Private Sector

UNDP and the Private Sector

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UNDP recognizes that achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) depends on vibrant economic growth, driven by private enterprises that create jobs and provide goods and services for the poor, as well as generate tax revenues to finance essential social and economic infrastructure. The private sector - from large multi-national companies to small enterprises and cooperatives servicing local markets - also has an essential role to play in achieving broader UNDP goals in areas such as energy and environmental service delivery, crisis prevention, gender equality and democratic governance.

In many of our programme countries however, the preconditions for private sector development and the emergence of inclusive markets - competitive markets that extend choice and opportunity to the poor - are not yet in place. All too often, small and medium sized enterprises continue to be deprived of the human capital, finance and opportunities that they need to grow, whilst monopolistic or oligarchic private interests - often in collusion with the state - use their power to stifle local competition and initiative.

The result is that the immense transformative potential of the private sector - of competitive, well regulated and inclusive markets - fails to be realised. Markets, where they operate at all, often end up favouring elites and reinforcing existing patterns of inequality and social exclusion.

Our mission, working together with the UN specialist agencies, other partners in the international development system, and private companies that share our commitment to change, is to tackle these issues head-on.

For more information on how UNDP promotes inclusive markets please click here.