UNDP and the UN

The UN system in the Philippines began in 1945 when the Philippines joined 49 other nations in signing the United Nations Charter in San Francisco, USA. This partnership between the government of the Philippines and the United Nations is underscored by the contributions made by Carlos P. Romulo who acted as Philippine delegate to the United Nations Organization Conference in San Francisco and then became the Philippine ambassador to the United Nations from 1946 to 1954. He distinguished himself as the first Asian to become president of the UN General Assembly (Fourth Session, Sept. 20, 1949).

Technical, financial and other forms of assistance to the Philippines began in the late 1940s as the country recovered from the ravages of World War II.  This partnership has progressed since then into a number of development initiatives, activities and programmes. The establishment of the UNDP in 1965 further strengthened the UN's cooperation with the country.

About the UN Country Team 

The UN Country Team (UNCT) in the Philippines is composed of 17 agencies, funds and programmes. The Bretton Woods Institutions -- the World Bank (WB), the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) -- are also members of the UN Country Team. Working as a team, the UN system develops the best strategy to respond to its host country’s needs and plans.

At any given time, the UN system in the Philippines (excluding the Asian Development Bank) has an average of 1,000 international and national professional staff working on the many related issues of poverty reduction, gender, education, health, population management, human rights, governance, environment, labor issues, and peace and development.

UN agencies in the country

The UN Country Team is comprised of UNDP and the following UN agencies, funds and programmes:

• Asian Development Bank
  Asian Development Bank (ADB) is a multilateral development finance institution dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific. Established in 1966, it is owned by 63 members, mostly from the region.
  
  
• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
  The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. Its goal is to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives.

• Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)
  The main advocate for global action on HIV and AIDS, UNAIDS leads, strengthen and supports and expanded response to the epidemic.
  
  
• International Finance Corporation
  The IFC promotes sustainable private sector investment in developing countries as a way to reduce poverty and improve peoples' lives. Established in 1956, IFC is the largest multilateral source of loan and equity financing for private sector projects in the developing world.
  
  
• International Labour Organization (ILO)
  The ILO brings together the governments and employers' and workers' organizations of its 178 Member States in common action to improve social protection and conditions of life and work throughout the world.

• International Maritime Organization (IMO)
  IMO is the United Nations specialized agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships.
  
  
• International Monetary Fund (IMF)
  IMF is an organization of 188 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world.
  
  
• International Organization for Migration (IOM)
  The IOM is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration can benefit everyone.
  
  
• Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
  OCHA is mandated to coordinate the UN's humanitarian response, policy development and humanitarian advocacy.
  
  
• The World Bank (WB)
  The World Bank contributes to the National Development Agenda through policy advice and financing on priority medium-term structural issues.
  
  
• United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
  UNICEF is devoted to guaranteeing the rights of all children to survival, development, protection and participation.
  
  
• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)*
  The main objective of UNESCO is to contribute to peace and security in the world by promoting collaboration among nations through education, science, culture and communication.
  
  
• United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women (UN Women)
  UN Women works to promote gender equality between women and men, and to advance the status of women. UNIFEM brings women's interests and concerns to the world development agenda.
  
  
• United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
  The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide.
  
  
• United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)
  UN-HABITAT's mission is to promote socially and environmentally sustianable human settlements development and the achievement of adequate shelter for all.
  
  
• United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
  UNFPA is the largest international source of support in population and development, reproductive health and gender empowerment.

• United Nations Industrial Development Organization
  
  UNIDO is the specialized agency of the United Nations that promotes industrial development for poverty reduction, inclusive globalization and environmental sustainability.

• United Nations Volunteers (UNV)
  The UNV programme is the UN organization that contributes to peace and development through volunteerism worldwide.
  
  
• World Food Programme (WFP)
  WFP seeks to eradicate global hunger and poverty. It meets emergency needs, supports economic & social development and works to put hunger at the centre of the international agenda.
  
  
• World Health Organization (WHO)
  WHO is a specialized agency within the Charter of the United Nations and was established in 1948 "for the purpose of co-operation among themselves and with others to promote the health for all people."

*Note: UNESCO is a non-resident agency based in Jakarta, Indonesia.