COPENHAGEN - Procurement of goods and services by the United Nations reached $13.8 billion in 2009, up 1.5 percent on the previous year, with the largest sums spent on transport, food, medicines and construction.
The 2009 Annual Statistical Report on UN Procurement, compiled by UNOPS on behalf of the UN system, also shows an increase in the UN procurement from developing countries and countries with economies in transition. This accounted for 55 percent of total UN procurement in 2009 compared to 51 percent in 2008.
Between 2005 and 2009 United Nations procurement rose from $8.3 billion to last year’s $13.8 billion, with much of the increase due to more spending on services. The largest purchasers were the United Nations Procurement Division, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Food Programme (WFP), UNICEF and UNOPS (the United Nations Office for Project Services).
The largest spending categories were transport services, at $2.39 billion, construction, engineering and architectural services, $1.38 billion, food and nutrition, $1.31 billion, and pharmaceuticals and vaccines, $1.18 billion.
Among the 10 countries who were the largest suppliers to UN organizations in 2009, three were developing countries – India, Sudan and Afghanistan. India has featured in this list since 2000, and in 2009, was the third largest supplier to the UN system, with a 4.9 percent share of total United Nations’ procurement volume.
Procurement from India included vaccines, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment purchased primarily by UNICEF while procurement from Afghanistan consisted primarily of construction and transport services executed through national contractors by UNDP and UNOPS. Procurement from Sudan consisted of construction and transport services as well as fuel oils procured by the United Nations Procurement Division and WFP.
The largest single supplier to the UN was the USA, accounting for 12.6 percent of total procurement.
This year’s Annual Statistical Report on UN Procurement features a thematic supplement focusing on procurement from developing countries and economies in transition. It includes an overview of the international debate on the subject, along with case studies and articles from practitioners and international experts.
The 2009 report is available for download from the United Nations Global Marketplace (UNGM) and the UNOPS website.