UNOPS Reaffirms Commitment to Supporting Tunisia's Development Priorities
United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UNOPS, Jorge Moreira da Silva, Reiterates Organization's Commitment to Supporting Tunisia's Development Objectives
On Wednesday in Tunis, UNOPS' Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, Jorge Moreira da Silva, reaffirmed the organization's commitment to supporting Tunisia's development priorities, particularly in the sectors of infrastructure, health, renewable energy, and climate change mitigation.
During a press conference at the Tunisian office of UNOPS, the UN official highlighted Tunisia's importance in the organization's regional strategy, emphasizing its role as a regional platform and the quality of cooperation with national institutions.
Da Silva stated that the United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) Cooperation Framework for Sustainable Development 2027-2031 is currently being developed with the Tunisian authorities to align UN agencies' interventions with national priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He stressed the central role of infrastructure in achieving the SDGs, noting that 92% of these objectives depend on the availability of sustainable and resilient infrastructure, citing public equipment, transportation networks, healthcare, and energy infrastructure as examples.
Da Silva also noted a growing interest in renewable energy and climate action projects, which he believes will become major axes of future cooperation between Tunisia, UNOPS, and the United Nations system.
In her remarks, the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Tunisia, Rana Taha, stated that 18 projects are currently underway as part of the partnership between Tunisia and UNOPS, in sectors such as health, infrastructure, public procurement, and technical assistance.
She highlighted the acquisition of a high-tech surgical robot, presented as the first equipment of its kind in the public healthcare sector in Africa.
Da Silva's visit coincides with the 20th anniversary of UNOPS' regional hub for North Africa, based in Tunis since 2006. He was accompanied by the Regional Director of UNOPS for Africa, Sanjay Mathur.
Present in Tunisia since 2006, UNOPS supports the country's social and economic development through projects related to infrastructure, public procurement, and project management.
Key Points:
- UNOPS reaffirms commitment to supporting Tunisia's development priorities
- Tunisia plays a key role in UNOPS' regional strategy
- UNDP's Cooperation Framework for Sustainable Development 2027-2031 is being developed with Tunisian authorities
- Infrastructure is crucial for achieving SDGs, with 92% of objectives dependent on sustainable and resilient infrastructure
- Renewable energy and climate action projects are becoming major axes of future cooperation between Tunisia, UNOPS, and the UN system
- 18 projects are currently underway as part of the partnership between Tunisia and UNOPS
