September 16, New York City - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank Group (WBG) have launched a new Cooperation Framework to help governments leverage finance for development and scale solutions that drive jobs and growth.  

Building on decades of collaboration in more than 100 countries, the framework establishes a more systematic approach to the organizations’ joint work, drawing on their complementary mandates, expertise, and presence, as well as the resources of both institutions. 

The agreement was formalized today by UNDP Administrator Alexander De Croo, and World Bank Group President Ajay Banga. 

To pilot the framework, UNDP and the WB have committed to significantly scale their cooperation in Nepal, Yemen, Haiti, Lebanon and Ghana to help governments create enabling market conditions, unlock private finance, and accelerate job creation. 

Key areas of cooperation will include: 

• Strengthening institutions and governance to support effective, inclusive and accountable public institutions. 
• Improving the business and investment environment through legal, regulatory and policy reforms that reduce the cost and risk of doing business. 
• Mobilizing private-sector investment and finance by helping governments create the conditions for markets to function and investment to flow. 
• Supporting jobs and inclusive growth, in line with the national development priorities. 
• Working in fragile and conflict-affected settings, including through peacebuilding, stabilization and efforts to restore local institutions, essential services and public trust to restore stability and market enabling conditions. 
• Strengthening rule of law, contract enforcement, transparency and anti-corruption measures to support sustainable development and investment. 
• Providing policy and programmatic support on the ground, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected countries, small island developing states and low- and middle-income countries where governments may benefit from additional implementation capacity. 

The framework aligns closely with the WBG’s jobs agenda and refreshed Fragility, Conflict and Violence (FCV) Strategy, as well as UNDP’s Strategic Plan priorities on moving beyond crisis, accelerating investment and creating jobs for prosperity. 

The pilots will complement other ongoing UNDP-WB collaboration at the global, regional and country level, including on joint crisis assessments and recovery planning, forced displacement, digital solutions, and public finance.