Sustainable development is about enabling opportunity, fostering growth and innovation, and boosting local economies. By empowering local businesses, it can play a transformative role long after a project has been implemented.

In Paraguay, a recent initiative with the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of the Interior and ITAIPU Binacional shows how far-reaching benefits can be achieved when the diverse needs of communities are considered at the outset.

While the project set out to strengthen citizen security – providing more than 3,000 uniforms to more than 2,300 persons deprived of liberty and over 720 prison guards, as well as essential equipment to three correctional facilities – it also contributed to advancing local socioeconomic development.

To support local economies, and following a thorough competitive process, UNOPS partnered with a Paraguayan garment manufacturer, UNIMER, to produce specialized uniforms. By working with a local supplier, the project meant investments stayed within the community – creating local jobs and supporting community livelihoods.

Improving local standards

This partnership went beyond a basic purchase agreement. UNOPS worked closely with UNIMER to strengthen its production chains to meet international standards in safety and durability. The collaborative approach fostered innovation and generated lasting economic and social benefits for local communities.

“The biggest challenge was finding the perfect balance between quality and speed of delivery,” says Martín Urbieta, founder of UNIMER, the local garments manufacturer. 

“Thanks to UNOPS, we were able to optimize timelines, improve processes and guarantee a final product that meets the highest standards,” he adds.

From acquiring internationally recognized certifications, to aligning processes with environmental sustainability and social responsibility criteria, and implementing a climate control system for its production plant, UNIMER showed a strong commitment to enhancing the sustainability of its operations – opening doors to regional and international markets. 

Promoting local and inclusive employment opportunities

The textile industry is a key driver for inclusion.

At UNIMER, more than 60 per cent of employees are women, many of whom are single mothers. Thirty-seven per cent of them are senior workers, reflecting the garment industry’s reliance on experience gained over time.

Through its work with UNIMER, the initiative helped create more meaningful employment opportunities for local people, further fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce.

“I’m grateful to the company for trusting me. I learned to work as part of a team. I really enjoy my job and what we do at the company,” says Ceferina Brítez, a woman working at UNIMER.

“I grew professionally and learned to work with the team, with enthusiasm and strength,” says Graciela Alicia Mieres, a worker at UNIMER.

For UNIMER, working with UNOPS has been a turning point – bringing dignity, stability and new opportunities to the families behind every stitch.

“We believe in a national industry with international quality,” says Urbieta. “Thanks to this experience, we know we can achieve it.”

“This project has shown that sustainable development can achieve far-reaching benefits for communities. Through this initiative, we have not only contributed to strengthening citizen security, but have built local capacities and created real opportunities for people,” says Roberto Carrillo, UNOPS Director in Paraguay.

“The impact goes beyond the project, benefiting the local economy and fostering equal opportunity. That’s the lasting value we aim to create in Paraguay,” he adds.

The project, ‘Strengthening citizen security in Paraguay’ was financed by ITAIPU Binacional, led by the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of the Interior, and implemented by UNOPS from September 2023 to September 2025. UNOPS managed all procurement processes throughout the project – with quality, transparency and sustainability central to this work. Key results of the $12 million project included: the provision of more than 100 trucks and 100 motorcycles, protective gear, upgraded forensic systems and the enhancement of storage capacity at the Ministry of the Interior, among other achievements.