Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 20 February 2023– The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) have signed an amended and restated Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which aims at enhancing the cooperation between the two institions. The MoU was signed today,in Riyadh, on the margins of the 3rd Riyadh Humanitarian Forum, by IsDB President Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser and Mr. Jens Wandel, Acting Executive Director of UNOPS.

The scope of the MoU will cover the areas of (i) joint diagnostic work, procurement, and capacity assessments; (ii) sharing of pipeline and annual work programs; (iii) cooperation in the following areas: economic and social infrastructure; resilience and social development; regional cooperation and integration; science, technology, and innovation; economic empowerment; private sector development; and Islamic finance.

“I am pleased to sign this MoU, as it will strengthen the existing partnership between us. Together we executed several projects during the Ebola crisis in west Africa in support of the governments of Guinea and Liberia through the construction and rehabilitation of different health facilities”.

The IsDB president praises UNOPS for supporting the IsDB's decentralization process in September 2018 when UNOPS provided training to the IsDB senior hub managers who relocated to the decentralized offices, developed relocation handbooks, and supported the recruitment of local staff for these offices.

Noting that the portfolio with UNOPS under the MoU has grown to around USD 230 million since 2018, Dr. Al Jasser stressed the importance of the Joint Action Plan in helping the team members of each party to know the details of mutual engagement