Introducing the UN Partner Portal
The Inter-Agency harmonization system that will revolutionize the way the World Food Programme interacts with partners
With the adoption of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the UN has a particularly vital role to play to support governments reach these ambitious targets. We have to go well beyond business as usual, we must invest more to achieve zero hunger, eradicate poverty and reduce inequalities.
To meet these outcomes, revamped approaches to support partnership building will be crucial to success. There is the need to mobilize existing and additional finance, technology, knowledge and expertise that countries can apply to accelerate progress. With this in mind, we must create platforms where stakeholders can engage, exchange know-how, bring synergy and capacities to achieve results.
An example of such revamped capacity to support partnership building is the UN Partner Portal (UNPP), a shared open source platform to support the harmonization and simplification of business processes related to working with civil society organizations. A collaboration between WFP, UNHCR and UNICEF, the UNPP will serve as a central database for the registration of partners, as well as a platform for due diligence screening and management of calls for expression of interest.
The UNPP is intended to benefit the Inter-agency staff and their civil society partners by fostering collaborations that enable delivering results for beneficiaries. The new technology and processes break down barriers, foster cooperation and impact change. The portal will serve as an opportunity for partners to learn more about the UN’s partnership processes, view the kinds of partnership opportunities offered and gain more visibility and access to information related to potential partnerships with the UN.
The new platform will allow UN agencies to expand their array of collaborations, as well as identify the availability of partners with the required experience and capacity for specific projects. It will underpin partnerships in both humanitarian and development contexts, supporting the mandates of participating agencies and strengthening civil society collaboration in response to emerging humanitarian needs.
Understanding the full value of the UNPP will require a cultural shift from all stakeholders, but the potential gains are very significant, and will ultimately mean better programmes for those we are seeking to assist.
