Interview
MICHELA TELATIN PH.D., UNOPS Serbia Multi-Country Office Director
Gender Equality
As A Priority
UNOPS is a project-based UN agency that has the mission of supporting people in building better lives and supporting countries in achieving sustainable development. For the last 20 years, UNOPS has been active in Serbia as one of the most reliable partners of the government and the international community
W
e are proud to have contributed to a more equal society and we are thankful for the trust and collaboration of all our donors and local and international partners, with whom these results were achieved and shared says UNOPS Serbia Multi-Country Office Director Michela Telatin. What have been the major achievements and the greatest recognition for you and your team? UNOPS’ continuous presence in Serbia for over two decades is recognition of donors’ trust, of the high-quality implementation of projects that respond to the needs of the country, and of a successful methodological approach that is participatory, inclusive and transparent. UNOPS is a project-based United Nations agency that has the mission of supporting people in building better lives and supporting countries in achieving sustainable development. UNOPS’ mandate in project management, procurement, infrastructure, human resources and financial management allows for the designing of context-specific projects that are also shaped by the UN values and private sector efficiency. We are accountable
10
Empowered Women 2021
to people, to the government, to donors and their constituencies, and we see - with our headquarters in Copenhagen and operations in over 80 countries worldwide - that the relevance of having UNOPS’ expertise present is recognised across the world by countries with different levels of income and challenges. In Serbia, we’ve been contributing to socio-economic development by supporting small businesses, good governance, social municipal infrastructure and the strengthening of social inclusion. We are at the forefront in helping the country during emergencies: rebuilding bridges and roads after the floods of 2014; and now, with the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting public procurement and the healthcare system. Our greatest achievement is the tangible impact that our projects and actions bring
to people’s lives, while the greatest recognition for me and my team is the continuity and relevance of our work. The UNOPS Serbia Office has become a multi-country office, providing support to North Macedonia, Montenegro and Ukraine. How do you see the path of countries working towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals and EU accession? UNOPS’ presence in a country is testimony to the United Nations’ support to governments in building their capacity to respond to the needs of their citizens. The projects implemented by UNOPS contribute to fulfilling regional and global frameworks, such as EU accession and the achieving
