United Nations Development Program

United Nations Development Program (UNDP), agency of the United Nations, established in 1965 to unify the operations of the Expanded Program of Technical Assistance and the United Nations Special Fund, which continued as separate components of UNDP until full unification in 1971. The UNDP is a major source of technical assistance in developing countries, with most of its grants being in the form of consultants' services, equipment, and fellowships for advanced study abroad. Thousands of projects in areas as diverse as resource planning, training institutes, the application of modern technology to development, and the building of the economic and social infrastructure are supported by the UNDP. It also administers UN special purpose funds for resource exploration, combating desertification, technology development and volunteers, and works with UN-associated agencies involved in development activities. It is funded by voluntary contributions from UN members.