Vienna, 16 April 2024 ― The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), to strengthen collaboration and accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in key regions.

The agreement signed by UNIDO Director General Gerd Müller, and Jorge Moreira da Silva, UNOPS Executive Director, outlines a number of concrete areas of cooperation, such as economic competitiveness, agribusiness value chains, innovation and environmental and climate action, including through renewable and sustainable energy and energy efficiency. This strengthened partnership complements the mandates and strength of each organization in support of more effective SDG delivery.

Furthermore, UNOPS will leverage its expertise to augment UNIDO's delivery capabilities by supporting:

• Infrastructure & Procurement: to include designing, developing, and procuring infrastructure projects efficiently.
• Project & Financial Management: support in project management, capacity development, financial management and grant management.

Within the framework of the partnership, UNIDO will provide the necessary technical expertise to ensure that joint programmes and projects will be carried out efficiently and effectively, achieving scale but without compromising on quality.

Speaking about the subject, Gerd Müller, Director General of UNIDO said: “I am very grateful that today we are beginning a new quality of cooperation between UNIDO and UNOPS. The agreement we have signed means that we will combine strengths and resources of both Organizations for more effective and efficient implementation of projects supporting sustainable economic and industrial development in the agricultural and energy sectors, in global supply chains, and advancing industrial decarbonization.”

Also, Jorge Moreira da Silva, UNOPS Executive Director, stated: "This collaboration with UNIDO represents a significant step forward in our collective efforts to achieve critical SDGs in key regions. By combining UNOPS’ project management expertise with UNIDO’s knowledge of industrial development, we can together deliver impactful solutions for energy transition, sustainable industries, and resilient infrastructure around the globe- and as a first step, in the Western Balkans, South Caucasus, Ukraine, and Central Asia. We look forward to expanding this successful partnership in the near future."

The signature of the agreement took place today at UNIDO’s headquarters in Vienna.

Press contact details:

Ramona Lupu, Communications Specialist at UNOPS Austria Multi-Country Office

Stephanie Von Ehrlich, Press Officer at UNIDO headquarters

About UNIDO

Headquartered in Vienna, Austria, UNIDO is a specialized UN agency with a unique mandate to promote and accelerate sustainable economic and industrial development.

About UNOPS

UNOPS mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development. We help the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, and deliver sustainable infrastructure and procurement in an efficient way. Read more

About UNOPS office in Vienna

Established in 2019, the UNOPS Austria Multi-Country Office (AUMCO) represents the regional hub for UNOPS' programs and operations in 12 countries across Austria, Central Asia, Western Balkans, South Caucasus, and Türkiye. Read more