The ILO and UNOPS have signed an agreement that will allow both agencies to assess the use of the UNOPS Supplier Sustainability Programme through Delivering Responsibility in Vendor Engagement - or DRiVE - and the benefit that DRiVE can potentially bring to procurement and supply chains in the UN system. The ambition is to eventually expand the use of DRiVE within the wider UN operational environment and build on a One UN approach to sustainable procurement.
Today, at the 36th session of the High-Level Committee on Management (HLCM) Procurement Network hosted by UNEP in Nairobi, the ILO Chief, Procurement Bureau, Vanja Ostojić and the UNOPS Head of Policy and Standards, Procurement Group Rula Abu Nimreh announced this collaboration.
Launched in 2018, DRiVE collects data from suppliers to evaluate their sustainability performance and provide feedback to suppliers on areas of potential improvement. This leverages a data-driven approach to assess and mitigate sustainability risks within the UN's extensive supply chain, which engages over 400,000 suppliers worldwide.
UNOPS Procurement Director, Anne-Claire Howard, stated:
"Using 'DRiVE' is a way to respond to the growing demand of our partners to ensure that our suppliers contribute to sustainable development outcomes and are in line with environmental and social safeguard requirements. This initiative highlights the role UNOPS plays in sustainable procurement and fulfilling our procurement mandate. The partnership with ILO is the first step of our commitment to creating a sustainable and resilient supply chain UN programme that aligns with the UN Supplier Code of Conduct, includes a collective approach for supplier engagement and capacity building, and focuses on critical sustainability factors such as environmental management, labour standards, equal opportunities, environment and health & safety policies, and anti-corruption measures."
Under the newly signed agreement, UNOPS will support the ILO's implementation of the DRiVE programme throughout the procurement cycle, and map the tool against existing processes. The outcomes of this pilot will provide a roadmap for other UN agencies, enabling them to adopt DRiVE and further the UN's commitment to sustainability.
ILO Chief, Procurement Bureau, Vanja Ostojić stated:
"Social justice and decent work are fundamental aspects of sustainable business practices, including procurement processes, and we are proud to collaborate with UNOPS, a UN sister agency that is prioritizing sustainability in its operations. By participating in this project, we provide our expertise in the fundamental principles and rights at work, including occupational safety and health, combating human trafficking and forced labour in supply chains, the inclusion of persons with disabilities, and gender responsiveness. We look forward to contributing to making DRiVE a tool to support UN organizations and specialized agencies in 'walking the talk'. This pilot will allow us to better understand the sustainability risks in our supply chains and support ILO constituents in advancing social justice."
UNOPS and ILO plan to run the pilot programme for a year and conduct quarterly reviews to gather lessons learned, marking a significant step towards establishing a unified, UN-wide tool for sustainable assessment and improvement.
