The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
UNOPS strengthens collaboration with multilateral partners in the Middle East
UNOPS Acting Executive Director joined leaders at the Third Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum held in Saudi Arabia and met with partners in the Middle East.
The event was hosted by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) – Saudi Arabia’s arm for the provision of humanitarian aid and relief – in partnership with the UN and its humanitarian organizations. Experts and decision-makers from the international humanitarian community as well as high-level international and local representatives discussed humanitarian action, challenges and changing needs on the ground.
"From the devastating earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria, to the war in Ukraine, and the ongoing humanitarian situations in Haiti, Yemen and beyond, the need for strong and effective collaborations to support vulnerable populations globally is immense,” said UNOPS Acting Executive Director Jens Wandel.
UNOPS is committed to using our extensive experience supporting crisis response efforts and working in fragile and conflict-affected situations, to help partners address urgent needs and achieve their longer-term development priorities.
With @unops at Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum. @FilippoGrandi: « conversation needs to be about FLEXIBLE resources to deliver where aid and help is the most needed » #resilience #aid #oneUN #impact cc @UNOPS_Chief pic.twitter.com/8cilhkFkKr
— Emilie Potvin (@emiliepotvin) February 20, 2023
During the Forum, Mr. Wandel and KSrelief’s Supervisor-General Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah signed a three-year Joint Cooperation Programme that will focus on capacity building, sharing knowledge and experiences, and cooperation in areas of common interest, including sustainable procurement, infrastructure and project management.
"We look forward to a strong collaboration with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to help people in need,” said Mr. Wandel.
While in Riyadh, Mr. Wandel also met with the President of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and Group Chairman Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser, to sign a new Memorandum of Understanding. This follows a successful collaboration between UNOPS and the IsDB under a previous cooperation agreement from 2018-2022.
Under the new agreement, UNOPS work with IsDB will be expanded to include infrastructure and project management services. There will be a focus on supporting inclusive social and economic development, resilience, sustainable infrastructure, climate change, regional cooperation and integration, and more.
“UNOPS is committed to supporting IsDB’s strategic vision, in its focus on green, resilient and sustainable infrastructure, and inclusive human capital development. We look forward to expanding our work together to help address development challenges effectively,” said Mr. Wandel.
In addition, UNOPS will hold meetings with several other partners and stakeholders, including Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Saudi Fund for Development, the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen, and more.
