Outcome NPL_O_3

Advancing business transformation

Progress toward this output has been made. In 2024, the business model of UN Women was further strengthened as marked by the following results: Savings of USD 189,976.00 was realized in 2024 through ten long-term agreements (LTAs), effectively reducing transaction costs. This was facilitated through UN Women’s active participation in the UN Operations Management Team (OMT), including the task forces on Finance, Procurement, Admin, Information Communications Technology, and Human Resources. By providing technical insights, UN Women significantly enhanced coherence, common practices, and operational cost efficiency, particularly through improved utilization of UN common LTAs. UN Women was listed among the top 6 out of 21 UN agencies contributing to the efficiency agenda of UNCT as per UN Info Status Dashboard for Business Operations Strategy which was commended by the Resident Coordinator. In 2024, UN Women remained as one among four UN agencies in Nepal to achieve gender parity and staff diversity as reported by the UNCT HR Task Team. As part of UNCT-SWAP Gender Equality Scorecard, UN Women Nepal demonstrated strong leadership in supporting the implementation of UNCT's commitment to gender equality by tracking the data on gender parity and diversity amongst staff in all UN agencies and presenting it in the UNCT. This has also been recognized globally as a best practice because of its long-term systematic efforts on gender-parity and workforce diversity. As a result, the Resident Coordinator was invited and shared lessons learned at the Annual Global Gender Focal Point Meeting. A total of 104 vendors (30 females, 74 males) enhanced their understanding and practice of UN procurement policies and procedures, including gender responsive procurement practices. This was facilitated through an Open House event on 24 November 2024, led by UN Women in the OMT Procurement Task Force. This initiative streamlined vendor knowledge management and updated the supplier database. The session covered the UN procurement process, fraudulent activities, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, and included a Question & Answer session to bring more clarity to vendors’ understanding. Three provincial offices in Madhesh, Sudurpaschim and Karnali provinces were established in support of effective coordination with key stakeholders and amplifying UN Women’s visibility at the provincial and local level. These offices were established following guidelines provided by the HQ Business Review Committee

Advancing business transformation

This output is on track with significant progress. UN Women 's strategic transformation of its business model has been marked by significant achievements in 2023, highlighting its commitment to delivering impact at scale through agile and ethical leadership, aligning closely with UN-Women programmes and grant-giving objectives. UN Women realized substantial savings of USD 52,733 in 2023 through ten long-term agreements (LTAs), effectively reducing transaction costs. This is a testament to the office's strategic approach to financial management and efficiency. This was facilitated through UN Women’s active participation in the Operations Management Team (OMT) including the task forces on Finance, Procurement, Admin, Information Communications Technology, and Human Resources by providing technical insights that significantly enhanced coherence, common practices, and operational cost efficiency, particularly through improved utilization of UN common LTAs. UN Women exhibited strong leadership in implementing the gender scorecard recommendations. This was highlighted by the analysis and presentation of diversity data of UN agencies, including gender parity and workforce diversity at various levels and comparison with the 2011 population census. The NCO's representation at the Regional Workshop on Gender Scorecard in September 2023, along with its status as one of the 4 UN agencies meeting gender parity among 21 in Nepal, emphasizes its dedicated commitment to gender parity and workforce diversityA total of 151 suppliers (35 females, 114 males, 2 persons with disabilities) enhanced their understanding and practice of UN procurement policies and procedures including the gender-responsive procurement practices. This was facilited through an Open House event on April 9, 2023, co-led by UN Women in the OMT Procurement Task Force. This initiative streamlined vendor knowledge management and updated the supplier database, including women-led businesses. The organizational structure including the workflow of UN Women NCO was strengthened through a comprehensive 'Fit for Purpose' exercise. This dialogue critically evaluated the alignment of UN Women’s organizational structure, functions, and teams with strategic goals set in the Strategic Note and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, while also capitalizing on upcoming opportunities.