The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Accelerator for Systemic Risk Assessment (ASRA) have launched a new strategic partnership to help countries better anticipate, assess, and respond to increasingly interconnected global crises. Announced on June 30, 2026, the initiative aims to strengthen risk-informed decision-making as nations face growing challenges from climate change, conflict, natural disasters, and economic instability.
The collaboration will provide UNDP Country Offices with specialized tools and training to improve systemic risk analysis. Operating in 170 countries and territories, including 60 classified as fragile by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), UNDP will work with ASRA to enhance its ability to identify how multiple risks interact and develop more effective responses.
A key component of the partnership is the application of the Systemic Tool to Explore and Evaluate Risks (STEER), an open-access framework designed to help organizations understand cascading risks, evaluate trade-offs, and strengthen crisis planning. ASRA will collaborate with UNDP headquarters and country offices to co-design workshops that integrate systemic risk assessment into development and humanitarian planning.
The knowledge gained through the initiative will also support the creation of a new Systemic Risk Course within the UNDP Crisis Academy, scheduled to launch in the fourth quarter of 2026. The course will provide practical training for professionals working across United Nations agencies, governments, and non-governmental organizations, equipping them with tools to address complex and interconnected risks.
UNDP said the partnership reflects the growing need for a broader approach to crisis management as climate shocks, conflicts, and economic disruptions increasingly overlap and amplify one another. By integrating systemic risk analysis into planning processes, the organization aims to improve preparedness and reduce the long-term impacts of emerging crises.
The partnership combines ASRA’s expertise in systemic risk assessment with UNDP’s global operational network, supporting efforts to strengthen resilience, improve crisis response, and help countries better manage the complex challenges shaping today’s global landscape.
