The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
A Q&A with Jean-Vincent Colin on how UN Web Buy Plus is scaling impact through smarter and more efficient procurement
We spoke with Jean-Vincent Colin, Head of UN Web Buy Plus, on how UNOPS global e-commerce solution is helping the UN family and organizations from across the aid and development community make the process of buying goods and services fast, effective and efficient.
UN Web Buy Plus delivers to any country in the world, including to some of the most challenging destinations. The platform is available to most organizations within the aid and development sector that are looking to reduce the time and resources they spend on procurement.
Procurement has the power to transform societies and drive meaningful change. It can advance equality and inclusion. Foster local economic empowerment and development. And promote innovation and resilience.
Yet, processes associated with the acquisition of goods and services can be complex, time and resource-intensive, and often costly to navigate. Across the aid and development sector, including within the UN system, there is significant potential to scale up the impact of procurement. Smarter, transparent and cost-effective procurement processes can reduce duplication, enhance collaboration and drive efficiency gains.
With its focus on sustainability and economies of scale, this is where UN Web Buy Plus comes in.
What is UN Web Buy Plus?
It is an online procurement platform powered by UNOPS, offering a range of procurement and supply chain-related solutions for our offices worldwide, as well as for entities across the UN system and national governments.
The idea is simple. Providing the most in-need commodities and goods through long-term agreements that have already been competitively tendered. Avoiding duplication of efforts, saving time and ensuring economies of scale.
What’s your team’s greatest impact?
Every year, UN Web Buy accounts for around 10 per cent of the global procurement volumes of UNOPS, with a team present in four continents to be closer to our partners.
In the UN space, UN Web Buy has been one of the first Global Shared Services initiatives prioritized under the Business Innovations Group.
We can be proud of operating a modern e-commerce solution, which has procured more than $1 billion in 10 years, serving our partners and beneficiaries in the aid and development sector.
How can UN Web Buy contribute to a more efficient UN?
The UN Secretary-General has referred to the fragmented IT landscape within the UN system. With the ambition of addressing this issue, UN Web Buy Plus is promoting the vision of a OneUN Storefront, using the UN Web Buy tech, as a common platform, fully controlled and powered by the UN community, integrated with other agencies' systems, and fostering collaboration and efficiency.
Jean-Vincent Colin
Jean-Vincent Colin is the Head of UN Web Buy Plus and leads with over 15 years of experience in freight forwarding, supply and procurement functions. He worked in the private sector and with international NGOs before joining the UN family.
