Through the Millennium Declaration and the Millennium Development Goals the world is addressing the many dimensions of human development, including  reducing global poverty by half before 2015. Developing countries are working to create their own national poverty eradication strategies based on local needs and priorities. UNDP advocates for these nationally-owned solutions and helps to make them effective through ensuring a strengthened voice for people living in poverty, expanding access to productive assets and economic opportunities, and linking poverty programmes with countries' international economic and financial policies. At the same time, UNDP contributes to efforts at trade reform, debt relief and investment arrangements to in a better way be able to support national poverty reduction and make globalization work for all. 

UNDP’s core services to support national efforts to reduce poverty and inequities involve:
         (1) Policy advice and technical support;
         (2) Strengthening capacity of institutions and individuals;
         (3) Advocacy, communications, and public information;
         (4) Promoting and brokering dialogue; and 
         (5) Knowledge networking and sharing of good practices. 

Developing countries are working to create their own national poverty eradication strategies based on local needs and priorities. UNDP advocates for these nationally-owned solutions and helps to make them effective through ensuring a strengthened voice for people living in poverty, expanding access to productive assets and economic opportunities, and linking poverty programmes with countries' international economic and financial policies. At the same time, UNDP contributes to efforts at trade reform, debt relief and investment arrangements to in a better way be able to support national poverty reduction and make globalization work for all. 

Iran, though being rich in human and natural resources, is confronted with relatively high levels of inequality and income poverty. Despite efforts in pushing for economic development, with economic growth of about 5% the country is still confronted by purchasing power problems for a large numbers of its people. Social policy has fared better, and Iran is relatively advanced in health and education. The 5% real growth rate will support the reduction of income poverty. However to ensure equity and long term sustainability more integrated environmental and social policies will be needed.

UNDP also provides a range of services to the Government and civil society organizations both in order to support their efforts inreducing poverty and also inmonitoring the progress made towardsreaching the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. The strategies used in the design, management and monitoring of poverty reduction strategies follows the principles of participation, ownership and national leadership.

For further information on UNDP’s support for the achievement of the MDGs in Iran, please contact:

Ali Farzin 
Programme Specialist & Head
Poverty Reduction, Economic Development and HIV/AIDS Programme Cluster
UNDP Iran
Tel:  (9821) 2286 0691-4 (x 412)
Fax: (9821) 2286 9547
Email: ali.farzin@undp.org