UNOPS provides implementation support services to partners – from UN organizations and international financial institutions to governments, intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations.
This role as a service provider means that partner priorities and needs dictate the scope, focus and location of UNOPS work. Partners request UNOPS support to supplement their own capacities, to reduce risks, improve speed, quality or cost-effectiveness. UNOPS services are then tailored to short and long term requirements - from full projects and complete procurement processes to temporary filling gaps in partners' implementation capacity.
As a not-for-profit organization UNOPS is motivated only to meet partners' expectations. UNOPS does not need a public profile for fundraising or advocacy, instead taking a low-key role.
Some of UNOPS partners include:
UNOPS major partners in 2009
In 2009 UNDP continued to be the most important partner of UNOPS. UNDP accounted for 44 per cent of total implementation expenditures with six per cent from core funds, about 10 per cent from trust funds (excluding United Nations Development Group multi-donor trust funds) and 28 per cent from management services agreements.
As in 2008, the largest partnership was with the Government of Peru through a management services agreement, accounting for 18 per cent of UNOPS total implementation expenditures. Total direct support to governments, excluding management services agreements, rose from $217 million in 2008 to $303 million in 2009, accounting for 27 per cent of total delivery.
In 2009 UNOPS strengthened its partnerships with international financial institutions. UNOPS worked with the World Bank on projects that implemented more than $140 million worth of delivery in 2009. This included where the World Bank was a direct funder, was responsible for a multi-donor trust fund or lent to national governments.
Activities with the African Development Bank rose from $108,000 to $2.1 million. Projects funded by the Inter-American Development Bank rose from $2.8m to $11.6m. In addition, UNOPS signed its first agreement with the Asian Development Bank in Afghanistan.
Work with the European Commission nearly doubled in the reporting period from about $12 million to $22 million, in part as a result of the Financial and Administrative Framework Agreement signed in 2008. UNOPS offices in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, Peru and Senegal received funding from the European Commission in the reporting period. To ensure that this partnership remains robust, UNOPS opened a liaison office in Brussels.
View a list of all UNOPS partners in 2009