AEMO Brochure - unops

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SUPPORTING OUR PARTNERS IN ASIA, EUROPE AND THE MIDDLE EAST

It is my pleasure to introduce the UNOPS Asia, Europe and Middle East regional office. The following pages depict examples of UNOPS support to partners such as United Nations agencies, governments, financial institutions and non-governmental organizations, among others. With a mandate to provide project management, infrastructure and procurement services to these partners, we attach great importance to delivering projects efficiently and effectively and creating lasting results for people in need. I hope this brochure provides you with a quick reference guide to UNOPS work in Asia, Europe and the Middle East, with more comprehensive information available at: www.unops.org.

www.unops.org /unops.org /unops /company/unops

Bruce McCarron Regional Director, UNOPS Asia, Europe and the Middle East regional office

CONTENTS WHO WE ARE

2

WHERE WE WORK

3

SERVICES

5 8 9 12

PROJECT MANAGEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE PROCUREMENT

REGIONS

ASIA EUROPE MIDDLE EAST

15 39 45

On the right: A nurse explains how to use antiretroviral drugs in a HIV/AIDS programme supported by the Global Fund, for which UNOPS is principal recipient in Myanmar. Photo: The Global Fund/John Rae

On the left: Photo: UNOPS/Aleksandar Jocić

WHO WE ARE Police officers receive training as part of the Afghanistan Democratic Policing Project, funded by the Netherlands. Photo: UNOPS

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects in over 80 countries, often in the most challenging environments. We provide project management, infrastructure and procurement services to a wide range of partners, including other UN organizations, governments and donors, who rely on our proven expertise to increase the speed, cost-effectiveness and sustainability of more than 1,000 projects.

A quality-assurance officer inspects insecticidal bed nets in Cambodia. Photo: UNOPS 1

With over 7,000 personnel supporting our work worldwide, UNOPS helps its partners make a lasting difference to the lives of people in need. 2

Denmark

Serbia Kosovo (Pristina) Syrian Arab Republic Lebanon Iraq Palestine (Jerusalem) Jordan

China

Afghanistan Iran

Nepal

Pakistan

India

Our Asia, Europe and the Middle East (AEMO) regional office is based at UN City in Copenhagen, Denmark, which is also home to UNOPS global headquarters. The AEMO regional office provides important support to more than a dozen offices. 3

Myanmar Thailand

Yemen

WHERE WE WORK

Countries and territories where UNOPS Asia, Europe and the Middle East regional office has a physical presence and supports its partners’ projects

Bangladesh

Cambodia Sri Lanka Maldives Indonesia

Countries and territories in the region where UNOPS supports its partners’ projects without having a permanent presence

THE AEMO PORTFOLIO The current AEMO portfolio consists of more than 250 projects, with a combined multi-year value of $2.4 billion. Procurement of health products and pharmaceuticals make up the largest component of these projects, followed by infrastructure work, investments in livelihoods, rural development and economic development. 4

OUR SERVICES UNOPS tailors its support to the needs of its partners, offering a range of advisory, implementation and transactional services in three core areas of expertise: • sustainable project management • sustainable infrastructure • sustainable procurement This work includes human resources services, administration of donor grants and loans, multi-donor trust fund management and other administrative assistance. 5

On the right: New pumps purchased and installed through the European Partnership and Municipalities Programme (EU PROGRES) improved the water supply for 12,500 people including this woman in Sjenica, Serbia. UNOPS is implementing the programme in municipalities located in the south and southwest of the country, on behalf of the European Union and the Swiss Government. Photo: UNOPS/Samir Delić

SUSTAINABLE PROJECT MANAGEMENT On the left: With national capacity development always a priority, UNOPS supported microscope training for health department personnel as part of its role as principal recipient of malaria grants for the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Cambodia. Photo: UNOPS

Every year UNOPS implements around $1 billion worth of projects globally, providing its partners with a range of advisory, implementation and transactional services. Whether a partner requires full project or programme management, or portfolio support, UNOPS is recognized for its expertise by industry leaders. With sustainability as a priority, we seek to leave national governments, local authorities and communities with the skills and know-how required for maintaining products and services once the projects we support are complete. 8

SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE UNOPS designs, constructs, restores and maintains infrastructure on behalf of its partners across the region, from building roads in conflict-affected countries such as Afghanistan, to rehabilitating fishing harbours in post-disaster countries like Sri Lanka. We offer a wide range of infrastructure services that fall under four broad categories: buildings, utilities, transportation and power. Increasing resilience and mitigating the effects of climate change, natural hazards and rapid urbanization are also key objectives of our infrastructure work. 9

On the right: In Indonesia UNOPS relied on sustainable building techniques and local materials such as bamboo to construct this Climate Communications Centre, run entirely on solar power, under a Norwegian-funded project in cooperation with the United Nations Office for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+). Photo: UNOPS

SUSTAINABLE PROCUREMENT

On the left: In the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, UNOPS procured and distributed solar lamps to internally displaced persons to increase their access to electricity and improve their overall safety. Photo: UNAMI/Fabienne Vinet

UNOPS is a central procurement resource for the United Nations system and its partners, procuring around $800 million worth of high-quality goods and services each year. We have more than 30 years of specialized experience delivering goods and services in an efficient, transparent, cost-effective and sustainable way. Our partners benefit from our highly competitive prices, in-depth knowledge of global procurement, supply chain experience in disaster and emergency response, and international reach. 12

On the left: Photo: UNOPS

MAKING OUR MARK THROUGH SUSTAINABILITY UNOPS seeks to incorporate renewable energy into the projects it supports. Photo: UNOPS

Project success is not only about delivering to time, cost and quality, but engaging in the right projects, adopting the right approaches, and implementing to maximize benefits and minimize harm. Guided by sustainability principles, we work with our partners to enhance national ownership and capacity, improve social justice and inclusion, manage environmental impact and support equitable economic growth.

A Dayak woman weaves rattan mats for the Climate Communications Centre in Indonesia, earning income for her household. Photo: UNOPS/Michael Gandareta 13

To improve projects, UNOPS has developed a sustainability marker methodology, which encourages teams, along with partners, to identify gaps and dependencies in the design as well as pinpoint likely positive and negative effects early on so they can be addressed. 14

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AFGHANISTAN CAMBODIA CHINA INDONESIA MALDIVES MYANMAR PAKISTAN SRI LANKA

ASIA

ASIA

AFGHANISTAN With more than 18 years of experience in Afghanistan, UNOPS supports the Government in its national reconstruction and development efforts. With its main office in Kabul, UNOPS has a project presence in every region of the country, allowing it to implement projects where assistance is needed most. Infrastructure is a core component of UNOPS work in Afghanistan. A long-standing partner of the Ministry of Public Works and the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, UNOPS contributes to national capacity development in one of the most comprehensive and important programmes of the country, the National Rural Access Programme. Since 2003, UNOPS has supported these ministries in the rehabilitation of over 10,000 kilometres of roads and the creation of more than 13 million labour days for local people, including women. 17

On the right: More than 100 women were trained to weave wire baskets used to build walls that reduce flood damage in Ghor province. The initiative is part of a larger programme to enhance disaster preparedness, supported by UNOPS on behalf of the Governments of Japan and Afghanistan. Photo: UNOPS

On the left: UNOPS constructed the terminal, a fire station, aircraft parking ramps and rehabilitated the runway at Bamyan Airport, in partnership with the Japanese Government. Photo: UNOPS

For example, the Government of Sweden, through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, is supporting a project to increase access to social services and market centres for rural communities in four northern provinces. The initiative aims to reduce poverty and support the Government of Afghanistan’s efforts towards equitable growth. As part of its role, UNOPS is helping to develop capacity in road construction and maintenance, while creating employment opportunities for both men and women. Local women were trained in road maintenance techniques, as well as wire-basket weaving. The women sold the baskets to non-governmental organizations, which used them to build walls for flood protection. 19

On behalf of the Japanese International Cooperation Agency, UNOPS implemented a major upgrade of Bamyan Airport to improve its connectivity to Kabul and beyond, providing a safer mode of transportation for people and goods. The renovations, which include repaving and extending the runway to 2,200 metres, are expected to prepare Bamyan Airport to handle more than 25,000 commercial departures over the next two decades. In another example, funded by the Government of Japan, UNOPS worked closely with the Ghor provincial government to construct and rehabilitate roads in the provincial capital, Chaghcharan. Solarpowered streetlights were installed along the road, allowing students to study after dark. 20

CAMBODIA UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services in the Mekong region. Supporting the Government of Cambodia, in collaboration with a range of partners, UNOPS works primarily in the environment, health and justice sectors. For example, UNOPS is currently supporting the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) to improve the administration of justice by incorporating international standards. The ECCC is a special Cambodian court that prosecutes crimes committed during the Khmer Rouge regime. The court receives international assistance through the United Nations Assistance to the Khmer Rouge Trials.

On the left: Members of various households are tested as part of the Cambodia Malaria Survey 2013. Photo: UNOPS/Preap Sodavuth

UNOPS also works alongside national institutions to combat malaria in Cambodia, serving as the principal recipient of malaria grants for the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. UNOPS provides financial management, procurement of supplies, and monitoring and evaluation of activities, alongside the National Centre for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control. 22

CHINA UNOPS is supporting China’s development, in line with modern, international standards, while developing the capacity of local partners and officials and fostering innovation in the fast-moving country. For example, UNOPS is helping develop a Knowledge Economy International Innovation Park in Fangshan to support China as a leader in the IT industry, in terms of big data, cloud computing, etc. In another project in Changchun city, UNOPS is supporting the establishment of an Asia-Pacific Agricultural and Food Safety Industrial Demonstration Zone. The initiative aims to upgrade the agriculture and food industry in northeast China, by promoting modern agriculture practices such as organic farming and the minimization of agricultural waste, bettering the lives of thousands of low-income families. UNOPS is supporting both of the initiatives by hiring industry experts and management consultants to guide local governments in their planning. 23

On the right: AEMO Regional Director, Bruce McCarron meeting with Vice Governor of Jilin Province, for UNOPS project in Changchun. Photo: UNOPS

INDONESIA UNOPS has maintained an operational presence in Indonesia since early 2005, playing a major role in the international community’s response to the tsunami that devastated Aceh in December 2004 by managing the construction of hundreds of schools and health clinics. More recently, UNOPS is continuing to provide project management, infrastructure and procurement support to its United Nations partners and the Government of Indonesia.

On the left: Local people use Indonesia’s first Climate Communications Centre to share global and intergenerational knowledge on climate issues and environmental preservation. Photo: UNOPS/John Girsang

For example, UNOPS constructed a Climate Communication Centre in Central Kalimantan province for the REDD+ Programme in Indonesia. Built by local people, using local design techniques and materials such as bamboo, the solar-powered centre allows the community to share information to increase their resilience to climate change. Funded by the Government of Norway, the project was launched to help combat illegal logging, preserve existing forests and organic wetlands, and provide communities with alternative livelihoods. 26

MALDIVES UNOPS office in Maldives was established in June 2010 to provide project management and procurement expertise, and help develop national capacity. UNOPS supports the Government of Maldives, United Nations organizations and other partners with water resource management, climate change adaptation, waste management, health procurement and supply chain management. Most recently, UNOPS and its partners developed integrated water management systems that cater to the natural environment and mitigate the effects of climate change. With assistance from the Adaptation Fund, the United States Agency for International Development and the Global Environmental Facility, more than 9,200 residents across five islands will gain access to piped drinking water. Best practices will be shared and replicated in other Maldivian islands, as well as other small island developing nations. 27

On the right: This integrated water-resource management programme is helping to increase the country’s resilience to climate change. Photo: UNOPS

MYANMAR UNOPS has been working in Myanmar since 1996 and currently manages some of the largest development funds in the country. Coupled with the procurement and infrastructure services we provide, UNOPS is contributing to initiatives that improve health, livelihoods, rural development and agriculture. UNOPS provides fund management services to the Livelihoods and Food Security Trust Fund (LIFT), The Three Millennium Development Goal Fund (3MDG) and is a principal recipient of grants for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

On the left: A midwife at the Sein Ban Sub-Rural Health Centre measures a mother’s height as part of antenatal care services provided under 3MDG. Photo: 3MDG

The multi-donor funded 3MDG was established in 2012 to accelerate Myanmar’s progress towards the three health-related MDGs on maternal and child health, and communicable disease. Its main focus is providing essential maternal, newborn and child health services, supporting HIV, tuberculosis and malaria interventions, and strengthening the health system to meet the needs of the country’s 30

most vulnerable populations. Among the 3MDG’s achievements in the two years up to June 2014, was ensuring 27,000 births were attended by a skilled health professional, vaccinating 51,000 infants against measles and making 14,000 lifesaving referrals for pregnant women and children. Nine million needles and syringes were distributed to counter the spread of HIV, 830,000 people were tested for malaria and more than $15.5 million in grants was commissioned to the National Tuberculosis Programme and implementing partners.

On the left: To combat the constraints of rice production, which include the lack of access to good-quality seed and shortages of skilled labour, LIFT has funded a three-year farmer education programme in Shan and Kachin states. The programme teaches farmers to reduce pesticide use, improve soil fertility, adopt environmentally-friendly seeding methods and increase rice yields by focusing on high-yield seeds. Photo: LIFT

Increasingly the fund is working to enhance the impact of coverage and support the Ministry of Health. For example, UNOPS is managing the construction of 50 rural health centres and 50 sub-regional health centres and is looking at how it can support vulnerable populations in peri-urban areas. LIFT was set up in 2009 to help Myanmar achieve the MDG to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, and is funded by a range of donors. The fund aims to increase food availability and raise incomes of two million target beneficiaries. LIFT also aims to be a collective and influential voice, promoting programme coherence, innovation and learning, and to provide a platform for enhanced policy engagement of agriculture, food security and rural development in Myanmar. 31

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is a major source of funding to combat the three diseases in Myanmar. Since 2011, UNOPS has partnered the Global Fund as a principal recipient, coordinating and overseeing the implementation of $273 million worth of grants over six years (20112016). As part of this support, UNOPS is providing essential sustainable procurement services in Myanmar, in partnership with the Government. 32

PAKISTAN UNOPS commenced operations in Pakistan in 1999 and significantly scaled-up activities from 2005 onwards to support populations affected by and vulnerable to natural disasters. In 2010, UNOPS opened a permanent office in Islamabad to support the Government of Pakistan and other partners to undertake humanitarian and reconstruction services, following the most devastating flood in the nation’s history. For example, UNOPS is supporting authorities to revive the local economy and improve access to basic social services in the flood-affected valley of Kalam in northwest Pakistan. The project involves reconstructing bridges and irrigation canals that were completely washed away in the 2010 floods. The disaster not only disrupted agricultural activities in Kalam, but destroyed the local hotel industry, which was an important generator of income for the area. The Saudi Fund for Development is providing financial support to the project. 33

On the right: Project teams construct the foundations of Ghabral Bridge as part of a floodrecovery project. Photo: UNOPS

SRI LANKA Since 2005, UNOPS operations in Sri Lanka have focused on designing and constructing infrastructure, providing project management services and giving technical support to central and local government institutions. We work closely with the Sri Lankan Government at all levels to enhance capacities to plan, design, manage and maintain public infrastructure systems. Empowering non-government partners to deliver better development activities is also a priority.

On the left: More than 100,000 people across seven provinces are benefiting from fishing harbours and anchorages that UNOPS built or rehabilitated on behalf of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), as part of the post-2004 Indian Ocean tsunami recovery. Photo: UNOPS

UNOPS has a proven track record of developing and supporting infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka, including bridges, harbours and anchorages, hospitals, roads, schools, urban sewerage and drainage facilities, waste management facilities and water networks. UNOPS has been recognized by the Sri Lankan Government, development partners and UN agencies on many occasions for the value it adds when managing such projects. One example of this was when the Sri Lanka office won the UNOPS Project of the Year Award in 2013, for a fishery infrastructure project implemented on behalf of IFAD. 36

On the left: The Environmental Remediation Programme is helping improve solid waste management, environmental restoration and drainage in coastal communities of Ampara, which were impoverished by over 20 years of conflict and devastated by the 2004 tsunami. Photo: UNOPS

UNOPS effort to enhance solid waste management in the country is also noteworthy. Under the European Union-funded Environmental Remediation Programme, UNOPS worked closely with 12 local authorities in the Ampara district to establish an efficient system of collecting, transporting and treating all solid waste. The project benefited up to 220,000 people in the district, where 57,000 households and commercial establishments participate in regular waste collection. The project is regarded as a best practice example of district-level cooperation and is being replicated in a neighbouring district. 37

The Sri Lanka office provides technical and administrative oversight to four other countries, namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives and Nepal, where urban and rural infrastructure projects, improving public infrastructure in vulnerable environments and climate change resilience are key focuses. 38

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KOSOVO SERBIA

EUROPE

EUROPE

KOSOVO UNOPS has been active in Kosovo (under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244/99) since 1999, helping partners achieve their development and peacebuilding goals. The main areas of support include project management, infrastructure, administrative support, procurement, and advisory and fund management services.

On the left: In support of the Government of Kosovo, UNOPS provided a training programme for the staff of this high-security prison in Kosovo. Photo: UNOPS/Samire Haxhimehmeti

For example, UNOPS implemented the construction of a high-security prison in Kosovo, on behalf of the Government of Kosovo and the European Union. UNOPS managed the trust fund for administering the project, and provided project management and procurement services. By adopting a sustainable project management approach, and conducting many successful procurement activities for works, goods and services, UNOPS was able to increase the prison capacity from 300 to 390 cells. UNOPS is also providing guidance on maintenance to reduce upkeep costs and promote ongoing operations. 42

SERBIA Since 2000, UNOPS has been supporting Serbia to conduct necessary socio-economic reforms, with a goal of creating better living conditions for its citizens. UNOPS and its partners work with the Government of Serbia on projects whose successful implementation will facilitate European Union accession. For example, through the European PROGRES programme, UNOPS is contributing to the sustainable development of 34 municipalities in southeast and southwest Serbia. Funded by the European Union and the Governments of Switzerland and Serbia, the programme is improving coordination between national and local authorities, creating employment opportunities, promoting business growth, building infrastructure, improving municipal services, and enhancing good governance and social inclusion. 43

On the right: Fifteen young Roma boys and girls from Prokuplje, Serbia were given vocational training for car mechanics, cosmeticians and construction workers. The small grant project ‘Together Towards Employment’, implemented as part of the EU PROGRES programme, is helping Roma youth find employment more easily by boosting their specific technical skills and knowledge. Photo: UNOPS/Srdjan Ilić

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MIDDLE EAST

MIDDLE EAST

IRAQ JORDAN LEBANON PALESTINE SYRIA YEMEN

IRAQ Over the past decade, UNOPS has provided a range of project development, technical management and infrastructure-related services in Iraq. As part of this, UNOPS is supporting economic recovery and development, civil society development, community reconciliation, elections, human rights and the rule of law, health, water and sanitation. UNOPS was the second-largest implementer of projects for the United Nations Development Group Iraq Trust Fund, running 43 projects on its behalf between 2004 and 2013. This support has included improving water supply systems in eastern Baghdad, Najaf and Anbar and developing a roster of more than 50,000 accredited and experienced local election observers. On the left: A woman casts her vote in Iraq where UNOPS provides support to the Independent High Electoral Commission. Photo: UNAMI

UNOPS also provided technical support to members of the Kurdistan Parliament and civil society organizations as they drafted and adopted the Compact on Partnership and Development between Public Authorities and NGOs in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The policy on cooperation was the first of its kind ever adopted in the Middle East or North Africa. 48

On the left: In the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, IDPs receive solar lamps, which include mobile phone charging kits to help them keep in contact with family and emergency services. Photo: UNOPS

Since the beginning of 2014, the security situation in Iraq has been rapidly deteriorating, resulting in increased internal displacement. UNOPS has been on the ground supporting emergency and humanitarian projects such as the distribution of more than 60,000 solar-powered lamps and mobile phone charging kits to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Funded by the Saudi Humanitarian Fund for Iraq, the project aims to increase the safety of the IDPs throughout the Kurdistan Region, 49

particularly women and children who are vulnerable when accessing water and toilet facilities in the dark. The mobile phone chargers enable the IDPs to stay in touch with family and emergency services. UNOPS is a part of the United Nations Country Team in Iraq, as well as a member of the aid coordination sectors addressing the current IDP crisis in Iraq. UNOPS contributed to the development of the Strategic Response Plan 2015. 50

JORDAN UNOPS has been present in Jordan since 2004, with the Amman office supporting UNOPS operations in Iraq. Since 2013, the office has implemented a number of projects in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Yemen. In Jordan, the projects are primarily focused on supporting the Government and international community’s response to the Syria crisis. For example, UNOPS is supporting the Public Security Directorate, Civil Defence, and the Jordanian Armed Forces, on behalf of the Canadian and Japanese Governments, to manage the inflow of refugees and related civil security needs in the Zaatari and Azraq refugee camps. UNOPS procured equipment and vehicles to facilitate safe transport of Syrian refugees from the border to the registration centre. This included ambulances, cargo and water trucks, busses, mobile latrines, kitchens and clinics. 51

On the right: On behalf of the Japanese Government, UNOPS delivers four new paramedic ambulances to the Civil Defence to serve the people of Mafraq, Irbid and Zarqa. Photo: UNOPS

On the left: UNOPS supported the construction of the joint-operations centre, offices and accommodation in Azraq camp, on behalf of the Government of Canada. Photo: UNOPS

In addition, UNOPS supported the set-up of the security and Civil Defence buildings (joint operations centre, offices and accommodation) in Azraq camp. In Zaatari camp, UNOPS provided support for the establishment of community police buildings and two police sub-stations. UNOPS has been an active participant in planning how to address the impact of the Syrian refugee crisis on host communities in Jordan, leading the energy and transport sectors in developing a national response strategy for 2014-2015. 54

LEBANON In Lebanon, UNOPS manages personnel contracts for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in support of the response to the Syrian refugee crisis. 55

On the right: Despairing and exhausted, large queues of Syrian refugees register at the impromptu registration centre set up by UNHCR and partners just outside of Arsal, Lebanon. Photo: UNHCR/Marc Hofer

PALESTINE

On the left: Minister of Jerusalem Affairs, Adnan Al-Husseini and UNOPS Jerusalem Operations Centre Director, Nicholas O’Regan sign the agreement for the Mujtamana programme. UNOPS is helping improve coordination between the Government, national institutions and grassroots organizations so that they are better placed to address the challenges faced by Palestinian youth and women. Photo: UNOPS

UNOPS began its operations in Palestine in 2006, working closely with the Government of Palestine to address Palestinian national challenges under the United Nations Development Assistance Framework. UNOPS aims to enhance national ownership and capacity by contributing to the reconstruction of Gaza, improving social justice and inclusion, and supporting equitable economic growth. For example, the Mujtamana programme aims to increase the resilience of communities and prevent drug abuse, violence, sexual exploitation and other crimes by enhancing social infrastructure and creating access to job opportunities. Implemented by UNOPS in partnership with the Ministry of Jerusalem Affairs, the International Labour Organization and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the programme has a particular focus on improving the livelihoods of youth and women in East Jerusalem and Area C of the West Bank. 58

On the left: To support the Palestinian police, UNOPS managed the design and development of a centralized information and communications technology (ICT) system to reduce the inefficiency of handling paper records. The ICT system, which will eventually provide police with information on criminal behaviour, crime hot-spots and incident patterns, was funded by the Canadian Government. Photo: UNOPS/Ahed Izhiman

To foster equitable economic growth, UNOPS and partners conducted an eight-week assessment of the infrastructure sector, comparing local infrastructure activities against 29 examples of international best practice, with the aim of identifying gaps and improving delivery. The results informed UNOPS approach towards supporting Government-led reconstruction efforts in Gaza. Palestine is the second state in the world, after the United Kingdom, to undergo such an assessment, which will expand the Government’s capacity in infrastructure works and produce significant savings on current and future projects. 59

UNOPS supports water, sanitation and energy projects, and helps our partners construct and rehabilitate roads and public buildings in Gaza, the West Bank and east Jerusalem, while managing environmental impacts. For example, UNOPS is helping Birzeit University reduce its energy consumption, produce green energy on campus and develop an engineering curriculum focused on renewable energy. By reducing the cost of its electricity bills, which make up 3 to 5 percent of the annual budget, the university can offer reduced tuition fees, making formal education more affordable to Palestinian youth. 60

SYRIA In Syria, UNOPS is working closely with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia on the National Agenda for the Future of Syria, with a particular focus on infrastructure planning for post-conflict reconstruction. 61

On the right: UNHCR personnel direct hundreds of Syrian refugees crossing into Iraq at the Peshkhabour border crossing in Dohuk Governorate. UNOPS provides human resources services to UNHCR in Syria. Photo: UNHCR/Galiya Gubaeva

YEMEN UNOPS has been operating in Yemen since 2013, supporting the country through its political transition. This has included providing a wide spectrum of operational support to the National Dialogue and the constitution drafting process, and technical advice on institutional capacity, public procurement and accountability.

On the left: UNOPS provides operational support to the Constitution Drafting Committee (pictured), which includes human resources, transport, communications and providing equipment. Photo: National Dialogue Conference Secretariat—Yemen

In cooperation with the Office of the Special Advisor of the Secretary-General for Yemen, UN Women and the United Nations Population Fund, UNOPS is providing human resources and logistical assistance. This effort serves as a way of mediating between the various Yemeni political parties and interest groups, improving public grievance redress mechanisms in the south, and empowering women and young people. UNOPS is a part of the United Nations Country Team in Yemen and actively participates in relevant Development Assistance Framework working groups, coordinating closely with fellow UN agencies. 64

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Printed by Phoenix Design Aid A/S, a CO2 neutral company accredited in the fields of quality (ISO 9001), environment (ISO 14001) and CSR (DS 49001) and approved provider of FSC™ certified products. Printed on environmentally friendly paper without chlorine and with vegetable-based inks. The printed matter is recyclable.