The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
A year of UN cooperation and progress for protection and inclusion in Mexico
In partnership with the government of Mexico, and working alongside six other UN agencies, UNOPS is overseeing the implementation of an initiative to help improve the inclusion, protection and opportunities of returnees, migrants, asylum seekers, refugees and other vulnerable populations in situations of mobility.
Mexico is a country experiencing high levels of mobility – that is, people arriving, departing, passing through and returning to Mexico. In this context, Multi-Service Centres for Inclusion and Development are essential to providing safe and immediate support, helping vulnerable populations on the move to overcome barriers and access basic services.
Working with the government of Mexico and UN partners – UNHCR, IOM, ILO, UN Women, PAHO/WHO and UNICEF – UNOPS is helping strengthen government policies and programmes for the management of human mobility in the country by providing oversight and technical assistance for an initiative that aims to build more effective and coordinated services for returnees, migrants, asylum seekers and refugees.
This initiative demonstrates the power of collaboration and coordinated action.
Human mobility refers to the movement of people from one place to another, within or across borders, for any duration and for any reason. It includes voluntary, forced, temporary, and permanent movements and displacements.
Leveraging the expertise of each UN agency, the initiative supports the improvement of existing centres’ infrastructure, the expansion of the Multi-Service Center for Inclusion and Development in Tapachula and the enhancement of overall equipment and services, including international protection and rights, labour and educational integration, and access to health services, among others.
After one year of implementation, the initiative has established a consolidated governance structure and a monitoring and evaluation system, developed in coordination with the government and UN partners, to support effective and sustainable human mobility.
In addition to overseeing and managing the project, UNOPS completed the delivery of more than 1,200 pieces of equipment to the Tapachula Multi-Service Centre, including laptops, sofas and storage modules among others.
“We’re proud to support the government’s Human Mobility Model, helping ensure that migrants, refugees, returnees and other people on the move have access to safe, coordinated and effective support to rebuild their lives with dignity,” added Giuseppe Mancinelli.
