UNDP Nepal at 60

Building better futures for everyone and everywhere

September 28, 2025
Group of smiling people in colorful traditional outfits sitting outdoors under a tree.
Photo: UNDP Nepal

Welcome to the 60 Years of UNDP in Nepal!

Nepal has been part of the United Nations for 70 years, beginning a long and fruitful partnership in 1955. Ten years later, the merger of the UN Expanded Programme of Technical Assistance and the UN Special Fund.

As the largest development agency and the operational backbone of the UN system, our work is woven into the fabric of 21 UN agencies in Nepal. 

Glimpses from our history:


Hand-in-hand with governments, global and local partners, and guided most recently by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), our work has paved the way for human development and create opportunities for people to thrive. 

We have transformed millions of lives–by creating jobs, fostering inclusion, supporting those in crisis, reducing inequalities, and promoting progress for everybody, particularly the most vulnerable. 

Follow updates from our shared journey capturing important milestones in Nepal's development journey:

 

Six Videos - Six Decades of Change

These videos celebrate 60 years of UNDP Nepal, capturing stories and perspectives from across generations of practitioners, policymakers, and partners. Through immersive visuals and on-the-ground narratives, it traces Nepal’s early development journey, the evolution of tourism and enterprise, and the path toward a climate-resilient, energy-secure, and biodiverse future.

Blending expert insights with real-life experiences, the series showcases how partnerships, policy innovation, and strong community connections have shaped progress—while offering a glimpse into the opportunities and challenges ahead for a rapidly transforming Nepal.

UNDP Nepal Podcast Series: 60 Years of Development

This podcast series marks 60 years of UNDP in Nepal, bringing together voices from across generations of development practitioners, policymakers, and partners. Through candid conversations, it explores Nepal’s early development journey, its history of tourism and enterprise, innovative financing, and the country’s climate, energy, and biodiversity future. 

Featuring expert insights and real-world experiences, the series highlights how partnerships, policy, and UNDP’s deep connection with local communities have driven progress - and what lies ahead for a rapidly evolving Nepal.

Episode 1

In this episode, UNDP’s Resident Representative for Nepal Kyoko Yokosuka speaks with Ms. Lalita Thapa, UNDP’s former Assistant Resident Representative (retired) and Mr. Jagadish Pokharel, former National Planning Commission Vice Chair, to reflect on the early years that shaped the country’s development trajectory. From the role of national planning to the evolution of international cooperation, the conversation traces how key institutions, policies, and partnerships were built over time. It also highlights UNDP’s longstanding support in strengthening governance, planning systems, and capacity across sectors. Blending firsthand experience with historical perspective, this episode offers a compelling look at how Nepal’s development foundations were laid - and what they continue to mean today.

 

Stay tuned. More updates to follow....