Established by the General Assembly in 1965, the UNDP takes on the role of the central coordinating and funding agency for the development cooperation activities of the United Nations system. 

The UNDP pursues the overall objective of «human development», understood not only as economic growth but also as social development, based on gender equality and respect for human rights. The Programme carries out research and analysis, producing studies and reports. Among the most significant are the Annual Human Development Report and those on the status of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.