Today, more than half of UNDP’s work happens in places shattered by conflict, climate shocks, and disaster. This isn’t just funding—it’s a commitment to solutions that strengthen resilience, restore hope, and reduce future need. From Ukraine to Sudan to the Asia-Pacific, UNDP and its partners are delivering tangible impact where it’s needed most. Development is the most cost-effective way to save lives and build futures. 

None of this is possible without our donors and their core funding. Together, we can keep hope alive. The following examples show how.

Ukraine: Keeping Opportunity Alive

When war destroyed Bakhmut’s Vocational Training Centre, director Ihor Haievyi refused to give up. He relocated the entire school to Hoshcha. Today, 640 students continue their training as cooks, welders, and mechanics in rebuilt classrooms, proving that education—and futures—can endure even in displacement.

Elsewhere, resilience takes many forms. In Chernivtsi, Valentyna Romaniuk founded a “University of the Third Age,” creating a community space for older and displaced people to connect and learn. For those isolated in villages, a mobile minibus delivers not just services like haircuts and repairs, but also human warmth.

Courage defines 27-year-old Ivan Shepelev, who clears landmines for Ukraine’s State Emergency Service. His team has worked from Bucha to Kharkiv, sometimes finding dozens of mines in a single orchard. For Ivan, each mine destroyed is a life spared and a step toward a safer Ukraine.

Across the country, UNDP is restoring critical services, strengthening energy grids, and accelerating demining—including with AI tools—to help families return home safely.

Sudan: Building Self-Reliance Amid Crisis

Two years into war, Sudan faces the world’s largest humanitarian crisis: 25 million are hungry, and over 12 million are displaced. With funding shrinking, recovery cannot wait for a ceasefire. UNDP is helping communities move beyond aid toward self-reliance.

When soaring fuel prices threatened Hamid’s farm in River Nile State, a UNDP-supported solar irrigation system changed everything. “Water availability doubled our onion harvest, and we saved money on diesel,” he shares.

In Gedaref, Mariam’s studies were interrupted by war. She joined a UNDP agricultural training and women’s loan programme. “Our outlook on life has changed,” Mariam says. “We now work collectively and cover our household expenses.”

With 75% of health facilities closed, UNDP, with Global Fund support, is a lifeline—procuring vital medicines, strengthening supply chains, and deploying mobile clinics that offer free care, even surgeries, to displaced communities.

Since April 2023, UNDP has reached 3.5 million with healthcare, created 200,000 jobs, delivered 16 million liters of water daily, and supported 7 million meals through women-led kitchens.

Asia-Pacific: Preparing for the Wave

For coastal communities across Asia-Pacific, the sea is life—but also a latent threat. Tsunamis, triggered by earthquakes or volcanoes, can strike without warning, claiming lives and livelihoods.

UNDP turns vulnerability into strength through preparation. In Indonesia, the STEP-A platform assesses schools and evacuation routes, turning drills into life-saving instincts. In Samoa, children use virtual reality to visualize and practice tsunami evacuations, replacing fear with confidence. Since 2017, over 220,000 people across 24 countries have participated in such drills.

Inclusion is critical. In Sri Lanka, Thailand, and the Philippines, persons with disabilities help design evacuation plans and national guidelines. “We advocate for ourselves and actively contribute,” says Arunee Limmanee of Thailand’s Association of the Physically Handicapped.

Engaging stories also save lives. UNDP’s Tsunami Story Books transform safety lessons into adventures, teaching children through relatable characters how to reach safety and look out for one another.

The Path Forward

In fragile contexts worldwide, rebuilding is an urgent act of hope. By restoring services, creating opportunity, and preparing for tomorrow, UNDP and its partners are helping communities not just recover, but rebuild stronger, more resilient futures.

In a world of deepening crises — from conflict to climate shocks to rising inequality — development remains our strongest line of defense. 

Read more: Beyond Crisis Series