Working in Sudan, Afghanistan, Somalia, Liberia, Kosovo and Sri Lanka, UNOPS has helped USAID build roads, bridges, shelters, legal institutions and schools, providing livelihoods, boosting economies and promoting lasting peace.

Below is a selection of some of the projects in Sudan, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.

Sudan

In Sudan UNOPS has been working under a Cooperative Agreement with USAID since 2006 to carry out the Sudan Accelerated Infrastructure Program, designed to help build peace and improve lives in the war-torn country. Activities include the construction and rehabilitation of primary health care centres, schools, roads, bridges and other transport infrastructure as well as labour-based community infrastructure projects.

Sudanese villagers using the newly rehabilitated section of road between Dabio and Tambura.

The programme has seen considerable success, with the construction of 33 schools, one teacher training institute, three health centres and one bridge in 2008/2009 alone.

An estimated 4,800 students now have access to improved learning environments. In addition, there has been significant progress on road construction, for the stimulation of the local economy and create jobs. Approximately 130,000 citizens have directly benefited from the recent road rehabilitation.

Afghanistan

Kabul Schools Programme

Using funds from USAID, two high schools have beenconstructed in Kabul, providing high-quality learning facilities for over 10,000 boys and girls. Applying international standards, UNOPS has designed and constructed the two schools, providing 126 classrooms in addition to computer laboratories, library facilities and administrative offices.

The new Ghazi Boys High School in Kabul during construction.

UNOPS has implemented a comprehensive quality control strategy, ensuring optimal efficiency in the preparation, initiation and follow up stages of the programme.

The project has also provided several local internship opportunities, as well as training for approximately 500 engineering students from local universities.

Paving the road to peace and development

Under the Government of Afghanistan’s National Rural Access Programme (NRAP) and with support from USAID and multiple donors, UNOPS has rehabilitated roads linking rural communities, providing much needed jobs and cutting the cost and duration of travel. Since 2002, over 9,600km of roads have been constructed or rehabilitated, connecting rural Afghanistan in all 34 provinces and enhancing year-round access to basic services.

The programme has also constructed or rehabilitated 66 bridges, 14 airfields and tens of thousands of metres of drainage. Generating 12.4 million labour days, the programme has helped create the conditions for longer-term employment with the construction of essential community infrastructure, including irrigation schemes, water and sanitation facilities, schools and clinics. The resulting interaction between different ethnicities in Afghanistan has been seen as helping to create a more lasting peace.

Sri Lanka

A Sri Lankan family displaced by conflict in the north of the country, in front of their newly constructed shelter.

Following an escalation of conflict in Sri Lanka in early 2009, UNOPS supported the construction of approximately 10,000 temporary shelters from pre-assembled ‘emergency shelter kits’ and provided water and sanitation facilities. UNOPS is the largest provider of emergency shelters in Sri Lanka, working with various partners including USAID.