UNDP to relocate hundreds of jobs from New York to Bonn and Madrid

(Photo by: UN campus in Bonn, Germany gerd-harder/shutterstock)

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is relocating nearly 300 positions from its New York headquarters to Bonn, Germany, with a further 100 jobs set to move to Madrid, marking a significant redistribution of staff away from the United States.

UNDP told Germany’s Deutsche Presse-Agentur that the decision reflects confidence in German foreign policy, though no timeline has been announced for when the transfers will be completed. The agency did not indicate whether additional relocations could follow.

Bonn has steadily emerged as a major UN hub, already hosting 27 United Nations institutions, including the UN Climate Secretariat and the UN Volunteers programme. The expansion is expected to strengthen Europe’s role in global development policy and deepen Germany’s position as a key centre for multilateral diplomacy.