The Poverty Reduction and Environmental Protection Programme responds to three of the four outcome areas outlined in the Country Programme Document: capacity-building for peace and human security, increased livelihood opportunities and improved natural resources management, and gender equality.

Its core work is divided into three pillars:

1. Supporting formulation and implementation of strategic economic development policies with focus on small and micro-finance for inclusive growth;
2. Empowering local communities to analyze, participate in and advance recovery and development through encouraging local enterprise, managing conflict and fostering sustainable environmental management; and 
3. Ensuring environmental and natural resources are utilized in a sustainable, equitable, gender- and conflict-sensitive manner by supporting formulation and implementation of strategic policies.
   

Poverty Reduction and Environment Protection Programme supports vulnerable communities by providing pro-poor social services towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals and by creating an enabling environment for reconstruction and development. It strives to increase local communities' income, improve their ability to manage natural resources, and prevent or mitigate the impact of disasters, both natural and man-made. The programme particularly focuses on community support, with an inclusive range of partners at the community level and in the private sector. 

Poverty Reduction and Environmental Protection programme has five projects :

• Area-based Early Recovery for Affected Communities — Building on communities' coping mechanisms, this initiative addresses their vulnerability to natural hazards and disasters, the livelihood assets and opportunities available to households, and the policies and structures in place for livelihood development and disaster management.

• Employment Generation for Early Recovery Project — This project seeks to create income and jobs for vulnerable groups such as women, youth, and IDPs and their host communities in South Central Somalia.

• Private sector development – Supports the emergence of a viable private sector in Somalia by promoting inclusive market development and an inclusive financial sector. In particular, UNDP helps develop microfinance and supports the Somali meat export sector, one of the main sources of employment and export income.

• Human Development and Economic Unit  - The unit serves as a knowledge platform/hub for the formulation of UNDP’s economic policy positions towards MDG-aligned policy-programme-action continuum for sustainable poverty reduction and human development through policy research and policy advocacy on emerging development issues of national importance.

• Environmental Protection Project - It aims to support Somalia’s efforts in meeting the targets of MDG7: ensure environmental sustainability. It also promotes sustainability of the sources of livelihoods for the majority of the population that depends on productivity of natural resources.