The Istanbul Regional Hub (IRH) is an integral part of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (RBEC), providing a strategic backbone for the organization’s work across 17 countries and territories in Europe and Central Asia.

Located in Istanbul, Türkiye, the Regional Hub serves as a platform for convening and collaboration across the region, connecting governments, civil society, the private sector and academia. By leveraging its strategic location and convening power, the Hub facilitates the co-creation of innovative, context-driven solutions to complex development challenges. It plays a central role in strengthening regional capacities and fostering strategic partnerships to accelerate progress toward the 2030 Agenda.

More specifically, the Regional Hub’s core functions are:

1. Advisory support to UNDP Country Offices on policy, programming and operations.
2. Implementation of the Regional Programme Document 2022-2025 through cross-boundary projects and initiatives, regional analytical products, and seed funding.
3. Serving as a regional policy and multi-stakeholder platform, shaping and leveraging development discourse to support inclusive, sustainable change.
4. Providing operational services to co-located UN agencies, including UN Women, UNDCO, UNODC, UNHCR, UNDSS, and IFAS.