In countries

Through its country offices, UNDP implements programmes and develops the capacity of partners such as national and local governments, non-governmental organizations and community groups to reduce poverty and achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

In the regions

Regional centres serve as knowledge hubs linking Country Offices in the region, as well as Regional Bureaux and the Bureau for Development Policy in UNDP Headquarters. The main functions of UNDP's regional centres are to:

• Provide advisory services to developing countries through UNDP's Country Offices in the region, manage UNDP's regional programmes and provide knowledge services;
• Provide management and operational advisory services to Country Offices;
• Directly manage national programmes in countries where UNDP has no Country Office (e.g. new European Union Member States);
• Strengthen UN coordination and manage regional development partnerships.

Globally

The Poverty Group in the Bureau of Development Policy is situated at UNDP Headquarters in New York. It conducts research, provides policy advice and advocates for development policies . The International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth, a joint venture with the Government of Brazil, promotes South-South cooperation and conducts applied research on a broad range of poverty and inequality issues. The Trade and Human Development Unit in Geneva serves as a knowledge resource on trade and human development, facilitates partnerships with Geneva-based trade institutions and provides policy advice to Country Offices on demand.

The Poverty Group works together with the Gender Team, the Private Sector Division and the Civil Society Division of UNDP on ways to reduce poverty and reach the MDGs.

UNDP also hosts knowledge networks on MDGs and poverty reduction. The Poverty Reduction Network (PRNet) is UNDP’s global knowledge network, connecting UNDP practitioners around the world to share knowledge and to find development solutions. The Millennium Development Goals Network is a UN network which supports a global dialogue for achieving the MDGs. Its members range from staff of UN organizations and other development partners, representatives of governments, civil society organizations, research institutions and the private sector.