Frequently Asked Questions


What is UNDP?

UNDP is the UN's global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life.

We are on the ground in 166 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and our wide range of partners.

World leaders have pledged to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, including the overarching goal of cutting poverty in half by 2015. UNDP's network links and coordinates global and national efforts to reach these Goals. Our focus is helping countries build and share solutions to the challenges of:

UNDP helps countries attract and use aid effectively. In all our activities, we promote the protection of human rights and the empowerment of women.

Please visit: Who We Are for more detailed information about UNDP in Iran.

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How long has UNDP been in the country and what is UNDP’s role in Iran?

UNDP has had a representative office in Iran since 1966. UNDP has worked closely with the government and other development partners, such as local councils, civil society, academic institutions and the private sector, by providing technical assistance and knowledge for more than 40 years. During this time many UNDP-funded projects have been successfully implemented throughout the country in areas as diverse as governance, human rights, poverty reduction, disaster mitigation and recovery, conservation of the environment and wildlife and rural development.

The Islamic Republic of Iran is a transition economy. It is one of the largest countries in Asia and the Pacific and has vast natural resources and an educated population. Iran has made rapid progress in several spheres of development and today ranks among the top 94 countries out of 177 on the Human Development Index (HDI) [UNDP Human Development Report, 2007/2008], which measures progress on three development indices – education, life expectancy and income.

While Iran’s extensive economic growth in recent years has led to better living standards, the continuous disparity between the rich and the poor presents a challenge which requires a more equitable and sustainable socio-economic development that includes the most marginalized groups of society, consisting of youth and women. In an effort to strengthen national capacities to face these challenges, UNDP Iran is working together with the government of Iran in the following programme areas:

  • The MDGs and Poverty Reduction
  • Democratic Governance and Trade
  • Energy and Environment
  • Disaster Risk Management and Recovery
  • HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria

At the country level, UNDP also plays a coordination role within the UN System to ensure synergy between the work of the various UN Agencies. There are 18 UN agencies working in Iran. Globally UNDP also has the mandate to coordinate the work of the UN in partner countries. In order to focus their efforts, the UN agencies jointly agree on a UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF). The 2005-2010 UNDAF for Iran identified several development challenges that the country is facing: improvement of economic performance and job creation, good governance and human rights, HIV/AIDS, MDGs capacity building, science and technology transfer as well as energy efficiency, environmental degradation and disaster preparedness

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What does UNDP do in Iran in its areas of mandate?

UNDP supports the country’s efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to improve the quality of life of the poorest and the most vulnerable, and builds the capacity of partners for costing the MDGs and for tracking progress. In partnership with UNDP, Iran launched its first National MDG Report in 2004, which highlights the country’s achievements particularly in the areas of health and education.

Under our democratic governance work we support the country’s efforts in the development of institutional capacities at various levels in Iran. In response to the request of the Iranian government under this programme area, UNDP support includes human rights, increasing access to justice as well as knowledge sharing and networking among local civil society organisations. In collaboration with a range of human rights partners UNDP’s project on Capacity Building for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights for a Greater Access to Justice has helped establish free legal aid clinics which have made their services accessible to more than 5000 people from the most vulnerable groups in society. In partnership with the government of Iran, UNDP is working to strengthen institutional capacities to implement an Automated System for Custom Data Administration (ASYCUDA), developed by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), which is currently being implemented in more than 80 countries around the world. The ASYCUDAWorld software has helped ease existing customs procedures while developing the technical capacity needed to further integrate the country with global trade.

In the area of HIV/AIDS we have facilitated access to grants from The Global Fund for AIDS,TB and Malaria (GFATM) for partners like the Centre for Communicable Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Medical Education; the Prisons Organization and the Ministry of Education to create awareness about HIV and the modes of transmission and prevention, set up voluntary counseling and testing centres and provide access to care and treatment. Since October 2008, UNDP in cooperation with the government has extended the scope of the project on the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS in Iran to include Malaria and Tuberculosis through funding received from GFATM.

Energy efficiency, conserving the environment and protecting biodiversity are an integral part of the UNDP programme. With co-funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), UNDP supports the government’s efforts in mitigating green house gas emissions, through the promotion of energy efficiency and cost-effective renewable energies, as well as adapting to global climate change.  GEF co-funding is also used to conserve threatened species and ecosystems, to halt the consumption and stockpiling of harmful pollutants, and to stem the tide of degradation in international water bodies as well as to halt and reverse land degradation in the country. Through funding provided by the Montreal Protocol (MP) on substances that deplete the ozone layer, UNDP assists Iran to comply with the provisions of the MP including the timely phase out of ozone depleting substances and putting in place supporting institutional mechanisms. Community-based approaches have been incorporated in projects under this cluster to equitably manage natural resources while balancing the country’s development concerns with those regarding job creation and economic growth.

We also work on disaster risk reduction. Iran is prone to several natural hazards like earthquakes and while the immediate relief work is important in saving lives and livelihoods development gains can be lost if the vulnerabilities of the poor and marginalized communities are not reduced. Our work with national and local authorities is to ensure that systems are in place to respond to disasters, that policies are in place to reduce risk but also with local communities to strengthen their capacities to reduce risk so that they are better able to cope with disasters.  The projects in this area has helped to establish a national natural disaster database (DesInventar) as well as an information portal to manage disaster-related knowledge, increase transparency and provide a platform to facilitate information exchange and operational coherence amongst major institutional stakeholders. Pilots have been launched in Kerman and Gorgan provinces to test best approaches in urban earthquake risk management. Based on the success of such initiatives, Iran was selected as a case study country for a study to assess the correlation between poverty and disaster risk. The study was a contribution to the Global Assessment Report 2009 (GAR) and was launched by the UN Secretary General in May 2009.

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What are UNDP’s key achievements in Iran?

UNDP has undertaken a broad MDG initiative in Iran to mainstream the goals in the country’s national plans, to localize successful community-based techniques, and to institutionalize the MDG reporting process to help the country to achieve the goals. It has assisted the Government to incorporate best practices on poverty alleviation into a national poverty reduction strategy. On promoting good governance and human rights in Iran, UNDP has succeeded in brining together a broad coalition of partners and a network of human rights experts and scholars to widen the debate on human rights and create awareness. UNDP has helped Iran address its environmental challenges and meet its commitments to international environmental conventions on combating desertification, protecting biodiversity, reducing green-house gases, reducing Persistent Organic Pollutants and eliminating ozone depleting substances. Through joint partnerships with the Forests, Rangelands and Watershed Management Organization (FRWMO) of the Ministry of Agriculture Jihad, UNDP has promoted a community-based approach to managing natural resources which has not only addressed environmental issues but also tackled socio-economic challenges in rural areas. The Carbon Sequestration in the Desertified Rangelands of Hossein Abad (near Birjand in the South Khorasan province) is one such example. While the project’s main goal is to combat climate change through storing atmospheric carbon in woody biomass, the participation of local men and women in the process has led to the formation of 38 Village Development Groups (VDGs), which decide on the management of natural resources at the project site. The project has also addressed socio-economic challenges by establishing micro-credit facilities for use by the VDG members and offering vocational training to help generate small enterprises and promote alternative livelihoods. As a result, community members have used their newly acquired skills to establish alternative eco-friendly businesses. Based on these experiences, the project has prepared a social mobilization handbook to share knowledge and best practices with other marginalized communities.

UNDP has strengthened national capacities for disaster risk management and coordination and has actively contributed to the reconstruction programmes in the earthquake-affected areas in Bam and Lorestan. Under the “Bam Housing Reconstruction” pilot project, for example, 129 single female-headed families received permanent housing assistance through the provision of targeted financial aid, training and technical assistance. As another example, the “Restoration of Water Supply Infrastructure Systems in Bam” has helped to revitalize and enhance the livelihoods of the traumatized community groups of smallholder date farms through restoring damaged water supply infrastructure systems in order to ensure the survival of plantations and the resumption of agricultural practices. Under this project, 32 of a total of 53 damaged deep wells in the city were rehabilitated; 40 destroyed pump houses were reconstructed and installed; more than four kilometres of qanats—the local traditional irrigation system in Bam-- were cleaned, opened and lined; 10 farmer-field-schools were established; and overall about 5000 families benefited from the project.

UNDP has also been pro-actively involved in HIV/AIDS initiatives, working on advocacy, awareness raising, and promoting positive living among HIV positive people and their own self-organization and empowerment. It has facilitated the country’s access to over US$ 50 million from the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria to create awareness about HIV and the modes of transmission and prevention, set up voluntary counseling and testing centres and provide access to care and treatment as well as support TB and Malaria prevention programmes.

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How are UNDP staff selected?

UNDP Country Office staff is selected through a competitive process. Jobs are advertised on the UNDP website www.undp.org.ir .The recruitment process for Country Office staff is independent and follows UNDP corporate requirements on hiring.  In hiring project staff, the National Project Managers and National Project Directors are consulted, as these experts work under their supervision and are based in their offices. There are no secondees from government in the UNDP-Iran office. Our team includes two internationals (the Resident Representative and Deputy Resident Representative) and about 40 nationals.

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When and how did UNDP come into being?

UNDP is based on the merging of the United Nations Expanded Programme of Technical Assistance, created in 1949, and the United Nations Special Fund, established in 1958. UNDP, as we know it now, was established in 1965 by the General Assembly of the United Nations. A comprehensive book on the history of UNDP was published in 2006 and can be purchased at the UN Bookshop or directly from the publisher.

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How do I learn more about the organization?

Click here to learn more about who we are and what we do.

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Does UNDP have an annual report, or a document describing activities and financial aspects?

UNDP Annual Reports summarize UNDP’s main activities, showcase success stories from the ground and contain information on where our money comes from and how we spend it. The website of UNDP’s main governing body, the Executive Board, contains major policy, financial, budgetary and administrative-related documents.

The UNDP annual report and major policy documents may be found here.

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What is the Human Development Report?

The widely-cited UNDP Human Development Reports (HDRs) contain substantive data on most development indicators. The reports rank every country each year in areas such as per capita income, literacy, life expectancy and respect for women's rights. The goal is to put people back at the centre of the development process. The HDR website is http://hdr.undp.org.

In addition, UNDP has helped more than 120 developing countries produce their own National Human Development Report 2003, which provides a basis for informed local debate about priorities and policies. These reports also help donor governments to measure the impact of their aid dollars, and to communicate the way in which aid is making a positive difference both to direct beneficiaries and to electorates at home.

For copyright requests, please click here.

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Is there a Human Development Report for Iran?

Yes, Iran's first National Human Development Report (NHDR) was published in 1999 by Iran's State Management & Planning Organization with support from UNDP.

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What is the policy regarding the reproduction of materials found on the Web site?

All materials found on UNDP websites are copyrighted to UNDP.

For non-profit organizations, materials found on the website or any UNDP publications (or parts thereof) may be freely reproduced, as long as due credit is given to the source.

For commercial usage or sales publications, please specify which publication (title, year, page/s) or part of the website will be reproduced (URL of webpage), and send your request to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

For further details regarding the reproduction of UNDP materials found on the website click here.

For copyrights permissions concerning Human Development Reports (HDRs): UNDP owns the copyright to all materials in the HDRs but the publishers manage them for UNDP. For further advice please contact the Outreach and Advocacy Unit of the HDR Office.

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I am looking for a former/present staff member. Could you give me his/her phone number or e-mail address?

The contact details of key focal points for programme and operations matters in our office are available at: Contact Us However, if you are looking for contact information of staff members for personal purposes, please note that we are not authorized to provide e-mail addresses of former or present staff members. You may direct your query to any of the units or departments in UNDP-Iran office at this address:

Human Resources Unit: extensions 302-303

United Nations Development Programme
8 Shahrzad Blvd, Darrous, 1948773911
Tehran- I.R. IRAN
P.O. Box 15875-4557
Tel: (9821) 228 60691-4 or 228 60925-8
Fax: (9821) 228 6 9547
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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I want to make a tax deductible donation to the UNDP. To whom do I make the check and to what address do I send the contribution?

Contributions should go to the US Committee for UNDP. The Committee has 501(c)3 status and has supported UNDP’s work in Angola, the Dominican Republic, Georgia, Pakistan and Somalia.

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Where is UNDP-Iran office located?

United Nations Development Programme
8 Shahrzad Blvd, Darrous, 1948773911
Tehran- Islamic Republic of Iran
P.O. Box 15875-4557
Tel: (9821) 228 60691-4 or 228 60925-8
Fax: (9821) 228 6 9547

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Where is UNDP HQ located?

One United Nations Plaza
New York, NY 10017, USA
Tel: (212) 906-5000
Fax: (212) 906-5364

UNDP has its headquarters in New York City, but works primarily through its offices in more than 140 countries. Most of these offices have Web sites.

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How do I apply for a job with UNDP?

Please refer to vacancy for descriptions for current vacancies and online application forms.

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How can I check on the status of a job application?

You may e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or you may contact:
Human Resources Unit (extensions 302-303)
United Nations Development Programme
8 Shahrzad Blvd, Darrous, 1948773911
Tehran- Islamic Republic of Iran
P.O. Box 15875-4557
Tel: (9821) 228 60691-4 or 228 60925-8
Fax: (9821) 228 6 9547

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Does UNDP offer scholarships to students enrolled in graduate degrees?

No. Unfortunately, our mandate does not permit us to provide such financial assistance.

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How do I apply for an internship with UNDP?

For information on Internships at UNDP, please visit our website at: work with us

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