UNDP Mexico Flags Progress on Inclusion and Climate Action
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Mexico has released a report highlighting its key achievements in 2025, including work on institutional strengthening, social inclusion and climate-focused action. The report — UNDP Mexico in Action 2025 — noted that this progress resulted from partnerships with federal and local governments, the private sector, civil society, academia and international organizations. The UNDP emphasized that its public policy design and implementation aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a focus on poverty reduction, inequality, environmental protection and the efficient use of public resources.
The report opens with a message from Silvia Morimoto, UNDP resident representative in Mexico. According to Morimoto, the document reflects the “collective work, sustained commitment and trust that the Mexican State, public institutions, the private sector, civil society and communities throughout the country have placed in the UNDP in Mexico.” She noted that Mexico made concrete progress across several socioeconomic indicators in 2025, despite a challenging national and international context marked by growing threats to international cooperation on issues ranging from trade and migration to climate change.
Morimoto added that Mexico’s progress occurred amid “economic, social and political transformations marked by the need to reduce persistent inequalities, strengthen social cohesion, accelerate the transition toward more sustainable development and respond to the increasingly visible effects of climate change.” In this context, she said, “the UNDP reaffirmed its role as a strategic partner of Mexico, supporting innovative, evidence-based and people-centered solutions.”
Institutional Capacity Building
In coordination with Mexico’s Ministry of Agrarian, Territorial and Urban Development (SEDATU), the UNDP conducted training on the 2030 Agenda and sustainable planning as part of the design of programs derived from the National Development Plan under Budget Line 15. These efforts aimed to embed SDG targets into sectoral policies and operational frameworks.
At the subnational level, the UNDP organized monitoring and evaluation incubators that enabled state and municipal officials to develop evidence-based tools for decision-making. In Tamaulipas, more than 100 public servants from the local congress participated in workshops focused on sustainability and equity criteria in legislative processes, strengthening institutional oversight and policy coherence.
Through its Small Grants Program, the UNDP also supported 96 community-led projects that directly benefited 6,773 people. Of these initiatives, 142 were led or co-led by women, and 68 Indigenous women received training in community leadership and territorial management.
Environmental Management
In the state of Morelos, the “Avocado Friendly with Water and Forest” certification promoted zero-deforestation practices and sustainable land management. The initiative supported 300 families, improved market access for producers and contributed to the protection of more than 20,000 hectares of forest, combining environmental conservation with rural livelihoods.
In Puebla, 36 Municipal Resilience Programs were consolidated and presented through five regional forums, while 10 municipalities in the Upper Atoyac Basin updated their resilience plans to address environmental and social vulnerabilities. In Nayarit, the UNDP supported the Raíces: Mangroves for Communities and Climate project, strengthening intermunicipal coordination in environmental management and territorial governance in coastal communities.
Risk Management and Recovery
In collaboration with the World Bank, the UNDP supported Mexico’s Ministry of Finance by training state governments on financial strategies for disaster risk management. This work strengthened government preparedness and response capacities by improving access to financial instruments that mitigate the fiscal impact of emergencies.
In Guerrero, the UNDP developed post-hurricane economic recovery strategies — including Resurge Guerrero and En Marcha — that supported more than 700 women traders. Participants received training in financial inclusion, digital skills and community organization, enabling them to stabilize income and rebuild local economic activity.
Financial Inclusion for Women
The UNDP launched the Safe Women innovation challenge, bringing together more than 30 insurance companies to design gender-responsive, multi-risk insurance products. A winning proposal, to be implemented by ProDesarrollo, has the potential to benefit up to 4 million women microentrepreneurs by expanding access to financial protection mechanisms.
At the local level, the UNDP supported the formalization of 20 cooperatives in Morelos, helped consolidate 24 women-led solidarity networks and trained 390 women in leadership and financial skills. In Queretaro and Oaxaca, 182 women-led micro, small and medium-sized enterprises strengthened their resilience and digital capabilities, improving business continuity and competitiveness.
Youth Policy
Together with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the UNDP presented Mexico’s first Youth Human Development Index, a tool designed to monitor living conditions for 40.1 million young people nationwide. The Iguales: Youth Adding Inclusion to STEM program benefited more than 15,600 students and 400 teachers across 71 schools in Puebla, Veracruz and Yucatan.
In parallel, 8,000 young people expressed interest in pursuing STEM careers, while 90 women-led projects received funding and mentorship support from 57 mentors, strengthening pathways into science and technology sectors.
Labor Rights
In partnership with the Confederation of Mexican Workers (CTM) and the Ministry of Economy, the UNDP developed and implemented the Labor Development and Justice Index. The tool promotes social dialogue and democratic labor practices by combining contractual conditions with workers’ perceptions, enabling companies and unions to identify strengths and areas for improvement in labor relations.
Financing for Sustainable Development
The UNDP issued its Fifth Non-Binding Public Opinion on Mexico’s 2025 SDG Bond Allocation and Impact Report. The assessment reviewed compliance with international standards and governance best practices, contributing to transparency and accountability in the use of public financing aligned with the SDGs.
Additional work covered areas such as human mobility, democracy, international development cooperation, sport for development, conflict prevention, peacebuilding and access to justice. The report also compiles good practices, analytical publications and digital platforms aimed at strengthening institutional capacity and facilitating knowledge exchange across sectors.
Morimoto: Development Must Leave No One Behind
Silvia Morimoto said the results reflect both measurable outcomes and consolidated partnerships. “This document accounts for concrete results, but also for lessons learned and alliances built: none of these achievements would have been possible without close collaboration with the Mexican government, state and municipal governments, the private sector, academia, civil society organizations and the United Nations system,” she said.
Looking ahead, Morimoto reaffirmed the UNDP’s commitment to Mexico. “The UNDP will continue supporting the Mexican government in building a more just, inclusive and sustainable development that leaves no one behind.” She described the report as an invitation to continue working together — with innovation, solidarity and a long-term vision — so that aspirations for well-being and dignity become tangible realities for all people in Mexico.