The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
Building a diverse and inclusive future for all
UNOPS has launched a new strategy that aims to strengthen the organization’s commitment to gender and social inclusion in its work.
- This article was originally published 29 September 2022.
Updates:
- March 2023: On International Women's Day – and to coincide with the 67th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW67) – UNOPS launched a new video providing a high-level introduction to our Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Mainstreaming in Projects Strategy 2022-2025, outlining the objectives and approach to implementing the strategy in practice.
UNOPS Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Mainstreaming in Projects Strategy 2022-2025 is anchored in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and other international agreements, standards and norms that are shaping the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It seeks to realize the human rights of all people and to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
Gender equality and social inclusion are key to creating the conditions for people to live a life they value, where their needs are met, their human rights are protected, and they are able to participate equally in society, as promised in Agenda 2030.
“This Strategy mobilizes our efforts to promote equal rights and opportunities for people to live full lives, supported by sustainable, resilient, and inclusive infrastructure,” added Jens Wandel.
COVID-19 has reversed gains in education, economic opportunities and health. It also reinforced deep-rooted systemic inequalities and caused particular harm to certain marginalized groups and individuals.
As the world recovers from the pandemic and looks for ways to move forward towards the 2030 Agenda, UNOPS is committed to strengthening diversity and inclusion throughout the project lifespan, including its procurement practices. Through its work, UNOPS will advance efforts to promote equitable opportunities for all individuals, regardless of age, sex, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, religion, language, nationality, migration status and socioeconomic status.
By enhancing diversity and social inclusion and helping build safer, more stable and just societies for all people, UNOPS is creating the necessary conditions to foster social transformation, leading to more sustainable peace and development.
The new strategy runs hand in hand with the Gender, Diversity and Inclusion in our Workforce Strategy 2022-2025, launched in March 2022, and builds on the 2018 Gender Mainstreaming Strategy.
