In countries such as Cambodia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cyprus, Haiti, Iraq, Kosovo, Myanmar, Nicaragua, the occupied Palestinian territory, Peru, Somalia, Sudan, Sri Lanka and Timor-Leste, UNOPS is supporting the EC’s efforts to provide physical infrastructure, public order and security,electoral support, environmental management as well as social and economic development.

In November 2008 UNOPS signed a Financial and Administrative Framework Agreement (FAFA) with the European Union (EU) – facilitating future cooperation between the two institutions. Under this framework, UNOPS has recently signed projects with the Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department of the European Commission (ECHO) which include transitional shelter construction in both Haiti and Sri Lanka as well as a project which facilitates access to occupied Palestinian territory for UN and international NGOs.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

With the support of the European Fund for Development, the Linking Relief Rehabilitation and Development (LRRD) programme was designed to combine relief and development efforts. The rehabilitation of the main road between Kisangani, a major port city on the Congo River in the middle of the country, and Lubutu towards the fertile eastern provinces is essential for the flow of people and produce between the two regions of this vast nation. The programme assisted with the reconstruction of 252 km of road and five bridges. It also raised community awareness about the dangers of unexploded munitions. The EU fully funded this project with a budget of $10.3 million and the work was executed by UNOPS. Work commenced in April 2008 and was completed in January 2010.

Iraq

Since 2004, UNOPS Iraq Operations Centre has implemented 36 projects with a total budget value of $224,114,895 for the United Nations Development Group Iraq Trust Fund, the main mechanism for foreign funding of UN projects in Iraq. As the EU is a major contributor to the fund with donations totalling €495.6 million, a large part of these projects were either partially or fully funded by EU donations and UNOPS maintains close relations with the European Commission’s Delegation to Iraq.

The Promotion of Human Rights Culture in Iraq through Support to Human Rights Iraqi Civil Society Organizations project was created as part of the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) of the European Commission. The project aimed to improve the delivery of justice and the protection of detainees’ human rights as well as to increase the capacity and visibility of institutions engaged in the promotion and protection of human rights.

Activities directly supported the physical, psychological, social and medical rehabilitation of torture victims as well as improving the capacity of 100 human rights organizations to provide outreach services. The project was funded with €2.6 million from the EU through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and was completed in 2007.

Building on the Promotion of Human Rights in Iraq, under the umbrella project Support to the Rule of Law and Justice in Iraq, UNOPS is currently implementing the three year Programme for the Protection of Detainees and Torture Victims in Iraq (PPDT) in collaboration with UNDP, and the Human Rights Office of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq.

The PPDT has a wider geographical coverage and involves a larger number of organizations than the previous project. It aims to reach a larger number of torture victims and introduces complementary activities such as legal aid. Through strengthening close partnerships with key Iraqi rule of law institutions and ongoing international efforts to enhance the correctional system in Iraq, the PPDT works to improve protection and respect of detainees’ human rights throughout the country. The project is funded with €6,435,624 by the EU through UNDP.

Kosovo

UNOPS Pristina Project Centre is supporting efforts to promote reconciliation within and between Kosovo’s ethnic groups. On behalf of the EC, the United Nations Mission in Kosovo and the Government of the United States of America, UNOPS provides project management and administrative support to the Appointment of Judges and Prosecutors project. The project supports the establishment of an independent and professional judiciary and prosecution service to administer Kosovo’s justice system professionally and transparently, building public confidence and trust in public order and security. UNOPS administers merit-based vetting and selection of some judges and prosecutors across Kosovo.

Myanmar

The Livelihood and Food Security Trust Fund (LIFT) is a multi donor fund of $100 million for the poorest and most vulnerable people in Myanmar. It is governed by a donor consortium including the Australian Agency for International Development, the UK’s Department for International Development, the EC and the governments of Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.

A first round Call for Proposals was launched on 11 November 2009 for interested implementing partners including UN Agencies, international and local non-governmental organizations and professional associations authorized to operate in the prioritized areas. Geographical areas include prioritised townships of the Delta, Dry Zone, Shan State, Chin State, Rakhine State and Kachin State. LIFT is aligned to the National Medium-term Priority Framework and to the Post-Nargis Recovery and Preparedness Plan for the Delta areas. Proposals will focus on community based interventions targeting the poorest and most vulnerable groups. UNOPS is the fund manager of LIFT, proving technical and financial management. LIFT was established in October 2009 and will run for five years.

Occupied Palestinian Territory

Improving the resources of the Palestinian Civil Police (PCP) is essential to maintaining public order and security within the Palestinian National Authority territory. UNOPS is assisting the implementation of support to the PCP coordinated by the European Union Police Coordination Office for Palestinian Police Support (EUPOL COPPS). The upgrade of the existing Police Training Facility in Jericho is part of this assistance. The facility is being refurbished and upgraded in order to expand the capacity from 150 officers and cadets to 620 personnel.

The upgrade project is funded by the EC as well as by the Governments of Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden. The project budget is $15 million and is being implemented by a full time UNOPS team of three international and nine local staff, all based in Jericho. The project will refurbish the four existing campus buildings and boundary fences, and provide new infrastructure for water, sewage, electricity and irrigation. New facilities being constructed include accommodation for both male and female cadets, training buildings such as an auditorium and class rooms, as well as a new podium, parade ground and a traffic training area.

The design has environmental benefits such as treatment of waste water on site to allow its re-use in washing facilities and for the irrigation of the newly landscaped areas. A procurement component providing vehicles and communications equipment to the PCP is also being supported by a number of EU member states and the EC. The programme is being coordinated by EUPOL COPPS and implemented by UNOPS and will improve law enforcement throughout the West Bank .

Sri Lanka

The 2004 tsunami rendered thousands of Sri Lankans in the Ampara district isolated, vulnerable and without sustainable livelihoods. The EU-funded Community Access Programme  was established to rehabilitate and construct up to 400 km of durable, maintainable, paved all-weather roads as well as to replace and rehabilitate bridges and drainage structures throughout the region. The programme also includes the implementation of maintenance on 250 km of road surfaces by the rural councils throughout the district. UNOPS Sri Lanka was selected as an implementing partner by the EU to work with local authorities and the National Ministries on the programme, which has provided three million days of work for local people through labour based implementation. It also improved access to services that are fundamental to growth and poverty alleviation. The project has a budget of $38 million and is planned for completion by June 2010.

Another notable initiative being funded by the EU to help Ampara district to recover from the effects of the tsunami is the Environmental Remediation Programme (ERP). The ERP focuses on improving solid waste management throughout the region, improving surface water and urban storm-water drainage and planting trees in roadside, coastal and mangrove regions of the district. UNOPS is directly implementing much of this project and the solid waste capacity building and public awareness components are being implemented under contract. The project will emphasize community ownership, involving local authorities and communities in each stage of the project from design to completion. The project has a budget of $12.3 million and is due to continue until June 2011.

Timor-Leste

In Timor-Leste poor transportation infrastructure significantly impedes social and economic development, limiting access to markets and other vital amenities. To address this in the rural eastern region of Timor-Leste, the EC, UNDP and the Government of Timor-Leste initiated the Access Improvements to Markets in the Eastern Region Project, which ran from 2004 to 2007. The project commissioned UNOPS to construct or rehabilitate five bridges due to its expertise in managing and implementing complex development projects.

The project facilitated better access to markets, settlements, services and information, encouraging farmers to invest more in agricultural production and thereby boosting the local and national economies. As the project executing organization, UNOPS was responsible for the delivery of all project activities including vetting, recruiting and managing personnel, procuring the necessary goods and services, and providing progress reports and financial management.

In 2004 UNDP and the EC launched the four-year Oecussi Ambeno Community Activation Programme to build local capacity to deliver basic social services and sustainable incomes, create employment opportunities and ensure food security. They selected UNOPS to execute the programme, with full responsibility for the delivery of activities including recruitment, human resources management, procurement, reporting and financial management. In executing the programme UNOPS oversaw implementation of activities that helped sustainable livelihood opportunities in the region.