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Excellencies, distinguished colleagues and partners,

It is a great pleasure to be with you today to mark an important milestone in our shared journey toward sustainable development and resilience.

This MoU between UNOPS and the European Investment Bank solidifies a partnership that is already grounded in two framework agreements. These are based on a common vision: to deliver lasting impact through sustainable infrastructure, climate resilience, and inclusive development.

It reflects our mutual commitment to supporting countries in their efforts to combat poverty and inequalities, and to build a better future for vulnerable communities worldwide.

Our partnership is varied and impactful, from improving access to quality health services in Serbia and Barbados to reducing vulnerability to soil erosion in Nigeria.

Building on this successful track record - we now want to scale up our joint efforts to deliver impact.

We at UNOPS will bring our practical solutions to this task - drawing on our expertise in project and fund management, sustainable procurement and resilient quality infrastructure.

This partnership is even more crucial given the EIB’s role as a key implementing partner of the European Union's Global Gateway initiative, which mobilizes infrastructure investments to accelerate progress towards the SDGs.

Our implementation expertise - and capacity in over 130 countries - positions UNOPS as a trusted partner to help turn these investments into tangible results on the ground, supporting resilient infrastructure, local job creation, and sustainable development outcomes.

In the face of conflict in Europe, we support the EIB’s commitment to helping build a sustainable future for Ukraine. We are advancing steps to support three municipalities that receive EIB financing, to build quality, inclusive and more resilient social housing for 1600 households, ensuring that the new social infrastructure is in line with EU guidelines and meets Ukraine’s accession needs.

In an era of overlapping crises—from climate change to conflict, from economic shocks to inequality—collaboration is not a choice. It is a necessity. And it is exactly through partnerships like this one that we can do more, reach further, and respond faster.

I would like to thank our colleagues at the European Investment Bank for their trust and shared ambition. This MOU is the beginning of an even closer, more strategic partnership.

Together, we look forward to making a real difference in the lives of people around the world.

Thank you.