NEW YORK - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) welcomes the Government of Australia’s decision, confirmed in its 2026-2027 budget, to reinstate its core contribution to UNDP for 2026 at AUD 10 million (approximately USD 7.2 million). The renewed support follows a pause in core funding in 2025 and reflects a strong vote of confidence in UNDP’s work and the long-standing partnership with Australia. This flexible funding is particularly vital for sustaining UNDP’s presence and delivery for the most vulnerable, including across the Pacific. 

Core resources are the most flexible funding UNDP receives, enabling the organization to respond quickly to emerging crises, sustain long-term development gains, and reach those furthest behind. This support is especially critical for Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States, countries where core funding underpins UNDP’s continued presence and its ability to deliver results, particularly in the most remote and hard-to-reach communities. 

Australia’s support to core will continue to be supplemented by significant earmarked investments, particularly in the Pacific, strengthening resilience, addressing climate change, building inclusive growth, jobs and skills, and advancing gender equality. Through its partnership with Australia and other partners, UNDP continues to support Pacific Island and Least Developed countries in confronting climate risks, strengthening electoral and governance systems, and advancing peace and resilience. A key example is the flagship Tuvalu Coastal Adaptation Project, which is helping fortify eroding coastline and reclaim land, reducing inundation risks for over 60% of the population and creating safer areas for homes and public infrastructure. UNDP also strengthens electoral processes across the Pacific and beyond, supporting milestones such as Vanuatu’s first National Referendum, the introduction of new voter registration systems in Vanuatu and the Republic of Naoero, and the delivery of a peaceful electoral process in Bangladesh. Women’s economic empowerment in the Pacific advanced as the Fiji Development Bank’s UNDP-supported Blue Lending Facility unlocked concessional finance, enabling women-led groups and coastal women entrepreneurs to access climate-resilient blue economy opportunities and improve their financial inclusion. 

UNDP remains the largest UN entity operating in the Pacific, and recent independent research (ODI perception study) ranks UNDP as the highest-valued UN development partner among Pacific Small Island Developing States. 

UNDP looks forward to continuing a close collaboration with Australia and to working together toward a more equitable and prosperous world, where no one is left behind. 

For more information about UNDP’s partners, please visit: https://www.undp.org/our-partners

About UNDP’s Core Resources

UNDP relies on contributions from UN Member States, multilateral organizations, NGOs, corporations, financing institutions, and philanthropic groups. Regular “core” resources are the most flexible type of funding that UNDP receives. They allow for long-term development strategies, rapid crisis response, and addressing emerging challenges by filling resource gaps in underfunded areas, helping deliver impact where and when it is needed most. Core contributions play a crucial role in strengthening UNDP’s oversight and accountability functions. They ensure that programmes are delivered effectively, efficiently, and transparently. UNDP consistently receives recognition as one of the most transparent international organizations.