As global conflicts reach chilling new highs, development gains are stalling or even reversing. This isn't a coincidence; it's a stark warning. As I recently emphasized to the United Nations Security Council, the link between development and security has never been more evident. Yet, development—arguably the most powerful tool for peace—is still too often ignored, dismissed to the margins of security discourse.

The coincidence of stalled global human development and the surge in violent conflict reflects deep, unattended vulnerabilities that have resulted in severe peace and security breakdowns. Today, over a billion people live in acute multidimensional poverty, nearly half in contexts affected by conflict or fragility. The 2025 UNDP’s Human Development Report shows the sharpest global drop in human development in over two decades. These figures are not just statistics; they are early warning signals of systemic failure.

From Gaza to Myanmar, Sudan to Afghanistan, the devastating cycle is clear: conflict ravages economies and deepens poverty. In turn, the resulting destitution and disenfranchisement often fuel more conflict. Consider Myanmar, where urban poverty in Yangon surged from 10% to 43% in just a few years. Yet, even in such challenging environments, strategic development interventions offer a powerful counter-narrative. In Afghanistan, for instance, UNDP has supported over 80,000 women entrepreneurs, creating jobs for nearly half a million people and generating income for 2.7 million. In Papua New Guinea, UNDP has trained hundreds of youth from formerly conflict-ridden communities on peaceful conflict resolution. These are not just development interventions; they are tangible investments in peace and security.

The IMF estimates that every  $1 invested in prevention can save up to $103 in conflict-related costs. In the face of increasing military budgets and declining ODA, that’s not just good economics but a moral imperative.

To break this entrenched cycle of fragility and violence, we must fundamentally rethink our approach. For us, at UNDP in Asia and the Pacific, investing in peace demands a strategic focus on three critical priorities:

1. Protecting the household economy. In fragile settings, development at the local level becomes the first line of peoples’ defense and survival. When livelihoods are restored, water and electricity flow again, women’s businesses reopen, farmers can trade food, and local enterprises have access to basic finance allowing them to stay afloat, communities begin to rebuild. In Afghanistan, the 80,000 women-led micro and small businesses we have supported are lifelines. They offer independence, dignity, and hope for millions of people.

2. Addressing the climate crisis through the lens of human security. Climate change can be a crisis amplifier. It drives displacement, fuels competition over scarce resources, drives up costs of insurance and finance and undermines fragile peace. In Nigeria, climate-peace hubs are addressing root causes of insecurity by providing climate resilience data and green jobs for youth and women. In Myanmar’s Rakhine State, where famine and civil war collide, integrating climate adaptation with food, water, and renewable energy systems is essential.

3. Tackling risks beyond borders. Fragility is contagious. In the Sahel, Haiti, and the Golden Triangle, weak governance and porous borders have enabled illicit trade and human trafficking to flourish. But development can push back. In the Lake Chad Basin, every US$ dollar in core funding to UNDP has unlocked nearly $60 in additional resources, stabilizing communities and enabling over 500,000 internally displaced people to return home.

These examples are not isolated. Across Asia and the Pacific, UNDP is working to turn development into a peace dividend. In Myanmar, resilience-building initiatives have reached 3.5 million people. In Afghanistan, women-led businesses are now among the few viable options for economic participation.

As we mark 60 years of UNDP’s work, we are reminded that development is not a luxury to be pursued in times of peace. It is the foundation of peace itself. And it must be treated as such: resourced, prioritized, and protected.

The recent Security Council debate was a critical reminder and a clear call to action. Investing in inclusive, climate-smart, and risk-informed human development is not merely a development goal; it is the most fundamental security imperative of our time.