The people-centred approach functions as a systems-based, inclusive and politically informed strategy that helps UNDP achieve its strategic objectives more equitably and sustainably. It ensures that justice and security are not siloed or limited to traditional governance and rule of law areas, but are embedded in development pathways, in line with the transformative ambition of Agenda 2030. The table below illustrates how the people-centred approach aligns with and can concretely support the achievement of UNDP’s four strategic objectives and three enablers.
| Strategic Objectives | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Prosperity For All | Healthy Planet | Effective Governance | Crisis Resilience |
Enhancing legal empowerment so that vulnerable people, including women, youth and displaced populations, can claim their rights (e.g., land, employment, access to social services). Addressing barriers that prevent vulnerable and marginalized groups from entering the formal economy and accessing productive assets and services (e.g., obtaining legal identity to register businesses, apply for microfinance, access government support schemes). Supporting alternative dispute resolution and community-level justice mechanisms to reduce the economic and social costs of unresolved conflicts or injustices, enabling participation in local economies and contributing to social stability. |
Promoting environmental justice mechanisms, including access to effective remedies for environmental harms, particularly for vulnerable and indigenous communities. Linking justice to climate resilience and climate security through systems that uphold rights and enable participation in decision-making (e.g., land tenure security, dispute resolution over natural resources). Strengthening inclusive, rights-based policies and institutions to ensure land and natural resource governance reflects people’s rights, needs and participation. |
Ensuring accountable, people-centred and rights-based justice and security systems by prioritizing people’s rights, needs and experiences in the design and delivery of justice and security services. Embedding transparency, participation and fairness in justice and security institutions, including through digital solutions that expand access, responsiveness and accountability. Addressing legal and institutional barriers that reinforce exclusion and structural inequality (e.g., through measures such as legal aid for securing land and rights and legal identity, and support for women’s economic empowerment). Supporting inclusive community security and peacebuilding mechanisms that address grievances, restore trust and lay the groundwork for legitimate, inclusive, rights-based justice and security systems. |
Preventing conflict escalation by addressing root causes of injustice and insecurity; supporting accessible, legitimate and accountable local justice and security responses; and building trust in institutions. Enabling a development response during crisis by identifying sub-national entry points for engagement when national institutions are fragmented or contested. Restoring trusted, accountable and responsive justice and security services in crisis-affected areas that support trust-building, rule of law and social cohesion. Enabling the meaningful participation, voice and protection of women, girls and youth in identifying, shaping and responding to their justice and security priorities. Empowering oversight mechanisms (e.g., communities, NHRIs) to monitor rights violations as early indicators and predictors of conflict trends. |
| Enablers | |||
| Digital And AI Transformation | Gender Equality | Sustainable Financing | |
Harnessing digital and AI tools for legal empowerment and more accessible, responsive and accountable justice and security systems. Ensuring technology supports rights and fair justice and security outcomes through context-specific innovation and community-led design. |
Advancing women’s empowerment and leadership through meaningful participation in justice and security systems and processes at all levels. Promoting gender equality within justice and security systems by addressing legal, institutional and social barriers that prevent equal access, protection and accountability. |
Mobilizing and aligning public and development finance to support inclusive, effective and accountable justice and security systems that people trust and use. Investing in equitable, cost-effective justice and security approaches that deliver long-term social returns and reduce costs of injustice and insecurity. |
|
| Strategic Objectives |
|---|
| Prosperity For All |
Enhancing legal empowerment so that vulnerable people, including women, youth and displaced populations, can claim their rights (e.g., land, employment, access to social services). Addressing barriers that prevent vulnerable and marginalized groups from entering the formal economy and accessing productive assets and services (e.g., obtaining legal identity to register businesses, apply for microfinance, access government support schemes). Supporting alternative dispute resolution and community-level justice mechanisms to reduce the economic and social costs of unresolved conflicts or injustices, enabling participation in local economies and contributing to social stability. |
| Healthy Planet |
Promoting environmental justice mechanisms, including access to effective remedies for environmental harms, particularly for vulnerable and indigenous communities. Linking justice to climate resilience and climate security through systems that uphold rights and enable participation in decision-making (e.g., land tenure security, dispute resolution over natural resources). Strengthening inclusive, rights-based policies and institutions to ensure land and natural resource governance reflects people’s rights, needs and participation. |
| Effective Governance |
Ensuring accountable, people-centred and rights-based justice and security systems by prioritizing people’s rights, needs and experiences in the design and delivery of justice and security services. Embedding transparency, participation and fairness in justice and security institutions, including through digital solutions that expand access, responsiveness and accountability. Addressing legal and institutional barriers that reinforce exclusion and structural inequality (e.g., through measures such as legal aid for securing land and rights and legal identity, and support for women’s economic empowerment). Supporting inclusive community security and peacebuilding mechanisms that address grievances, restore trust and lay the groundwork for legitimate, inclusive, rights-based justice and security systems. |
| Crisis Resilience |
Preventing conflict escalation by addressing root causes of injustice and insecurity; supporting accessible, legitimate and accountable local justice and security responses; and building trust in institutions. Enabling a development response during crisis by identifying sub-national entry points for engagement when national institutions are fragmented or contested. Restoring trusted, accountable and responsive justice and security services in crisis-affected areas that support trust-building, rule of law and social cohesion. Enabling the meaningful participation, voice and protection of women, girls and youth in identifying, shaping and responding to their justice and security priorities. Empowering oversight mechanisms (e.g., communities, NHRIs) to monitor rights violations as early indicators and predictors of conflict trends. |
| Enablers |
| Digital And AI Transformation |
Harnessing digital and AI tools for legal empowerment and more accessible, responsive and accountable justice and security systems. Ensuring technology supports rights and fair justice and security outcomes through context-specific innovation and community-led design. |
| Gender Equality |
Advancing women’s empowerment and leadership through meaningful participation in justice and security systems and processes at all levels. Promoting gender equality within justice and security systems by addressing legal, institutional and social barriers that prevent equal access, protection and accountability. |
| Sustainable Financing |
Mobilizing and aligning public and development finance to support inclusive, effective and accountable justice and security systems that people trust and use. Investing in equitable, cost-effective justice and security approaches that deliver long-term social returns and reduce costs of injustice and insecurity. |