Video: UNDP Asia Pacific director on changing an institutional mindset

MANILA — Over the past few years, the U.N. Development Programme has rolled out changes in how it positions itself and its work with governments and development partners in the Asia Pacific region. As Haoliang Xu, U.N. assistant secretary general and regional director of UNDP in the Asia Pacific, told Devex: “We realize we have to adapt to the change [in the region], and we have to look at our value added in everything we do.” But Xu also said that the journey toward reinventing themselves has not been easy. “The U.N. is fairly bureaucratic, and we have been operating in a certain way for 50 years. To be innovative, our mindset has to change,” he said. To do that, UNDP started with its own staff. The Asia Pacific office embarked on an ideation contest that generated several ideas that have influenced the way the organization approaches its development partners. Watch the video above to learn more about UNDP’s journey to change its mindset, and to hear some examples of ideas the U.N. entity generated from across its offices in Asia Pacific. Devex delivers cutting-edge insights and analysis to the leaders shaping and innovating the business of development. Make sure you don't miss out. Become a Devex Executive Member today.