MOPAN Assessment of UNEP
In 2021, MOPAN published its assessment of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). This is the third assessment of UNEP, following two previous assessments – in 2011 and 2017.
Overview
Founded in 1972, the UNEP plays a strategically important role in the UN Development System (UNDS), being charged with leading both the UNDS and its 193 member states in addressing “a planetary crisis” and interrelated “climate, biodiversity, and pollution emergencies” urgently and effectively. Towards achieving its dual mandate, UNEP provides global leadership for the implementation of the environmental dimensions of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and direct support to public and private stakeholders in developing countries to promote innovative solutions.
Key MOPAN assessment findings
- UNEP’s role is pivotal in the global response to growing environmental challenges, and it is delivering on its dual normative and operational mandate.
- UNEP’s multiple strategic and implementing partnerships are coherent, purposeful, and generally effective, partly helping to compensate for UNEP’s lack of a physical presence in many countries.
- UNEP is aware of the need to augment and diversify its resources if it is to rise to meet global environmental challenges and the demands from its member states and other stakeholders and has engaged in a path of reforms.
- However, this is work in progress and challenges remain, including the overall size and limited flexibility of its resource base, reporting on results achieved and further clarifying the operating model for achieving synergies under the dual mandate.
* For more key MOPAN findings on UNEP, read the report.
Overall, UNEP’s multiple strategic and implementing partnerships are coherent, purposeful, and generally effective. They partly help compensate for UNEP’s lack of a physical presence in many countries.
While UNEP is delivering on its ambitious dual mandate, which has become even more difficult during a global pandemic, UNEP faces several changes., Given the limited overall size and flexibility of its resource base, particular focus is required on effective alignment of donor resources with its own priorities, as well as the clarification of UNEP’s operating model, and identifying results of UNEP’s direct actions and outputs, both for the UN system and its member states. While, UNEP’s resources will always be limited – its task is to use these resources strategically and efficiently to achieve its ambitious objectives and priorities by leveraging strong partnerships.
Contact:
Samer Hachem, Assessment Manager, MOPAN
✉️ samer.hachem@mopanonline.org
Cara Yakush, Communications Coordinator, MOPAN
✉️ cara.yakush@mopanonline.org