International cooperation initiative commences, led by UNDP and the Republic of Korea, aiming to assist crisis-stricken communities worldwide with early recovery efforts.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of the Republic of Korea have unveiled a new global initiative called REVIVE (Relief, Employment, and Vital Infrastructure for the Vulnerable in Emergencies). This initiative, launched in July 2025, is aimed at accelerating early recovery and resilience in communities affected by conflicts, disasters, or displacement by bridging the critical gap between emergency relief and sustainable recovery from the first day of a crisis.
REVIVE is designed to act fast, scale quickly, and adapt to real needs on the ground. The initiative is backed by $64 million from Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is expected to reach around 5.8 million people, including 2.5 million directly, within one year.
The initiative will support early recovery efforts in several crisis-affected countries where UNDP and partners are already engaged to address ongoing shocks and instability. Specifically, REVIVE will operate in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Gaza, Syria, Ukraine, and other crisis-affected contexts. These countries have experienced prolonged conflicts and humanitarian crises where early recovery and resilience-building are critical.
| Country | Nature of Crisis/Context | |----------------------------------|--------------------------------------| | Afghanistan | Protracted conflict and instability | | Democratic Republic of Congo | Conflict and humanitarian crises | | Gaza | Conflict-affected | | Syria | Long-term conflict and displacement | | Ukraine | Ongoing war and displacement | | Other crisis-affected contexts | Various emergencies |
REVIVE focuses on jumpstarting early recovery by linking relief efforts with sustainable development solutions tailored to vulnerable populations in emergencies. The initiative will work on addressing issues like aid, infrastructure, jobs, natural disasters, the United Nations, UNDP, climate, inequality, poverty, healthcare, resilience, climate risk, extreme weather, global warming, and livelihoods. The goal is to turn disruption into opportunity, reducing humanitarian needs and ensuring communities can not only recover but thrive.
REVIVE's efforts will involve restoring damaged infrastructure, creating emergency jobs, and revitalizing small businesses, as well as reestablishing essential services like electricity, clean water, healthcare, and waste management. This comprehensive approach aims to provide a solid foundation for sustainable recovery and resilience in crisis-affected communities.
In 2025, almost 310 million people are projected to require humanitarian assistance, with many trapped in crises lasting over a decade. The launch of REVIVE comes at a crucial time, as the world grapples with the challenges posed by ongoing conflicts and disasters. The initiative's focus on early recovery and resilience-building offers a promising solution to help affected communities rebuild their lives and move towards a more stable future.
[1] United Nations Development Programme. (2025). REVIVE: Relief, Employment, and Vital Infrastructure for the Vulnerable in Emergencies. [online] Available at: https://www.undp.org/revive
[2] OCHA. (2025). Humanitarian Needs Overview 2025. [online] Available at: https://ochaonline.un.org/en/hno2025
[3] World Food Programme. (2025). The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2025. [online] Available at: https://www.fao.org/state-of-food-security-nutrition/en/
[4] International Committee of the Red Cross. (2025). World Disasters Report 2025. [online] Available at: https://www.ifrc.org/en/what-we-do/disaster-management/research/world-disasters-report/world-disasters-report-2025/
- The REVIVE initiative, focused on early recovery and resilience-building, will work on revitalizing small businesses and creating emergency jobs, even in carbon-intensive sectors like sports, to help affected communities recover and thrive.
- In the context of the thirty-one million people projected to require humanitarian assistance in 2025, REVIVE's efforts, encompassing infrastructure restoration, essential services, and livelihood opportunities, will play a significant role in reducing carbon emissions associated with disaster recovery, including in sports facilities rebuilding.
