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:
See all current UNOPS partnerships
UNOPS major partners in 2011
In 2011, 60.9 per cent of UNOPS project delivery was on behalf of the United Nations system. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) continued to be the most important partner of UNOPS, accounting for 31.4 percent of implementation expenditures. The second largest partner was the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, accounting for 14.3 per cent of implementation expenditures.
The largest partnership with a government was with the Government of Argentina, followed by those of Peru and Afghanistan. In Peru this was mainly through a UNDP management service agreement, while in Argentina and Afghanistan the majority of services were in direct support to the governments. Total direct support to governments, excluding management service agreements, was $296 million.
UNOPS continued to partner with international financial institutions, for example working with the World Bank on $82 million worth of projects. These included projects for which the World Bank was a direct funder, was responsible for a multi-donor trust fund, or lent to governments. Direct implementation for the World Bank increased to $11.5 million from $2.8 million in 2010, mainly as a result of work in Haiti.
UNOPS strengthened its partnership with The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, becoming a principal recipient in Myanmar, and implementing more than $21 million. UNOPS also worked as a local fund agent for the Global Fund in 14 countries.
UNOPS increased its work for the European Union, implementing around $43.5 million worth of projects in 2011 compared to $35 million in 2010. On behalf of the Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department of the European Commission, UNOPS constructed shelters in Haiti and Sri Lanka and supported access coordination in the occupied Palestinian territory. UNOPS also provided support to the European Union election observation missions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nicaragua and Peru.
The largest bilateral funder of UNOPS projects was the Government of Japan, with most of the money being used to support operations in Afghanistan. Second was the Government of the United States of America, followed by the governments of the United Kingdom, Sweden, Italy and Canada.