6 January 2016: Magdy Martínez-Solimán, UN Development Program (UNDP), reflected on development cooperation trends in 2015 and needs for the future, in an interview with Devex. Noting that Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 on peaceful and inclusive societies “is here to stay,” he said the development community had “finally acquired credentials for peaceful and inclusive societies as part of any meaningful development proposition.”

With peace and development being intrinsically linked, he said, there is a need for bridges between peacebuilders and development workers, and to develop understanding among the development and humanitarian communities.

Martínez-Solimán also addressed how the development community can become fit-for-purpose in a world of volatility, and stressed the need for flexibility with regard to funding bases and capacities. He recalled that UNDP has shifted 40% of its staff to the field level, meaning that staff with expertise in disaster risk reductin (DRR) are now positioned in locations where disasters are likely to occur. On financing, he said decision-making continues to be fragmented into boxes and budget lines, and is not yet flexible, and called for “a breeze of fresh air and innovation.” [Martínez-Solimán Interview] [UNDP Bio]