UNOPS

UNOPS

Subject: International Relations

Section: International Organizations

Context: A $60-million scandal involving loans and grants by a little-known UN company additionally included a $2.5 million funding to construct reasonably priced homes in India in 2019 — none of which have been materialised.

Concept:

Background:

• The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), which offers with operational initiatives, had entrusted complete sum to a single British businessman and now faces $22 million in dangerous money owed, as per a New York Times Report.
• A Singapore-based agency, owned by the businessman was answerable for getting at the least 50,000 homes in-built Goa for $2.5 million.
• The undertaking was underneath the Sustainable Infrastructure Impact Investments (S3I) initiative, launched in 2018.
• A senior Goa authority official confirmed that a presentation was made to officers by SHS Holdings (administrator of this agency) for the development of the proposed housing models in Goa.
• However, officers had questioned how supporting infrastructure like energy and roads could be made out there for the housing models additionally and how the federal government may award such a big housing undertaking to a non-public agency with no tendering undertaking.

UNOPS:

• It is an operational arm of the United Nations, (established in 1973) dedicated to implementing projects for the United Nations System, international financial institutions, governments and other partners around the world.
• Headquarters: Copenhagen, Denmark.
• It is in charge of disbursing more than $2 billion worth of development projects and contracts for its partners every year. Its activities have ranged from managing the construction of schools in Afghanistan, to building shelters in Haiti, to procuring ambulances to support the Ebola response in Liberia.
• It is a member of UNSDG and works closely with UNDP, Department of Peace operations (DPO) and the World Bank.
• It is committed to helping find innovative financing solutions that will connect a wide range of stakeholders from both public and private sectors, as well as bilateral donors and governments, to form new partnerships for sustainable
• Financing: It is not-for-profit, self- financing organization. It covers direct and indirect costs by charging a fee on each project supported.
• The following entities are currently under hosting agreements by UNOPS, grouped by theme:
• Health: RBM Partnership to End Malaria, Stop TB Partnership, Defeat-NCD Partnership
• Nutrition: Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement
• Water and sanitation: Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (since 2009)
• Sustainable urban development (Cities Alliance)
• Disaster displacement (Platform on Disaster Displacement)
• In addition, the Un- Water Secretariat is administered by UNOPS.