UNOPS is an independent entity of the United Nations that provides project management services in every field where the UN has a mandate – from environmental protection to public sector reform, from informatics solutions to eradicating poverty.
Activities
UNOPS provides a range of services varying from human resource and procurement services to turnkey project management. Its clients are UN organizations, Development Banks, and the Global Fund.
Upon request, UNOPS will manage a project from start to finish or provide specialized services. These services include selecting and hiring project personnel, procuring goods and services, organizing training courses, and administering loans. In 2006, UNOPS delivered services valued at USD 714 million to over 2,600 projects. Most of the environment projects managed by UNOPS are funded by UN Funds and Programmes, including UNDP, UNEP and the World Bank. These projects are in the areas of international waters, biodiversity protection, the implementation of the Montreal Protocol, energy, climate change or environmental assessment and clean-up.
The UNOPS Switzerland Operations Centre supports UNEP in the implementation of projects such as the Environmental Capacity Building Programme in Afghanistan, the rehabilitation of polluted sites in Iraq and the environmental assessment of Sudan. It also supports the Secretariat of the Basel Convention in contracting consultants, and contracts a large number of international and national experts for the UNEP/GEF Biosafety Clearing House.
Type of organisation:
Intergovernmental organizations
Established:
1996
Number of staff:
20
Head/Director:
Director, Switzerland Operations Centre: Bernhard Schlachter
Subtitle:
Switzerland Operations Centre
Cooperation
Clients include UN agencies, bilateral donors, international financial institutions, developing country governments and the private sector. Services are available through any UNOPS office, including the one in Geneva.
Publications
Annual Report. See the website for a complete listing.
