The revised Social and Environmental Standards (SES) came into effect on 1 January 2021. The SES underpin UNDP's commitment to mainstream social and environmental sustainability in our Programmes and Projects to support sustainable development.

The SES are an integral component of UNDP’s quality assurance and risk management approach to programming. This includes our Social and Environmental Screening Procedure.

Key Elements of the UNDP's Social and Environmental Standards include: 

Part A: Programming Principles: 

• Leave No One Behind 
• Human Rights 
• Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment 
• Sustainability and Resilience 
• Accountability 

Part B: Project-Level Standards:

• Standard 1: Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Natural Resource Management
• Standard 2: Climate Change and Disaster Risks 
• Standard 3: Community Health, Safety and Security 
• Standard 4: Cultural Heritage 
• Standard 5: Displacement and Resettlement 
• Standard 6: Indigenous Peoples
• Standard 7: Labour and Working Conditions
• Standard 8: Pollution Prevention and Resource Efficiency 

Part C: Social and Environmental Management System Requirements:

• Quality Assurance and Risk Management 
• Screening and Categorization 
• Assessment and Management 
• Stakeholder Engagement and Response Mechanism 
• Access to Information 
• Monitoring, Reporting and Compliance