New York  –The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Achim Steiner and the Swiss Federal Councillor and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Ignazio Cassis, signed today a three-year funding agreement. This new contribution to UNDP’s regular resources (core funding) builds on years of Swiss support for the work UNDP does throughout the world to end poverty and reduce inequalities.

Under this agreement, UNDP will receive CHF 156.4 million (approximately US $160 million) for the period 2018-2020, including CHF 3 million per year for the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF). This multi-year contribution will enhance the predictability of UNDP’ support to governments and partners and the implementation of integrated solutions to their biggest development challenges.

“Switzerland is a vital partner to UNDP and the UN in realizing the vision and goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and we welcome this multi-year agreement Switzerland is making to UNDP and to the wider UN development system,” said UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner during the signing on the margins of the UN General Assembly.

Core financial support pays for essential UNDP work on the ground in over 170 countries and territories. Critically, it allows the organization to respond to crisis in a timely and flexible manner. Regular resources also guarantee the high quality, efficiency and accountability of UNDP’s work, recognized with UNDP’s ranking as one of the world’s most transparent development aid organizations.

In the context of a repositioned UN development system, the Swiss core contribution will enhance UNDP’s capacity to work closely with other UN entities towards stronger collective impact at country-level, including through strengthening links across humanitarian, development and peace efforts.

This re-affirmation of Switzerland’s commitment to UNDP core funding complements the additional and extensive collaboration between UNDP and the Government of Switzerland on specific projects in countries such as Afghanistan, Albania, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burundi, Cambodia, Georgia, Honduras, Jordan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lebanon, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Pakistan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Ukraine and many more.