‘What Is Happening Today Is Development in Reverse’
A conversation with UNDP chief Alexander De Croo about building infrastructure in active conflict zones.
This story is about the challenges faced in development work during ongoing crises. Alexander De Croo, administrator of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), emphasizes that aid and recovery efforts should not wait for crises to end. De Croo, a former Belgian prime minister, is currently working on development projects in Afghanistan, Gaza, Haiti, and Ukraine. Speaking at the UNDP Development Forum during the U.N. General Assembly, De Croo discussed the need for development work in ongoing crises.
In Ukraine, where civil infrastructure and civilians are being targeted, the UNDP focuses on providing energy security. About 6.6 million Ukrainians depend on their energy infrastructure work, which includes building decentralized grids using renewable energy. These new grids offer better redundancy and resistance to attacks from drones, a growing concern in the context of the war.
De Croo contrasts Ukraine's situation with Afghanistan, where he has also been working. In Afghanistan, development work involves collaborating with the Taliban, which presents a stark contrast to his previous experience with the Ukrainian government. The UNDP aims to provide a better life for the Afghan population while respecting the local authorities' goals and objectives.
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