UNDP Signature Solutions Guidance Package

Annex A: Illustrative Country Examples

(26 June 2018)

SIGNATURE SOLUTION #1 – Keep people out of poverty

Development Context 1 / Outcome 1: Advance poverty eradication in all its forms and dimensions
Mauritius. Mauritius is an upper-middle income economy with a GDP per capita PPP of USD 19,480 in 2015.1 Strong institutions
in a politically stable and thriving business environment combined with effective use of trade preferences have contributed to
growth and facilitated economic diversification. Mauritius has successfully transitioned from an agriculture to a manufacturing
and tourism based-economy. It has also developed a very large offshore financial services industry. Mauritius has also
experienced significant and social achievements as a result of a combination of sustained investments in social programmes as
well as sound economic policies and governance. Nonetheless, the country faces several long standing and emerging social
challenges. While absolute poverty is negligible in Mauritius, relative poverty is on the rise increasing from 8.5 per cent in 2006-
07 to 9.8 in 2012. Moreover, the depth and intensity of poverty have increased for the period 2007-14, signaling a deterioration
in the position of those living in relative poverty versus the non-poor.

Starting in 2015, UNDP has supported the Government of Mauritius in the development and implementation of the Marshall
Plan Against Poverty. The Marshall Plan Against Poverty aims to improve the standards of living of the population and to
introduce holistic approaches that will promote a sustainable socio-economic development and environmental protection. In
close partnership with the Ministry of Social Integration and Economic Empowerment, a global multidisciplinary UNDP team
conducted a series of missions to inform the different thematic areas of the Plan. UNDP also supported the design of the Social
Contract, a conditional cash scheme that promotes social and economic empowerment of excluded groups, and helped the
government design a Social Registry that integrates all social assistance programmes. The plan is articulated around 39
actionable and costed proposals, framed within 11 sections. The initiatives proposed are cross-cutting, designed to address
poverty and inequality, and include areas such as social protection, employment, social housing, education, health,
environment and equity in service delivery, including with a focus on Rodrigues. The plan devises an approach tackling the root
cause of exclusion through a community-based approach to service delivery. Promoting gender equality and greater
opportunities for young people are themes integrated throughout the plan. By the end of 2017, over 8,000 families were
benefitting from subsistence allowance under this programme.

Development Context 2 / Outcome 2: Accelerate structural transformation for sustainable development

Colombia. The MAF in Cartagena, where the population totals 892,000, identified Inclusive Economic Development (IED), and
in particular, the CEMPRENDE centres, a network of employment and entrepreneurship centers created in 2011, as a proven
existing solution for addressing income poverty. Through training, technical assistance and access to credit, the initiative has
demonstrated that it is possible to overcome the lack of physical and human capital that the poorest communities face.
However, MAF identified the following as the main impediments that prevent CEMPRENDE from reaching its full potential:
uncertain budget allocations; low institutional capacity; lack of coordination between the different levels of government;
insufficient seed capital and resource mobilization to meet local demand; a lack of timely and accurate information; and
excessive requirements and documentation for the poorest to access the services.

To better address these challenges, CEMPRENDE established ties with the National Learning Service SENA and the Red Juntos
(National Programme for Combating Poverty) as well as a Public-Private Partnership with Cartagena’s Chamber of Commerce.
These alliances ensured that the skills provided through CEMPRENDE are relevant to meet the private sector’s demand for
labor and basic inputs.

Additionally, microfinance initiatives at the national level can now target CEMPRENDE beneficiaries as potential clients, thus
complementing efforts to develop human capital by facilitating access to financial capital for entrepreneurship.

1 World Development Indicators, World Bank.

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Development Context 3 / Outcome 3: Strengthen resilience to shocks and crisis
Nepal. As a Least Developed Country (LDC), Nepal ranks among top 20 multi-hazard prone countries with high exposure and
vulnerability to disasters.2 The post-disaster needs assessment (PDNA) after the April 2015 earthquake indicated that an
additional 2.5-3.5% (nearly 750,000 people) were likely to be pushed back into poverty3. Wide-spread damage to socio-
economic infrastructure, houses, community assets and livelihoods increased exposure and vulnerability, eroded coping
capacities, entrenched poverty and food insecurity. With damages and losses of US$ 7bn representing one-third of the GDP,
providing humanitarian assistance, re-building houses, restoring livelihoods and socio-economic assets became challenging.
The earthquake exposed the high vulnerability of poor to hazard risks which was not factored in poverty reduction programs.
This was evidenced by the fact that the earthquake disproportionately affected the poorer, rural areas as well as the poor
households in the urban Kathmandu valley.

With the Government planning and leading recovery efforts, the Disaster Recovery Framework created space for other UN and
international agencies, development partners, INGOs/NGOs, private sector, civil society and philanthropic organizations. The
recovery effort drew financial, technical and capacity building support from IFIs including the World Bank and ADB as well as
support from UN agencies, bi-lateral and multi-lateral donors, the private sector, cooperatives, civil society and other
development partners.

The Disaster Recovery Framework was developed based on a resilience-building approach and adopted a transformative and
integrated approach as it addressed the social (housing, health, nutrition, education, culture), productive (agriculture,
irrigation, tourism, finance, commerce) and infrastructure (community infrastructure, electricity, communications, water,
transport) sectors and cross-cutting issues like environment, governance, employment and livelihoods while promoting gender
equality, social protection and inclusion. It strengthened risk reduction through building regulations, codes and their
enforcement and operated within a resilience framework by linking recovery interventions to development policies and
priorities. The Framework envisaged measuring the progress and results of the recovery programme through independent
monitoring to provide feedback through data collection, on-site visits and interactions with affected people. The monitoring
mechanism will help initiate corrective measures to improve the quality and effectiveness of recovery interventions.

SIGNATURE SOLUTION #2 – Strengthen governance

Development Context 1 / Outcome 1: Advance poverty eradication in all its forms and dimensions
Papua New Guinea. Papua New Guinea (PNG) is a country that possesses abundant natural resources but has also to contend
with significant challenges in terms of its vast diversity and geography. PNG’s Vision 2050 document sets the roadmap for how
the country aims to achieve prosperity, including the promotion of effective leadership and good governance, fight against
corruption, performance and accountability. Against this background, between September 2014 to November 2016 the
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), UNDP, and the PNG Department of Finance (DoF) entered a
partnership to implement a pilot initiative entitled “Phones against Corruption”. This innovative initiative to fight corruption
enabled citizens to file complaints by sending SMS mobile phone texts if they encountered instances of corruption while
attempting to access government services. The results of the program included:

 A total of over 30,000 SMS texts were received, of which 557 were found to be valid complaints.
 Of the 192 cases that related to the DoF, 77 cases were identified as requiring further investigation.
 Of these 77, the DoF has completed the investigation of 17 cases.
 Of these 17, 5 cases are being processed by the courts, and 2 convictions have been entered.

At the end of 2017, due to the success of the pilot phase, DFAT, UNDP, and the DoF launched the scaling up of the initiative
that envisages rolling out the programme to 29 central government agencies and 14 provincial administrations. This new phase
aims to: enhance good governance, transparency and accountability in the operations of government agencies by facilitating
the effective reporting and investigation of corruption cases; build an ethically conscious society that will actively participate
in public oversight; improve the quality of and access to public services, in particular by marginalized populations, as well as
women, youth and elderly persons. Not only does this project aim to address SDG goal 16, it also addresses several other SDGs
related to the effective delivery of various services to citizens by saving public funds lost to corruption.

2 http://www.adrc.asia/countryreport/NPL/2011/FY2011B_NPL_CR.pdf
3 http://www.npc.gov.np/images/category/PDNA_volume_BFinalVersion.pdf
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Development Context 2 / Outcome 2: Accelerate structural transformation for sustainable development
India. The PARE (Parliamentary Action on Renewable Energy) project, supported by partners including the European
Commission, is a collaboration between UNDP and a UK-registered NGO, Climate Parliament. The collaboration supports the
formation of cross-party groups of national parliamentarians in partner countries, the thematic capacitation of member
parliamentarians on climate change and renewable energy by reference to their core functions and duties of lawmaking,
government oversight, and scrutiny.

As the EC evaluation of phase 1 of the Project found: “In India, for example, the advocacy and lobbying work of the PARE cross-
party parliamentary group has played an important role in the 2013 Government to allow certain public sector institutions
raise new income through tax-free bonds has included allowances for the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency
(IREDA) to raise USD 162.4 million, which has been further boosted by a Government allocation from the National Clean Energy
Fund (NCEF) to provide low cost loans through IREDA. Other significant results have been a more than doubling of the budget
for the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) to USD 896.23 million in the 2014-15 budget (compared with 2012),
while the revision of the National Clean Energy Fund (NCEF) Guidelines has led to more than USD 450 million in additional
renewable energy funding. Another key result from PARE MPs advocacy work has been the re-introduction of Generation Based
Incentives in the 2013-2014 Union budget, following significant Climate Parliament lobbying, with this providing a further INR
800 crore (USD 129.9 million) for wind power projects.4”

Development Context 3 / Outcome 3 – Strengthen resilience to shocks and crises

Central African Republic. During the conflict in the Central African Republic, already fragile governance systems collapsed and
state authority over large parts of the country was lost. In this context impunity was high, few if any basic services were
provided to the population public revenue generation collapsed and civil servants’ salaries were not paid for five months.

UNDP entered into discussions with CAR’s financial partners (WB, AfDB, EU and IMF) to identify solutions to restore payments
of civil servants’ salaries. The Emergency Public Service Response Project (EPSRP) was setup within a few weeks in partnership
with the UN Peacebuilding Fund and in close collaboration with the WB and EU. The objective was to re-establish an operational
government payroll, proceed with immediate payment of civil servants and re-establish basic control over the expenditure
chain and cash management. In May 2014, UNDP spearheaded the resumption of payment of civil servant salaries. The EPSRP
Project ensured that approximately 17,000 civil servants received their wages during the crisis, provided critical cash flow to
the economy, and safeguarded the provision of critical state functions in the midst of the conflict.

However, while the security situations in the capital improved, insecurity prevailed in many rural areas and impunity remained
high. In an effort to strengthen accountability and the rule of law, UNDP jointly with MINUSCA, OHCHR, UN Women, OLA, UNV
(as part of the Global Focal Point arrangement) supported the CAR justice and security sector to enhance their capacities to
deliver justice and policing services, as part extending state authority and also putting in place sector-wide reforms. Support
was also provided for the establishment of the Special Criminal Court to investigate, prosecute, and pass judgment on serious
human rights violations, including crimes against humanity and war crimes. In 2017, the national justice system organized its
third criminal session since 2010, including emblematic cases such as of warlord Andjilo, as well as adjudicating cases of SGBV.
Support on rule of law has also resulted in 8,919 people accessing justice through access to legal aid and advice, 3,254 police
and gendarmerie personnel vetted on allegations of human rights violations, and reestablishment of functioning justice
mechanisms through the rehabilitation of 4 prisons, 2 police commissariats and 3 gendarmes units in 5 different cities. The
Special Criminal Court has been operational since 2017.

SIGNATURE SOLUTION #3 – Enhance capacities for resilience

Development Context 1 / Outcome 1: Advance poverty eradication in all its forms and dimensions
Chad. Chad, a landlocked country, is one of the poorest and most fragile countries in the world. 5 Approximately 87 percent of
the population lives in extreme poverty, of which 80 percent reside in rural areas. Three decades of civil war, overdependence
on oil, protracted political instability, and adverse climate change have affected Chad’s large agrarian informal economy.
Development failures, extreme inequalities, weak governance, high unemployment, conflicts in neighboring countries,
desertification and the drying up of Lake Chad have further undermined poverty reduction and peacebuilding processes. The

4
Evaluation of the EC Contribution to the Parliamentary Action for Renewable Energy (PARE) Project:
https://erc.undp.org/evaluation/evaluations/detail/8847
5 Ranked 186th on 2016 Human Development Index.

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cross-border insecurity caused by the rise of Boko Haram in the Lake Chad region resulted in the migration of about 8.1 million
people (about 52 percent women) who are faced with acute vulnerability and weakened livelihoods. 6

In this context, UNDP works simultaneously on climate change, conflict prevention and peacebuilding, strengthening core
government functions, preventing violent extremism, and security to help build resilient pathways towards long-term
sustainable development. UNDP harnessed its existing partnerships with the national government, bilateral donors, global
partners, and national and subnational stakeholders to stem the effects of climate change on conflict dynamics and (re)build
social stability in the Lake Chad region. In partnership with France and the Global Environment Facility (GEF), UNDP has
developed three major risk reduction, capacity building, and adaptation initiatives aimed at (a) restoring and rehabilitating
more than 4,000 hectares of ecosystems, (b) improving the management of Lake Chad's natural resources, and (c) integrating
climate change adaptation into national planning processes and medium- and long-term budgeting in climate-sensitive sectors.
UNDP’s intervention will improve the resilience of climate-based livelihoods, reduce the pressure on existing political tensions
around natural resource scarcities in the area, and allow for social stability and peacebuilding among affected communities in
the Lake Chad region – together these interventions will tackle challenges that undermine poverty reduction efforts.

Development Context 2 / Outcome 2: Accelerate structural transformation for sustainable development

Bangladesh. Bangladesh is likely to meet the criteria for graduation from Least Development Country (LDC) status, at the
triennial review of the LDCs in March 2018. Despite a robust GDP growth rate of 6.4% in 2018 driven by industry and services,
Bangladesh still has considerable structural reforms to master, to be able to sustain growth in the long term. Bangladesh is also
one of the most densely populated countries in the world with a population of 161 million living in an area of 144,000 km² (just
slightly larger than New York State). Its natural geography and topography make it highly disaster-prone with annual cyclones
and floods affecting millions of people. In addition, the country is faced with persistent communal strife in the Chittagong Hill
Tracts, and an influx of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. To be able to sustain its trajectory of economic growth, it is therefore
critical that the Government focuses on strengthening its risk management capacities and fostering community resilience.

UNDP is supporting the Government to address these challenges through a strategic mix of crises prevention and recovery
measures and the establishment of a standby Early Recovery Facility (ERF) for rapid disbursement for immediate response and
recovery activities. The ERF has helped: (a) build 17,000 cyclone resistant houses and assisted affected populations with critical
livelihood and community infrastructure support; (b) support timely early warning of floods and cyclones to 88 million people
living in four river basin areas, and 110 million cell phone users 7; (c) initiate support to approximately 1 million Rohingya
refugees from Myanmar to Cox’s Bazaar through interventions in governance and public service delivery; promotion of
community cohesion and conflict prevention; access to justice and community security; and by reducing disaster risks; and (d)
integrate disaster risk management and climate adaptation into development plans and projects, working with the sectors and
local government departments.

Development Context 3 / Outcome 3: Strengthen resilience to shocks and crises

Somalia. The protracted crisis in Somalia is the result of prolonged drought, violence and insecurity, compounded by extreme
poverty. Approximately half of the population require humanitarian assistance, and 9% are internally displaced. Decades of
conflict and political instability have undermined political and economic institutions, and the 2015/16 El Niño phenomenon
worsened an already widespread drought with devastating impacts on communities and their livelihoods. 8 Addressing this
protracted crisis, and shifting the focus from political, security and humanitarian needs towards long -term
sustainable development is key to further stabilize Somalia.

UNDP is supporting this process by working simultaneously on peace, justice and security, state building, local
governance, climate change, disaster reduction and socio-economic recovery towards long-term sustainable
development. 9 Under the umbrella of the UN, UNDP is leveraging existing partnerships with the Government, the WB, AfDB
and other IFIs, bilateral donors and local organizations to break the cycle of recurrent crises. Responding to protracted
drought and recurrent risk of famine, the Government requested in 2017, a Drought Impact and Needs Assessment (DINA)
and Resilience and Recovery Framework (RRF) to identify the root causes of recurrent drought and develop a strategy for
medium term recovery and long-term resilience. The RRF will be implemented alongside humanitarian assistance efforts in

6 Sources: UNDP Chad CPD 2017-2021, WBG; OCHA; UNDP 2017 ROAR; HDI 2016 Chad country profile.
7 Early warning efforts of Government, UNDP and partners in Bangladesh reduced mortality from 139,000 in the 1991 cyclone to 10 deaths during Cyclone
Mahasen, due to the successful evacuation of 1.1 million residents.
8 Sources: UNDP Somalia; Joint Briefing Pack- Joint High-Level Mission, UNDP, OCHA, WBG; UNDP 2017 ROAR.
9 UNDP is helping expand access to water and energy for poor and displaced communities, enhance climate change and drought early warning systems,

expand use of ecosystem based adaptation to climate change, and combat the role of the charcoal trade as an income source for the Al Shabab terror
network.
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the context of the New Way of Working. In parallel, the UN in Somalia is working with authorities at federal, state and local
levels to find durable solutions to displacement though supporting restoration and resumption of livelihoods, through area-
based, multi-sectoral, multi-stakeholder, rights and needs based approach and involves simultaneously humanitarian,
development, peace- and state-building partners.

SIGNATURE SOLUTION #4 – Promote nature-based solutions

Development Context 1 / Outcome 1: Advance poverty eradication in all its forms and dimensions
Algeria. Algeria is the largest country in Africa, with a great diversity of habitats ranging from insular, marine and
coastal ecosystems to forest, mountain and Saharan ecosystems. The sustainable use of these ecosystems is of
paramount importance for the future of the country, and for sustaining livelihoods and empowering marginalized
communities. UNDP has worked closely with the Government in designing its National Strategy and Action Plan for
Biodiversity (2016-2030), setting 2030 policy targets for ecosystem su stainability in line with the SDGs and the
global Aichi biodiversity targets. Through the support of GEF and large co -financing by the Algerian Government,
UNDP has also supported local implementation of these goals in Algeria.
UNDPs initiative on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Ecosystems in Algeria’s Cultural Parks helps develop
capacities for conserving ecosystems in a way that achieves community empowerment and inclusive development.
Through activities in five cultural parks (Ahaggar Park, Tassili n'Ajjer, Touat Gourara Tidikelt, Saharan Atlas and
Tindouf) the initiative covers 44% of the Algerian territory. Through UNDP support, capacities are being developed
to better conserve unique eco-cultural heritage, empower local traditions on the balance b etween nature and
culture, and support improved livelihoods for rural and nomadic communities through better integration of the
poverty reduction priorities of natural resource users in management of cultural parks and natural heritage sites.
This includes Collaborative Management Agreements between Government and local communities, multi -
stakeholder resource management platforms to expand role of communities in ecosystem protection, action plans
for expanding eco-tourism with community leadership, and provision of green technology solutions to local
communities to improve livelihoods and income.

Development Context 2 / Outcome 2: Accelerate structural transformation for sustainable development

Tanzania. One of the major sources of water for Dar es Salaam in Tanzania is the Ruvu River Catchment, an 18,000 square-
kilometer river basin. The catchment provides water for six million people in Dar es Salaam, Morogoro, Dodoma, Tanga, and
other coastal cities, and supplies water for livestock, irrigation, industries, domestic use, and wildlife. For decades, Dar es
Salaam has faced annual shortages, as the flow of the River Ruvu has huge seasonal fluctuations. These shortages are
compounded by climate change. Over the past two decades, the Ruvu River Catchment has experienced significant forest cover
loss over an area that accounts for 10 percent of the entire watershed. Moreover, protected areas only cover only about a
quarter of the watershed. The catchment has faced intense pressure from deforestation, uncontrolled bush fires, land
degradation, unsustainable grazing practices, and upstream gold mining. A new partnership between the Global Environment
Facility, the Ministry of Water and Irrigation of Tanzania, and UNDP 10 has initiated a program to secure watershed services by
promoting sustainable land management, including forestry, grazing and farming. The project also includes measures to
enhance alternative livelihoods. Together, these efforts will increase water quantity and quality by ten percent by the year
2020, an improvement that will be felt across the entire catchment, and that will catalyze a cascade of sustainable development
benefits. Moreover, the process of developing the plan has helped to improve governance, strengthen land rights, and foster
transboundary, participatory planning.

Development Context 3 / Outcome 3: Strengthen resilience to shocks and crises

Moldova. Weather and climate are no respecters of borders, something that people living in the Republic of Moldova intimately
understand. Moldova, like many developing countries, is suffering from increasingly severe and frequent climate change-
induced natural disasters, leading to losses of life and property. Accurate meteorological data can offer meaningful predictions
and warnings of impending extreme weather events, and allow the country to reduce the number of victims created by natural
disasters and to safeguard against property damage. Recognising the value of meteorological data, a partnership between the
Hydrometeorological Service of Moldova and the Austrian Central Institution for Meteorology and Geodynamics helped ensure
more accurate weather forecasts, alerts on extreme phenomena and the use of European standards in meteorology.

10
www.tz.undp.org/content/tanzania/en/home/presscenter/articles/2017/08/24/conserving-ruvu-water-catchments-to-enhance-water-availability.html
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Implemented by Moldova’s Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment’s Climate Change Office, and with
funding provided by the Austrian Development Agency, a UNDP-assisted project ‘Supporting Moldova’s National Climate
Change Adaptation Planning Process’ established an inter-agency partnership to encourage the sharing of best practices and
to explore ways to leverage the partnership’s ability to strengthen benefits to communities prone to climate change-related
disasters. The Meteoalarm system is a good example of how a region can unite to respond to a common challenge. With
appropriate warnings, people can act early to reduce damage and loss of lives both due to natural and man-made disasters.
Additionally, with Moldova joining the European Meteorological Services Network (EUMETNET), decision-makers and the
public can minimize disaster and climate risks by preventing and preparing for them in time, thus increasing the country's
resistance to climate change.

SIGNATURE SOLUTION #5 – Close the energy gap

Development Context 1 / Outcome 1: Advance poverty eradication in all its forms and dimensions
Malawi. With an estimated 16 million people without electricity access, Malawi is classified as one of the 20 high impact
countries, which account for two-thirds of the global electrification deficit. Recognizing the transformational importance of
energy to sustainable development and to the achievement of the SDGs, including directly reducing poverty, and as part of its
commitment to sustainable energy for all (SE4ALL), the Government of Malawi has committed to increase electricity access to
30% by 2030 from the current level of 9%, and to increase the share of renewable energy in the energy mix to 6% by 2030
from the current level of 0.2%. Unreliable power is the second-biggest obstacle to private business (after access to finance),
and the biggest obstacle for larger firms in Malawi, limiting job growth and therefore indirectly slowing efforts to eradicate
poverty. The UNDP-supported, GEF co-financed project on “Increasing access to clean and affordable decentralized energy
services in selected vulnerable areas of Malawi” (May 2015 – May 2020) supports the government’s efforts to expand energy
access in remote, rural areas by promoting innovative, community-based clean mini-grids in cooperation with social
enterprises, local businesses and civil society. It is expected that the project will set the stage for mini-grids to play a key role
going forward in electrifying rural areas of Malawi, thereby assisting the country to meet its SDG targets.

In partnership with the Mulanje Electricity Generation Agency (MEGA), UNDP is expanding three hydro-based mini-grid units
to 320 kW and has connected upwards of 570 households to date, resulting in significant livelihood benefits. To replicate the
MEGA model, UNDP launched a competition to establish two new clean mini-grids and selected Community Energy Malawi
(CEM) and Practical Action, two registered social enterprises. CEM will install a 45 kW solar PV mini-grid to connect 100
households and water pumps for irrigation in Sitolo Village in Mchinji, with plans to expand to additional 200 households during
a subsequent phase. These actions strengthen livelihoods and help to eradicate poverty. Practical Action will install a 300 kW
hydro mini-grid in Usingini in Nkhatabay District, which is expected to connect 500 households, one clinic, two schools and
coffee processing plants from five estates. Historically, Malawi has low energy prices, making more cost-reflective tariffs
essential for a financially-healthy energy sector that can attract investors. Through clean energy mini-grids, UNDP and its
partners are leading the way in demonstrating revenue-generating models that cover operational costs and amortize capital
costs, while at the same time delivering affordable electricity to low-income consumers to transform their lives.

Development Context 2 / Outcome 2: Accelerate structural transformation for sustainable development

The Uruguay Wind Energy Programme (UWEP) co-funded by GEF, implemented by UNDP and executed by the DNE (Dirección
Nacional de Energía, National Energy Directorate of Uruguay). The main objective of the project, implemented between 2007
and 2013, was to remove the energy market institutional, financial, technology and social barriers that were inhibiting the
development of commercially-viable wind energy investments in the country. The approach followed in this project contributed
to the formulation of UNDP’s DREI methodology. The project contributed significantly to the scale-up of renewable energy-
based electricity generation in Uruguay by supporting the implementation of the National Energy Policy 2030 aimed at
increasing renewable energy participation in the energy mix. An enabling legal and regulatory framework was established for
the development of wind energy in the country, supporting the creation of a transparent market for wind power through
auction processes to solicit renewable energy bids. This process helped encourage competitive pricing, while giving developers
the opportunity to receive the necessary minimum return on investment.

The partnership with the country’s electricity management agency, the National Administration of Power Plants and Energy
Transmission (UTE, in the Spanish acronym) led to a revamped framework to boost private sector investment in wind and other
forms of renewable energy, while reducing the country’s carbon emissions and fossil fuel dependency. To eliminate
technological barriers, UWEP planned for a pilot wind farm. In 2009, UTE, with UWEP’s technical support, built an initial 10
MW wind farm in Sierra de Caracoles. This wind farm has since doubled its capacity and has been producing 20 MW of
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electricity since June 2010. The initiative entailed a series of ‘energy auctions’ that brought private sector partners into the
energy sector, as well as technology transfers, skills training and support to identify areas with high wind-generating capacity.
The end result was a series of public-private partnerships on renewable energy, with the Government and UTE taking the lead.
The economic case for such shifts is also clear: the US$30 million initially invested by the Government and partners has since
triggered over US$3 billion in total private investment in renewable energy sector. By the project end date (December 2013),
43 MW of wind power were already installed and several projects accounting for 900 MW were under development, far
exceeding project goals and making wind power an important energy source in the country. This has resulted, to date, in the
establishment of 35 wind farms, with an installed capacity of 1300 MW, supplying 35% percent of the country’s total electricity
demand. Moreover, the know-how and expertise gained by the actors in Uruguay has become a source of supply of goods and
services to other countries. Thus far, the initiative has created 4,490 jobs (in construction, operation and maintenance),
diversified energy sources, while contributing to Uruguay’s sustainable development path.

Development Context 3 / Outcome 3 – Strengthen resilience to shocks and crises

Several examples from the Arab region, which has experienced an escalation of conflict in recent years, with most affected
countries also suffering from pre-existing levels of energy poverty, can illustrate the type of support UNDP can provide. In
Yemen, the war has resulted in more than 3 million internally-displaced persons (IDPs), now the world’s most devastating
humanitarian crisis. UNDP in partnership with WFP, ILO and FAO is implementing the Enhanced Rural Resilience in Yemen (ERRY)
programme funded by the EU which supports among other things local deployment of decentralized solar technologies to
expand energy access in schools, health facilities, small businesses, and irrigation pumping for agricultural livelihoods and food
security. Decentralized solar solutions have been provided to 20 schools, 20 health clinics, 800 households, two food markets
and 20 public agencies, and this is now being scaled-up to reach 31 schools, 55 health facilities, 9 markets and 2,400
households. In Sudan, which hosts over 2 million IDPs, following the Darfur Peace Agreement, the Darfur region of Sudan has
been hosting a large number of returnees of the devastating conflict of years past. But as IDPs return, the lack of access to
energy has emerged as an important barrier to regenerating livelihoods and access to water, health and education services. In
response, UNDP with support from Qatar and in partnership with UNIDO, WHO, UN-Habitat and national partners is
implementing a Darfur Solar Electrification programme to build the resilience of returnees of conflict. Through the initiative,
solar solutions were deployed across 70 villages for enhanced health clinics and schools, street lighting and solar water
pumping, directly benefiting 7,000 returnee households, with additional dividends for neighbouring 35,000 households in
target areas. Around the Syria crisis, UNDP has also helped integrate a pillar on sustainable energy into national crisis response
plans in Lebanon and Jordan and to provide local solutions in Syrian refugee host communities, while in Somalia and Palestine,
UNDP has helped expand energy solutions in schools and clinics for communities facing protracted displacement.

SIGNATURE SOLUTION #6 – Strengthen gender equality

Development Context 1 / Outcome 1: Advance poverty eradication in all its forms and dimensions
Myanmar. Women in Myanmar are underrepresented at all levels of public and political life, and emerging women leaders in
rural areas, in particular, face significant barriers for overcoming restrictive social norms. As part of its support to strengthen
Myanmar’s public institutions’ social accountability and public service delivery, in 2015 UNDP brought together 2,000 existing
rural women’s savings and lending groups (known as Self-Reliant Groups, SRG) into one national network known as May
Doe Kabar (MDKB Women’s World). These groups were part of UNDP’s grassroots capacity building initiatives since 2003.

Through the UNDP’s Asia Pacific Innovation Facility, UNDP Myanmar supported the design of a mobile app, the iWomen
Inspiring Women app, to help connect all the groups into a cohesive civil society network and offer mentorship, and resources
to develop leadership skills and to connect public institutions and rural communities. The app was co-developed by young
Myanmar tech women and rural women members of MDKB National Network of Rural Women, with support from UNDP. The
app was prototyped and tested over an 8-week period and during each round of testing, women were asked to provide
feedback and suggestions. During 2016-17 over 300 Myanmar IT University students were recruited to support the iWomen
app distribution, marketing, provide technical support to new users, and conduct wider user feedback surveys.

The app includes access to knowledge on topics such as renewable energy, entrepreneurship, market, laws, rights, technology
(Be Knowledgeable Function); competitions with prizes to solidify the knowledge and to be used as a monitoring tool to gauge
users’ comprehension (Ready to Play Function); a sharing platform where women can discuss in private issues of concern and
receive remote mentorship (Talk Together & Be Together); human interest personal stories written by women across the world
for inspiration (Be Inspired Function).

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The iWomen app was launched on International Women's Day in 2016. One year later, the app had 9,056 active rural women
users, over 10,000 posts, 1,300 inspiring stories shared and 700,000 screen views. It covers hundreds of villages across 14
states and regions in Myanmar. Mobile Literacy trainings have also been rolled out to teach how to use and share the app
reaching over 6,000 rural women in 2016 and 2017.

Development Context 2 / Outcome 2: Accelerate structural transformation for sustainable development

Armenia, UNDP’s Women in Local Democracy programme has been working since 2012 to promote equality between women
and men through inciting a national conservation on the role of women and men in Armenia, advancing equal representation
of women in decision-making processes, supporting elected female representatives in executing their public duties, integrating
gender equality principles and approaches in the Territorial Administration Reform (community clustering) in Armenia. UNDP
assisted the country to draft the Law on Equal Rights and Equal Opportunities for Women and Men, which was adopted in
2013. Armenia’s new quota system aims for women achieving 25% participation in parliament and big cities’ government.

In the fall of 2016, 702 women ran for local elections from all ten regions of Armenia, and 500 women were elected as heads
of community and local councilors. Since 2012, the number of women candidates and elected women increased by 17% and
24% respectively.

The programme, a partnership with the European Union and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation has
generated an emerging cadre of capable and motivated women willing to take the lead. In many communities, women are
shifting the borders of their traditional roles and breaking stereotypes, and young leaders are emerging as community
mobilisers. At least 1,020 women – civil servants in local government, employees of local and regional administration, civic
activists, and other – have strengthened knowledge on leadership, local governance, participatory processes, gender equality
and other. The programme strengthens participatory, gender-sensitive and inclusive governance strengthened in number of
regions/communities in Armenia through scenario-based town-hall meetings for participatory decision-making on community
level and a micro-referendum tool, enabling local governments in 5 communities to make inquiries among citizens on
community priorities via SMS (with support of RBEC Innovation Fund).

Development Context 3 / Outcome 3 – Strengthen resilience to shocks and crises

Colombia. After Syria, Colombia has the largest number of internally displaced people in the world: 6.3 million compared to 6.6
million Syrians11. In armed conflicts around the world, civilians are highly vulnerable to human rights violations. UNDP’s
Transitional Justice Fund is shedding light on an atrocious crime often used as a weapon of war: sexual violence.

Through the Transitional Justice program, and jointly with the Ministry of Justice and Law, the Office of the Attorney General
and UARIV, UNDP has been working with the ‘Circles of Studies Foundation’ (“Fundación Círculos de Estudios”) and the "Right
of Voice", to support the process of restitution of the rights of women victims of sexual violence in the Colombian armed
conflict. Participants are provided with access to health, protection, psychosocial and legal care, and other forms of integral
reparation.

The UNDP Transitional Justice Fund is a joint effort between Colombian institutions and international cooperation to promote
the processes of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-repetition of the victims of the armed conflict. Among the
achievements, it is worth mentioning that the programme has promoted the restoration of rights to justice and the reparation
of 462 women victims of sexual violence in seven departments during July 2015 and 2016; has promoted access to the integral
indemnification of 435 victims of sexual violence, including people with sexual orientations and identities of diverse genres;
has designed and implemented training for officials of the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare on comprehensive protection
of children and adolescents victims of sexual violence in armed conflict; and has trained officials from the National Institute of
Forensic Medicine and Forensic Science on how to investigate cases of sexual violence. The project has trained officials on how
to investigate sexual violence, documented over 1,600 cases, and promoted reparations or compensations for nearly 1,000
survivors.

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