coordinates and chairs the work of the UN Kosovo Team (UNKT) and the UN Development Group (UNDG)

The United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in Kosovo is called United Nations Kosovo Team (UNKT) comprised of 14 UN agencies and Partners: UNDP, FAO, ILO, IOM, HABITAT, OHCHR, OCHA, UNOPS, UNHCR, UNFPA, UNIFEM, UNICEF, WHO and the World Bank.  Although each agency has its own mandate and individual programme, the UNKT members work closely together to ensure that their programmes are coherent with each other and that Kosovo has access to the depth and breadth of the Team membership.

The UN Development Group (UNDG) are development oriented agencies of the UN Country Team: UNDP, UNICEF, FAO, UNOPS, WHO, UNIFEM, UNFPA, OHCHR and in cooperation with the World Bank.

For more information see http://www.unkt.org/

2. What are UNDPs priorities in Kosovo?

UNDP Kosovo priorities are based on those of Kosovo institutions. It   places particular emphasis on human development.  UNDPs current strategy in Kosovo is available in our website.  The current list of active projects is also available as well as completed projects and plans for the future.

3. What is the relationship between UNDP and UNMIK?

The United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) was established in 1999 to, among other things, perform basic civilian administrative functions, promote the establishment of self-government in Kosovo, maintain civil law and order and promote human rights.  UNMIK will be operating in Kosovo for a limited period of time.

UNDP Kosovo is focused on long term development.  UNDP projects and initiatives place particular emphasis on human development with the aim promoting peace and addressing poverty and inequality in Kosovo.  UNDP work with local partners to identify local needs and local concerns ensuring local ownership of solutions.

4. What is Human Development?

Human development is a process of enlarging people’s choices by expanding their capabilities to lead long and healthy lives, to be knowledgeable, to have a decent standard of living and to participate actively in community life. The process seeks to level the playing field, to open up opportunities for all, especially the most vulnerable, so as to maximize the potential of every person in society.

The concept of human development goes beyond the more traditional income measurement approach to development.  National income figures, useful though they are, do not reveal the composition of income or the real beneficiaries of economic growth. People often value achievements such as better nutrition and health services, greater access to knowledge, more secure livelihoods or better working conditions, that may not show up at all, or at least not immediately, in higher measured income or growth figures.

5. What is the Human Development Report?

The widely-cited UNDP Human Development Reports (HDRs) contain substantive data on most development indicators. The reports rank every country each year in areas such as per capita income, literacy, life expectancy and respect for women's rights.

National Human Development Reports (NHDR) have been used throughout the world to promote advocacy for human development with the aim of stimulating dialogue on national development strategies and objectives, and to monitor the status of human development by providing facts and figures, which measure progress and pinpoint critical imbalances. The NHDRs, in their preparation and follow-up processes, focus primarily on national policy formulation and consensus building among national stakeholders. They seek to inform decision-making in the management of national resources among the public, private and civil society sectors. By both contributing to the debate on alternative approaches and helping to develop shared visions, the reports identify new prospects for national development.  

6. What are the Millennium Development Goals?

In September 2000 at the UN Millennium Summit, 189 world leaders agreed to a set of time bound and measurable goals for combating poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation and discrimination against women.  These Millennium Development Goals, or MDGs, as they have come to be known, have since been placed at the heart of the development agenda.

The deadline for achieving the MDGs, of which there are eight, is set for the year 2015.  This is a simple yet powerful idea for a global agenda, using the process of globalization in the interests of the poor. At the Summit, world leaders committed themselves to finding the resources to ensure that these goals be realized.  The goals include:

7.  How can my organization apply for funds from UNDP Kosovo?

UNDP Kosovo works in collaboration with government  as well as other development actors on development projects and programmes in Kosovo.   For more information contact: registry.ks@undp.org

8. What is the policy regarding the reproduction of materials found on the web site?

Concerning copyrights and permissions to reprint: For non-profit organizations, materials found on the website or any UNDP publications (or parts thereof) may be freely reproduced, as long as due credit to the source is given.
For commercial usage, please specify which publication (title, year, page/s) or part of the website will be reproduced (URL of webpage), and send your request to send your request to armend.muja@undp.org

9. When and how did UNDP come into being?

For a full history of UNDP, please refer to this website:

http://www.yale.edu/unsy/UNDPhist.htm

10. How do I learn more about the organization?

Go to "Discover UNDP" at http://www.undp.org/discover_undp/index.html
UNDP delivers most of its services through its more than 130 country offices but it also engages in global and regional advocacy and analysis to increase knowledge, share best practices, build partnerships, mobilize resources, and promote enabling frameworks including international targets for reducing poverty. In addition, UNDP supports Technical Cooperation Among Developing Countries.

Frequently Asked Questions about Jobs in UNDP Kosovo

1. How can I apply for a position at UNDP Kosovo?

UNDP Kosovo advertise vacancies as they arise, on the website as well as in the local print media.

2.  Does UNDP have an internship programme?

Yes, to find out more about UNDPs internship programme see:

http://www.kosovo.undp.org/?cid=2,111

If you are interested in applying to UNDP Kosovo to work as an intern contact:

registry.ks@undp.org for more information