Building Interagency Cooperation

UNFPA is fully committed to the United Nations reform process, which calls for greater coherence among UN agencies at every level. The UNFPA European Liaison Offices facilitate coordination, planning, knowledge sharing and UNFPA representation in consultative processes and important meetings within the UN system, as well as with intergovernmental organizations and specialized agencies and funds. UNFPA’s presence at these meetings helps to reduce duplication and administrative costs and to divide responsibilities appropriately based on comparative strengths.

The Geneva Office plays a particularly crucial role in this regard. Two thirds of UN system meetings take place in Geneva, a dynamic centre of international co-operation and multilateral negotiation. Technical officers in reproductive health and humanitarian response work closely with the World Health Organization, UNAIDS, the UN Refugee Agency and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The Geneva office also represents UNFPA at UN meetings in Vienna and Rome. The Brussels Office participates in interagency consultations to ensure that the UN family speaks with one voice in its dialogue with the European Union institutions.

As UNFPA seeks to scale up its initiatives to meet the ICPD and MDG targets, interagency cooperation is increasingly important:

• Leaders of the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNFPA are coordinating action to reverse the global trend of deteriorating levels of sexual and reproductive health and reduce the adverse impact on mothers, babies and young people. more..

• UNAIDS, the World Health Organization and UNFPA endorse the European Union announcement, on the occasion of World AIDS Day 2005, to intensify HIV prevention efforts. more..

• The UN’s rules, systems and culture need significant retooling and investment if the UN is to fulfil growing expectations and demands placed on it by the international community. more..