We love nature, but our dependence on plastic is harming the environment. Half of the plastic we use annually is a single-use item like packaging or a plastic straw. These so-called convenience items are used for roughly 12 to 15 minutes, on average. But the plastic they’re made of can…

When the global HIV epidemic began more than 40 years ago, HIV was a terminal illness. It’s now a preventable and chronic disease for people who are able to access treatment. However, access to prevention and treatment services is not equitable, and new innovations are not always reaching people in…

In times of crisis, volunteers are among the first to take critical action at the frontlines. Under the UNV-UNDP Tandem Teams, national and international volunteers are supporting UNDP country offices in responding to not just the pandemic but also natural hazards and human-induced crises. The mechanism allows UN Volunteers to…

Meet Frank García, UNDP Human Resources Assistant from the Dominican Republic who shares with us his workplace experiences and the importance of LGBTIQ+ inclusion. — I am from Puerto Plata, a place with amazing beaches in the Dominican Republic, about three and half hours from Santo Domingo, and I define myself as a poet, an activist, and planning to write my novel. I joined UNDP in June 2019 in Santo Domingo. I started with a…

“Putting youth in the seat of change is needed now more than ever. Even with the ongoing challenges and uncertainties that the world is facing, we see them shining and leading the change.” With these words the Generation17 Dialogue was started by Nadine Khaouli, a 26-year-old activist from Lebanon fighting…

It’s a little before noon and Khalida, working as a domestic helper for a family in Islamabad, is late for work for the third time this week. Sweating profusely and realizing that she might blackout from the heat soon, she scans the road for shade where she can sit and…

Ahead of the United Nations Ocean Conference, we check in with the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean. 1. The rallying cry of the UN Ocean Conference is “Save our Ocean, Protect our Future”. What does this theme mean to you? Answer: You may have heard my daily mantra…

As refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine started to arrive in Moldova, the Orange telecommunications company set up Wi-Fi spots at borders and reception centres to provide free connectivity. Ukrainians and third-country nationals were able to access government information, find accommodation and reach family members. The private sector in Moldova…

By Angharad Devereux, Heesu Chung and Mailee Osten-Tan Data. It’s a word that stokes anxiety in some and excitement in others. While using data from digital platforms to inform preventing violent extremism (PVE) interventions can be a big opportunity, people are rightfully concerned about public privacy and state surveillance. There…