The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of the Netherlands have signed a Host State Agreement, paving the way for the opening of UNDP's first project office in the country, located in The Hague. UNDP will establish its Justice Futures CoLab, a space for experimentation, learning and innovation to address justice challenges.
"It is inspiring and symbolic that UNDP's Justice Futures CoLab will have its home in The Hague, known as the city of peace and justice," said Katy Thompson, Co-Director of UNDP's Governance, Rule of Law and Peacebuilding Hub, co-led by the Crisis Bureau and the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support. "The Justice Futures CoLab is a platform for all partners to build strategic vision and act together to bring justice to people, especially in post-crises and conflicts."
"Especially in the most complex crises people need protection and justice for their grievances," said Shoko Noda, Assistant Secretary-General and the Director of UNDP Crisis Bureau. "UNDP's new office in The Hague will strengthen its partnership with the Government of The Netherlands to jointly ensure that those who experience injustice have paths to seek recourse. By doing so, we support communities to prevent and recover from crises."
Furthermore, UNDP's support for the rule of law is a crucial contribution to combating corruption and empowering businesses to accelerate sustainable development.
"In achieving our SDGs, everyone has a role to play," said Marcos Neto, Assistant Secretary-General, Director of UNDP's Bureau of Policy and Programme Support. "UNDP works with governments, civil society and businesses to empower all actors to promote the rule of law, integrity and security. With this new presence in The Hague, alongside trusted partners, UNDP will strengthen our convening power and thought leadership on Justice Futures."
The establishment of UNDP's presence in The Netherlands is a strategic step reaffirming their long-standing partnership. Since 2008, The Netherlands and UNDP are working together to promote people-centred justice and security, bringing tangible changes to people's lives, in particular in crisis and complex settings. This partnership has for exmaple brought landmark digital justice results in Burundi and Burkina Faso, strengthened the police reform in Nigeria as well as established mobile courts and provided legal aid in Lebanon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and beyond.
The Justice CoLab will be a vital platform to promote people-centred justice and security, and develop initiatives and policies tackling the root causes of conflict and displacement.
Jan van Zanen, the Mayor of The Hague, stated "We host a vibrant ecosystem of more than 500 organizations and 20,000 people working on complex peace and justice challenges daily." He added: "I am confident that your office in the Hague will benefit greatly from both the cooperation with other institutions, NGOs and universities here, as well as from the partnership with the government of The Netherlands."
In The Hague, UNDP will strengthen its collaboration with international justice actors and civil society justice champions, including through the Justice Action Coalition (JAC). Since 2024, UNDP is hosting the JAC Secretariat, along with The Pathfinders and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
