UNOPS, partners building better lives and supporting peace and sustainable development

UNOPS Country Office organized a Partner’s Day Workshop with the theme ‘Fostering Collaborations to Advance the SDG Agenda: A Celebration of Success’. The workshop was held on November 8 at Hyatt Regency Hotel-Addis Ababa and attended by representatives of Government, Embassies, multilateral organizations, international non-governmental organizations and UN agencies in Ethiopia.

Providing a wide range of project management, procurement, and infrastructure services in Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, and Djibouti, UNOPS Multi-Country Office was opened in 2014. It has successfully provided more than $1 billion in services for its partners over the past six years.

At the workshop, strong statements of support for UNOPS were made both by the government of Ethiopia and representatives of international organizations.

UN Assistant Secretary-General and UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Ethiopia, Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov, in his remarks, called on all stakeholders to revitalize and sustain partnerships towards achieving the SDGs.

“We are halfway to the 2030 deadline, the SDGs are in deep trouble. Progress stalled in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the climate crisis is deepening, and goals related to hunger, health, biodiversity, strong institutions, pollution, and peaceful societies are all off track.”

“It is essential to enhance our partnerships that will also pave the way for mobilizing more resources and ensuring better coordination and efficient delivery,” Dr. Alakbarov. He also called on all actors to put the humanitarian-development-peace nexus at the core of their work to support Ethiopia in addressing its multiple challenges.

Ms. Isabella Lucaferri, Head of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation Office, Addis Ababa, underscored the need to put sustainability at the center when partners deliver projects.

“As a development partner for Ethiopia, we take sustainability as an essential component of a project. We appreciate our collaboration with UNOPS because of the quality of the interventions they provide.”

She also emphasized infrastructures as vital interventions to achieve sustainable development.

Speaking at the event, Ms. Worknesh Mekonnen, Multi-Country Office (Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, and Djibouti) Director and Representative to the AU said, “UNOPS helps foster sustainable development through bolstering collaboration.”

“We are fully committed to supporting the country's efforts to achieve its national development priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals. Through our collaboration, as part of the United Nations Country Team in Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, and Djibouti, we look forward to delivering impact for better health, education and lives over the coming years,” she added.

UNOPS, as an operational arm of the United Nations, focuses on creating a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable world despite ever-growing obstacles - helping a range of partners implement $2.2 billion worth of aid and development projects every year. Firmly grounded in UN values, UNOPS ensures its partners maximize the positive impact of their peace and security, humanitarian and development projects. Equality, inclusiveness, sustainability and resilience form the foundations of UNOPS work.