New York, 2 December 2025 

Alexander De Croo officially assumes his new role as Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) today in New York.  

Mr. De Croo now leads the United Nations’ (UN) largest development agency that spans 170 countries and territories, serving as the backbone of the UN’s global development efforts.  

“The world is changing fast, and our partners are changing with it. Development must change too,” Mr. De Croo said. “In my first days and weeks, I want to listen to colleagues in the field, to our partners, and to programme and donor countries. I also want to strengthen our work with all partners — including new partners in finance and the private sector — because they are essential to advancing development in today’s world.”

“The situation is challenging and funding is under pressure. But this moment also gives us the chance to renew our work, and to focus on innovation, on delivery, and on real impact for the people we serve,” he added.

During his first days in New York, Mr. De Croo will meet with the Chairs of the Group of 77 (G77), the Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and the African Union. He will also begin conversations with donor countries, underlining the importance of strong partnerships and predictable financing. A key focus of his mandate will be to broaden and diversify UNDP’s funding base, including tapping into new sources of financing.

He will then travel to the State of Qatar to participate in the Doha Forum and to Kenya to see first-hand the realities of development in action, with a special focus on digital and financial innovation. He stressed that he will be an Administrator who stays close to the field, because the work UNDP carries out on the ground makes a real difference in the lives of millions of people.

Mr. De Croo is the former Prime Minister of Belgium and previously served as Minister of Finance and Development.  In those roles, he championed partnerships with the private sector, advanced digital innovation for development, and promoted gender equality through an economic lens.

He holds a Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in Chicago and a degree in business engineering from the Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management. He is fluent in English, French, and Dutch.   

Mr. De Croo, UNDP’s 10^th Administrator, takes over from Achim Steiner of Germany, who completed his tenure in June 2025.