Based in Colombo, UNOPS in Sri Lanka operates through a network of 12 offices across the country and employs almost 650 personnel, primarily technical, allowing it to respond to client needs swiftly and effectively. The UNOPS Physical Infrastructure Design Unit (PIDU) and the UNOPS Applied Research Unit (ARU) are also based in Colombo.

The UNOPS Physical Infrastructure Design Unit (PIDU) provides timely, professional design and project documentation services on a cost-recovery basis to UN and other partners worldwide. PIDU comprises a multidisciplinary team of 30 personnel including architects, civil, mechanical and structural engineers and quantity surveyors.

The UNOPS Applied Research Unit (ARU) undertakes social science research and project impact monitoring for UN agencies and other actors in the humanitarian community, the private sector and local government authorities, both in Sri Lanka and in other international settings. The research includes baseline studies, evaluations, community consultations and impact monitoring studies.

UNOPS in Sri Lanka helps clients achieve their project goals in the following key sectors:

Physical infrastructure

The 2004 tsunami and continued conflict in some areas have created acute needs for reconstruction assistance. The office implements infrastructure projects using Sri Lankan and international contractors to construct facilities such as schools, clinics, hospitals, bridges, water supply schemes and social care centres.

Where a lack of resources, capacity or security necessitates,  the Centre provides "direct implementation", assuming the role of construction contractor and taking on all aspects of project implementation. These tasks include recruitment and placement of workers and operation of temporary camps; large-scale, local procurement of construction materials; transportation clearance logistics; and identification and recruitment of qualified engineering personnel to support and supervise implementation.

UNOPS in Sri Lanka does not compete with the private sector but strengthens it where present and solicits its participation where it is not operational. When requested, the UNOPS in Sri Lanka develops local capacity through contractor development training and mentoring.

In 2007 alone the Centre completed and delivered more than 150 buildings to clients, often despite security problems and shortages of trained personnel.

UNOPS in Sri Lanka is implementing the UNICEF-funded Piped Water Supply and Sanitation Reconstruction Programme, managing the restoration of potable water supply and sanitation infrastructure to 105,000 people in two tsunami-affected coastal areas.

On behalf of the Government of Spain’s Permanent Steel Truss Bridges Construction Project UNOPS in Sri Lanka has designed and contracted construction of four bridges in disaster-affected areas, recruiting and training all staff and establishing project and site offices, as well as a material-testing laboratory to provide quality assurance.

Environment

In tsunami- and flood-affected areas in Ampara District on Sri Lanka’s east coast three European Union-funded projects are being delivered. UNOPS in Sri Lanka is designing and implementing a management system to reduce waste production, improve collection, encourage recycling and ensure safe deposit of residual waste.

Poverty mitigation

UNOPS Sri Lanka-supported activities create temporary jobs that inject cash into communities rapidly, reviving the local economy and boosting household incomes in refugee-hosting areas and during post-conflict reconstruction. Such projects maximize use of unskilled labour in the short and medium terms and contribute to longer-term development by improving physical and social infrastructure.

Under the European Union-funded Community Access Programme UNOPS in Sri Lanka is managing the design and construction of some 400 km of rural roads. Besides three million days of work for local people, the project provides training to contractors and strengthens public and private sector capacity and cooperation.