The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
A Q&A with Emelyne Cheney on how UNOPS helps the FCLP deliver on its mission to protect forests and support communities that rely on them
We spoke with Emelyne Cheney, Director of the Forest and Climate Leaders Partnership (FCLP) Secretariat, on how UNOPS hosting helps turn high-level climate commitments into real-world action.
Protecting forests is essential to fighting climate change and safeguarding biodiversity. But reversing forest loss requires coordination, leadership, and action across borders.
The FCLP brings together ministers and leaders from 36 countries, all committed to halting and reversing forest loss by 2030. Hosted by UNOPS, the partnership's Secretariat works to transform political will into practical, on-the-ground results.
Emelyne Cheney, Director of the FCLP secretariat, explains how UNOPS unique hosted partnerships model supports this mission and why multilateral collaboration is more vital than ever.
How does UNOPS help you deliver on your core mission?
UNOPS hosts the FCLP Secretariat and provides us with the administrative, operational, and financial support we need. This means that my team can fully focus on supporting our members and their strategic priorities without getting too involved in back-office processes.
Why did you choose UNOPS?
The FCLP chose UNOPS because it wanted a partner that was cost-effective, flexible and neutral. UNOPS has a unique model. It doesn't interfere with the mandate or governance of its hosted entities, and that's extremely valuable for a high-level political partnership like the FCLP.
UNOPS has a unique model. It doesn't interfere with the mandate or governance of its hosted entities, and that's extremely valuable for a high-level political partnership like the FCLP.
Why is multilateral action important now more than ever?
The leadership of Global South countries is growing, and that's truly exciting. The challenges we face, be it climate change, biodiversity loss, inequality, are all interconnected, and there's not one country that can solve them alone.
That's exactly why the FCLP was created. To allow leaders to collaborate, to discuss on equal footings, and to co-design solutions to address these problems. FCLP is a great example of the type of multilateralism we need. It's focusing on delivery, it's inclusive, and it's pragmatic.
Emelyne Cheney
Emelyne Cheney is the Director of the Forest and Climate Leaders' Partnership Secretariat, a coalition launched at COP27 uniting 36 countries to halt and reverse forest loss by 2030. With over 15 years of experience in conservation, climate finance and sustainability, she leads efforts to turn global commitments into real impact.
Before joining FCLP, she held senior roles in the private sector and the UN Environment Programme across Africa and Asia, developing financing models and advising governments on sustainable land use. She holds a PhD from the London School of Economics and a Masters from Sciences Po in Paris.
