Three years ago, UNDP set out to build a global development network for a new millennium-and reform itself in the process. During 2001, UNDP overhauled 116 of its country offices to make sure its staff and services were in line with country needs. The rest of our network will follow by mid-2002. This unprecedented reform has served to better align human and financial resources with developing countries' needs.

UNDP met a 25 percent target for headquarters staff cuts last year, and took a 24 percent reduction in core country office staff. This allowed UNDP to bring on new policy specialists and national staff; launch a hiring programme for top young managers (http://www.undp.org/ohr/lead/); start to devote more staff time to learning and skill development; and put in place a new set of management standards.

Staffing reforms and re-directed resources enabled UNDP to unify its policy, advocacy, and resource work around six thematic practice areas (http://www.undp.org/about_undp/index.html). It established nine sub-regional resource facilities (SURFs) (http://www.undp.org/policy/surf.html) to serve as hubs for our new knowledge networks-bringing in new partners, promoting regional and global best practices and expanding expertise on subjects from micro-finance to local governance. Supported by a major investment in global Internet and e-mail connectivity, our country offices are seeking out and sharing knowledge and experience about what works and what doesn't as never before.

The new UNDP logo connects UNDP with the United Nations more closely than the previous one, while giving us a strong identity of our own. The "building blocks" of our initials, together with the well-known UN emblem and new blue - as opposed to green - suggest how the different parts of UNDP form one worldwide organization supporting the values and goals of the United Nations. There will continue to be two language versions of our logo indicating UNDP (English usage) and PNUD (French/Spanish usage).