Across the region and globally, rising tensions and uncertainty are once again placing development progress under pressure. Hard-won gains, in governance, economic opportunity and social cohesion, can be quickly reversed when instability takes hold.

In this context, the question is not only how progress is achieved, but how it is sustained.

This year also marks 50 years of UNDP’s partnership with Libya, five decades of working alongside national institutions and communities to support the country’s development journey. This long-standing engagement underscores the importance of sustained partnerships, particularly in times of uncertainty.

In Libya, despite a complex and evolving landscape, there are clear signs that progress continues to take shape. Recent municipal elections across 119 municipalities marked an important step in strengthening local governance and civic participation.

These elections also reflected a broader shift toward more inclusive participation. A total of 1,766 women ran as candidates and 207 were elected to municipal councils, including two women elected as mayors for the first time in Libya’s history. These milestones are important not only for what they represent today, but for what they signal for the future: more inclusive processes contribute to stronger institutions and more resilient communities.

➡️Read more in our IWD blog on women’s leadership and participation in Libya.

Sustaining this momentum, however, requires continued investment in the systems that underpin development. It means supporting institutions to deliver effectively, ensuring that participation translates into meaningful outcomes, and strengthening the capacities that allow communities to shape their own development pathways.

Partnerships are central to this effort. Progress in Libya is driven by the collective work of national institutions, local actors and development partners working together toward shared goals. Through these partnerships, UNDP supports efforts to strengthen governance, enhance accountability and expand opportunities for people across the country.

At the same time, inclusive development must be informed by reliable data and evidence. In this context, UNDP is working with the General Information Authority on Libya’s upcoming National Human Development Report, which will provide important insights to inform policy and decision-making.