I. Development assistance activities:

(i) Established in 1965 UNDP is the leading development agency of the UN system.

(ii) Developing countries are more comfortable in working with UNDP.

(iii) Although UNDP can offer no finance, it helps the developing countries through training programmes, bringing technical experts to developing countries, etc.

(iv) In all it spent more than $ 40 Billion for various projects.

II. Ongoing projects:

(i) Promoting gender equality is a major focus area within the UNDP country programme. The UNDP Food Security Programme in India has addressed the feminization of agriculture and women's empowerment for sustainable human development.

(ii) UNDP allocated $1.5 million in emergency aid to Palestinian territories.

(iii) UNDP in May 2001 announced the establishment of a new UNDP Democratic Governance Trust Fund to launch programmes in such areas as public sector reform, improving parliamentary system, conflict prevention and peace-building in the least developed countries.

(iv) UNDP in partnership with the Indian Government initiated in July, 2004 a four year project in Kutch district of the state of Gujarat (a disaster prone area) to promote productive uses of renewable energy.

(v) UNDP supported the project on 'Community Health Financing Initiative' in India as the majority of the rural and urban slum population remains outside the health care system even after 50 years of independence.

(vi) On 23 January, 2004 UNDP launched a new initiative to provide technology training in community education centres across the developing world.