Europe and Central Asia | United Nations Development Programme

UNDP Europe and Central Asia

From the heart of Europe to the Silk Road in Central Asia, we help people build better lives.

Hope for an equitable future

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Unbreakable: Ukrainians who never stop

Across Central Asia, strengthening societies to prevent violent extremism

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Changing lives

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Spruce of hope

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The silent partner behind every sustainable investment

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Featured

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Blog

A matter of choice: People and possibilities in Europe and Central Asia

According to UNDP’s 2025 Human Development Report, the world’s Human Development Index (HDI) grew at its slowest pace in thirty years, but the Eurasia region…

Blog

Listening to 200 young people about work, purpose and the future

When we launched the Future of Work Academy, we weren’t sure if young people would sign up for a six-week virtual journey about the green and digital transitions…

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Blog

From tradition to transformation: Growing the circular economy

The circular economy is not just about recycling – it is a complex transformation that spans energy, agriculture, industry, biodiversity protection, and social…

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Stories

City Imaginarium: A new vision for urban transformation

UNDP’s City Imaginarium campaign invites 11 illustrators from across the region to reimagine greener, more inclusive and more resilient urban futures.

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News

UNDP's new podcast: Colours of the Economy talks

The news Colours of the Economy talks podcast explores the shifting economies of Europe and Central Asia.

Our mission

UNDP works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty while protecting the planet. We help countries develop strong policies, skills, partnerships and institutions so they can sustain their progress.

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Future of Work Academy: Green & Digital Transitions

By 2030, the global shift to a low-carbon economy is projected to unlock around 100 million new green jobs — roles that demand fluency in both technology and sustainability skills. Yet many young professionals are not prepared to access them due to gaps in skills, networks and relevant experience. The UNDP’s Future of Work Academy will inspire new thinking on the future of work for youth through an inclusive, multi-channel learning experience that connects emerging technologies with urgent environmental and social needs.

Microsite

Eurasia doesn't get the spotlight it deserves - so we created a journal of our own

Why do stories from our region often go unreported? Maybe it's because countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia have had a legacy of equality, job security and functioning safety nets. But there are many stories to be told, which is why we created Voyages. Our current issue takes a deeper look at the power of connection and how it transforms lives, creates opportunities and protects us and our environment's impact on people and communities throughout the region. Explore visual stories.

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Innovation for Development

The UNDP innovation community in Europe and Central Asia is working to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by harnessing the potential of the data revolution (Ministry of Data), new technologies, urban transformation (City Experiment Fund and the Mayors for Economic Growth), innovative finance (AltFinLab), new, systemic ways of working and thinking (Portfolio Design & Management), and organizing unique acceleration programs (BOOST). We take a systems thinking-based approach to addressing the complex development challenges of the region, collaborating closely with public, private and nonprofit sectors.

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#STEM4ALL

The STEM4ALL platform uses knowledge and advocacy to advance gender equality in the workplace in the men-dominated growth industry sectors of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) across Europe and Central Asia. For economies to prosper, and for women to participate and benefit from them on an equal footing with men, new STEM pathways must be forged, from classroom to career. Businesses, governments, academia, and civil society organizations are encouraged to use this platform to learn and collaborate to design new solutions that dismantle gender-based barriers to STEM-related work.

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Equal Future

The Equal Future platform is a resource and hub for knowledge and information on the topic of women’s participation and leadership in politics and public administration. The platform collects, analyzes, and examines the current status of women in politics and public administration in the 19 countries and territories covered by UNDP in Europe and Central Asia. Equal Future also looks forward, gathering good practices around gender equality and the meaningful inclusion of women in leadership and decision-making roles, and presenting inspiring stories of women who have entered and thrived in the political sphere.

Stats

35

percent

are excluded from society

19

percent

of youth are unemployed

1.4

million

are living with HIV

88

percent

of primary energy supply is from fossil fuels

21.5

percent

of women in parliament.

15

percent

of the world’s migrants from the region

Take Action

Interested in working for UNDP in Europe and Central Asia? Check out our job opportunities in the region.

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