1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held the 14th annual policy consultation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in New York on November 13, 2019. During the consultation, the two sides discussed topics of mutual interest as well as key issues regarding the bilateral partnership, including the contribution of the Republic of Korea (ROK) to the UNDP.

° The ROK and UNDP head delegates to the consultation were Ms. Oh Hyun-joo, Director-General for Development Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ms. Ulrika Modeer, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of the Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy, respectively.

2. The UNDP is the largest UN development agency that has global networks and expertise. The Republic of Korea and the UNDP hold the policy consultation every year to discuss ways to strengthen mutual partnership and contribute toward the global development cooperation.

° In particular, at the 14th annual policy consultation, the two sides discussed in depth ways to pursue development cooperation in a more integrated way by utilizing the UNDP’s networks and expertise which is also in line with the UN development system reform. Also, both sides discussed the UN Human Development Report, the ROK-UNDP SDGs Trust Fund and key UNDP projects supported by the government of the Republic of Korea.

3. Later in the day, on the heels of the annual policy consultation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also held a meeting of the UNDP Seoul Policy Center Steering Committee to discuss ways to realign and expand the Center’s functions and activities.