Locations
UNDP Europe and Central Asia
Our Partners
Partnerships for sustainable development
Partnerships are at the heart of UNDP's work across Europe and Central Asia. We work with governments, other United Nations entities, international financial institutions, businesses, foundations and civil society to advance national priorities and sustainable development.
Together, we bring expertise, financing and innovation to complex challenges, from creating opportunities and strengthening institutions to climate action, digital transformation and crisis recovery. By connecting partners across sectors and borders, we help turn shared ambitions into integrated solutions that deliver lasting change.
How we work with partners
Development challenges rarely fit neatly into one sector. UNDP brings together different partners, expertise and sources of finance to help countries address interconnected challenges and deliver change at scale.
We connect governments, other United Nations partners, international financial institutions, businesses, foundations and civil society to exchange expertise and collaborate around shared development priorities.
We connect public and private finance, expertise and innovation to help countries invest in sustainable development and scale promising solutions.
With a presence across the region, longstanding relationships with national and local partners and access to UNDP's global network, we help turn policies, investments and commitments into results on the ground.
We help partners test new approaches, use digital technologies and data responsibly and share solutions and experience across countries and regions.
Our partnership ecosystem
Across Europe and Central Asia, UNDP combines financing, expertise, innovation and local knowledge to turn national priorities into practical solutions and lasting development results.
These partnerships help countries turn national priorities into practical solutions, share knowledge across borders and mobilize the resources needed to deliver lasting development results.
Governments
Governments are among UNDP's most important partners across Europe and Central Asia. We work with national, regional and local authorities in both programme and contributing countries, building long-term relationships grounded in national priorities rather than one-off projects.
Many governments also invest their own resources directly in programmes delivered with UNDP. Through Government Development Financing, countries combine their own financing and leadership with UNDP’s expertise, global network and implementation capacity. Today, this type of financing represents around one fifth of RBEC’s overall portfolio, up from about 15 percent two years earlier. This shows the growing role of governments in financing their own development priorities through UNDP.
Türkiye and UNDP have a long-standing partnership at country, regional and global levels. Türkiye hosts the Istanbul Regional Hub, which supports UNDP's work across Europe and Central Asia, as well as the Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development (IICPSD).
Beyond its role as host, Türkiye partners with UNDP on national development priorities, supports the implementation of the Regional Programme and helps advance South-South and triangular cooperation, sharing knowledge and development solutions across the region and beyond.
The European Union is one of UNDP's key partners across Europe and Central Asia. Together, we support countries in advancing green and digital transitions, strengthening governance and the rule of law, building resilience and creating more inclusive economies and societies.
Our cooperation spans country, regional and global levels, from joint programmes and Team Europe initiatives to strategic engagement through UNDP's Brussels Representation Office. Over the past decade, EU contributions to UNDP's work across the region have averaged around €100–120 million annually, reflecting a long-standing partnership and shared commitment to sustainable development.
Bilateral development partners also provide essential financing, expertise and knowledge for UNDP's work across Europe and Central Asia. These long-standing partnerships support priorities ranging from crisis response and recovery to effective governance, climate action, inclusive growth and innovation.
The region is a major destination for bilateral support to UNDP and its largest for non-core contributions from Japan, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Austria. These partnerships provide critical resources and expertise to advance shared priorities, respond to emerging challenges and support development solutions across the region.
Some partnerships combine financing with knowledge and expertise-sharing. Through the DKK 92 million Greening the Future programme (2024–2027), for example, Denmark and UNDP are supporting a green, fair and democratic transition in Armenia, Georgia and Moldova, bringing together regional cooperation and country-level action.
Some partnerships combine financing with countries’ own knowledge and development experience. Through dedicated partnerships and funding, UNDP works with partners including Slovakia on public finance management, Czechia and Poland on innovation and knowledge sharing, and the Russian Federation through the Russia–UNDP Trust Fund for Development.
United Nations system
UNDP works across the United Nations system to bring together diverse areas of expertise in support of countries’ development priorities. In line with General Assembly resolution 72/279, which recognizes UNDP as the support platform of the UN development system and provides it with an integrator function in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, UNDP helps connect policy, financing and implementation across sectors and actors.
Through UN Country Teams and under the leadership of Resident Coordinators, we contribute to coordinated and integrated responses to complex development challenges.
We also work with UN partners through joint programmes and pooled financing, and help connect development, humanitarian and peacebuilding efforts, particularly in crisis and fragile settings. By working together, UN entities can combine their strengths and provide countries with more coherent support.
International financial institutions
International financial institutions are important partners in turning development priorities into investment at scale. UNDP works with international and regional financial institutions to connect financing with policy advice, technical expertise and implementation support.
Together, we help governments prepare and implement investments, strengthen the institutions and systems needed to manage them, and ensure that financing contributes to sustainable development. UNDP can also support government-led programmes financed through international financial institutions, combining investment with development expertise and implementation capacity.
Across Europe and Central Asia, UNDP works with institutions including the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the European Investment Bank and other international and regional financial institutions. Our cooperation with partners such as the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the Islamic Development Bank illustrates how UNDP can help translate development financing into practical solutions and tangible results on the ground.
UNDP also helps countries access global financing for priorities such as climate action and biodiversity. Global funds, including the Green Climate Fund, the Global Environment Facility and the Adaptation Fund, have channelled close to US$510 million to the region since 2018. UNDP helps connect these global resources with national priorities, technical expertise and on-the-ground implementation.
Private sector and foundations
Businesses and foundations bring investment, innovation, technology, expertise and networks that can help accelerate sustainable development. UNDP works with private and philanthropic partners to connect these strengths with national priorities and develop solutions that can grow beyond individual projects.
Private-sector engagement is a rapidly expanding frontier for UNDP across Europe and Central Asia. Led by mature portfolios in Türkiye and emerging partnership models in Uzbekistan, we are increasingly connecting private-sector innovation with public development goals
Our partnerships support innovation and entrepreneurship, responsible business practices and new approaches to sustainable and blended finance. Recognizing the unique catalytic potential of private capital, UNDP is increasingly prioritizing strategic engagement with domestic and international philanthropies, family foundations, and high-net-worth impact investors to co-design and scale high-impact solutions across the region.
By connecting private-sector capabilities with governments, communities and development partners, UNDP helps test new ideas, mobilize investment and scale successful solutions.
Civil society organizations
Civil society organizations bring local knowledge, diverse perspectives and strong connections with communities. Across Europe and Central Asia, UNDP works with civil society and grassroots organizations to design and deliver solutions that reflect local realities and respond to people’s needs.
Beyond local delivery, these partnerships are vital for strengthening institutional accountability, building civic trust, and advancing human rights. In countries undergoing the European Union integration, our collaboration with civil society partners ensures that the reform process is inclusive, transparent, and actively protects marginalized groups, ensuring that no one is left behind.
Partnership priorities
Our partnerships support UNDP's four strategic objectives for 2026–2029, bringing together different strengths and sources of finance around shared development goals.
Partnerships help create more inclusive and resilient economies by expanding green jobs, strengthening small businesses and value chains, and creating sustainable livelihoods, particularly for women, young people and displaced populations. UNDP works with governments, financial institutions, businesses and development partners to connect policy, investment and innovation, helping local economies grow and communities become more resilient.
Effective, accountable and inclusive institutions are essential for sustainable development. UNDP brings together governments, civil society, the United Nations system and development partners to strengthen public institutions and services, advance the rule of law and human rights, and use digital technologies and AI responsibly. These partnerships help institutions respond better to people's needs, while strengthening participation, trust and accountability.
Partnerships help countries and communities prepare for crises, respond when they happen and recover in ways that reduce future risks. UNDP works with governments, communities, development partners and financial institutions to de-risk recovery and reconstruction, support mine action and restore essential services and livelihoods. By connecting humanitarian, development and peacebuilding efforts, we help protect development gains and build greater resilience to future shocks.
Climate change and biodiversity loss require finance, expertise and action from many different partners. UNDP brings together governments, global climate and environmental funds such as the Green Climate Fund and Global Environment Facility, financial institutions, private investors and communities to turn international commitments into local investments. Together, we help scale circular economy solutions, protect nature and mobilize sustainable finance for a just and green transition.
Latest updates
Work with UNDP
Complex development challenges require different partners to bring different strengths to the table. UNDP combines local presence with global expertise, long-standing relationships with governments and the ability to connect partners across sectors and countries. We also apply tried-and-tested fiduciary standards to help manage risk and give partners confidence that their investments are used effectively and transparently.
Whether you represent a government, financial institution, development organization, business or foundation, we welcome opportunities to explore how we can work together to advance sustainable development across Europe and Central Asia.
Partnership contacts
Oana Maria Rebedea
Regional Partnership Specialist
Berna Bayazit
Programme Specialist
Lejla Sadiku
Strategy and Partnership Specialist