Impact & Recognition

People for 2030 was launched in 2019 as a comprehensive, long-term strategy with the dual strategic goals of progressively transforming the United Nations Development Programme’s culture and increasing its capacity to deliver more and better development results. Over two phases, from 2019–21 and 2022–25, the people strategy drove a step-change in the way UNDP managed its single greatest asset: its personnel.

It led to the design and completion of an integrated talent management system, enabling UNDP to attract, develop, deploy and retain a highly skilled and motivated workforce. In 2025 UNDP launched the third and final phase of People for 2030. Phase 3 builds on the achievements of the previous phases, enabling UNDP to face the challenges of the future with confidence. At its core, Phase 3 helped position the organisation for, and drive forward, transformative development outcomes — directly contributing to the 2026–2029 Strategic Plan and UNDP’s overall mission.

It was also designed to help the organisation navigate a period of considerable volatility, change and challenge affecting the world of work and the international development landscape. By focusing as much on the “how” as the “what”, People for 2030 had a positive and measurable impact on the organisation’s culture — increasing engagement and inclusion among staff, and improving UNDP’s ability to deliver.

The strategy has been critical to UNDP’s ability to remain resilient, agile and future-ready in a world marked by rapid change and uncertainty — from geopolitical tensions and climate crises to emerging health threats. It aims to ensure UNDP has the capabilities to anticipate and respond to rapid change, with a workforce that is proactive, strategically equipped to pivot in response to crises, and capable of working effectively across diverse contexts.

In essence, the strategy is not simply about managing talent, but about empowering people to navigate the complexities of a rapidly changing world — driving the organisation’s mission forward with confidence, and helping UNDP remain a global leader in sustainable development.