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 2008
In 2008 UNDP was UNOPS largest partner, accounting for 47.5 per cent of total implementation expenditures with 7.3 per cent from core funds, 12.3 per cent from trust funds and 27.9 per cent from management services agreements. Most of these were with the government of Peru, accounting for 22.2 per cent of total implementation expenditures.
DPKO was the second largest client with 14.9 per cent of total implementation expenditures. Other major partners included UNICEF and the World Bank.
Service delivery for governments accounted for 20.6 per cent of implementation expenditures in 2008. This included funding from the World Bank, the European Union, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and governments directly. The most important government clients and partners in 2008 were the Governments of Afghanistan, India, and Sri Lanka.
View a list of all UNOPS partners in 2008