LocationsFirst Day at UNDP: where exciting journey begins
September 3, 2026
Author: Anastassiya Bratchenko, HR Associate, UNDP Kazakhstan
Starting a new job can feel like a lot: new faces, unfamiliar systems, new ways of working, and plenty of questions.
What should I expect? is probably one of the first questions on every newcomer’s mind.
The first day begins with meeting new people who will become a new colleague’s professional community: teammates, supervisors, and key support personnel. An onboarding buddy, usually a member of the team, gives a tour of the office and helps the newcomer get oriented. A welcome kit with branded tumbler, notebook, and other useful items also waits on the desk. These may seem like small things, but on a day filled with new names and information, they can make an unfamiliar workplace feel a little bit more welcoming.
UNDP is a large organization with offices in two cities, and some personnel based in different locations. To help colleagues across locations to know new team members we also share a welcome message on the Intranet featuring the newcomer's biography.
As HR professionals, one of our primary goals is to make the transition as smooth as possible, ensuring that first days are welcoming, informative, and inspiring. The aim is to help new colleagues become familiar with the Organization, its mission, and its vision; feel connected to their teams; and begin their journey feeling motivated, supported, and equipped with the essential information they need to succeed from day one.
Onboarding journey starts here
New colleagues do not have to navigate their first weeks on their own. An online onboarding platform, developed by Human Resources (HR) and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) teams, brings their schedule, introductory sessions and key information together in one place. The platform gives an overview on what to expect during first weeks at UNDP, making the onboarding experience more structured and seamless. It serves as a central hub where employees can track their progress and see which onboarding sessions organized by various business units they have yet to attend.
In addition, there is a global Onboarding Portal that contains a wealth of useful information, including policies and procedures, links to key corporate platforms, and dedicated resources for both newcomers and reassigned personnel. The portal also regularly features announcements about upcoming workshops, seminars, and learning opportunities to support employees throughout their onboarding journey.
Meeting the teams that support you
One of the first onboarding meetings is usually with HR covering key information about UNDP, benefits, entitlements, contract conditions and other practical aspects of employment. Throughout their first weeks, new employees are introduced to other teams: Information and Communications Technology, Finance, Procurement, Security, Administration and Communications that help keep UNDP running smoothly.
Another important step is learning about the values and standards behind UNDP's work as it helps create a safe, respectful, and inclusive workplace for all. Mandatory learning on ethics and integrity, prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, human rights and responsibilities, respectful conduct, safety and disability inclusion helps new colleagues understand not only how the organization works, but also what it expects from each of us.
More Than a First Day
At UNDP Kazakhstan, we often speak about creating impact for the people and communities we serve. Behind every programme, partnership and achievement are the people who make that work possible.
We believe that a positive employee experience begins from day one. Joining a new organization can be both exciting and overwhelming, which is why we place strong emphasis on ensuring that every new colleague feels welcomed, informed, and supported throughout their first weeks with us.
For HR, successful onboarding is not about how much information we can fit into someone's first week. It is about making sure that, by the end of it, a new colleague knows where to turn for help, understands the organization a little better and, most importantly, begins to feel that they belong.
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