UNOPS Austria

02/10/2026

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen visited yesterday as part of her tour in the region, the newly constructed premises of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, featuring modern laboratories, a library and inclusive, energy-efficient learning spaces.

More than 2,400 students and academic staff at the University of Pristina will now benefit from a state-of-the-art facility designed for modern teaching, research and scientific collaboration.

Co-funded by the European Union, the University of Pristina and the Ministry of Education and Science, with works implemented by UNOPS, the new facility shows how strong partnerships can deliver sustainable infrastructure and lasting opportunities for future generations.

🔗 Click the link for more: https://www.unops.org/president-von-der-leyen-visits-new-eu-co-funded-faculty-of-mathematics-and-natural-sciences-premises-in-pristina

UNOPS Kosovo UNOPS European Commission Universiteti i Prishtinës

24/09/2026

11/09/2026

A shared sea needs shared evidence. 🌊

Baku Climate Action Week 2026 brings together policymakers, international organizations, businesses, researchers and civil society to strengthen partnerships and advance practical climate action across Azerbaijan and the wider region.

As part of the week, Blueing the Caspian Sea was represented by Simonetta Siligato, UNOPS Multi-Country Director, during the panel “Climate change challenges on the inland water bodies: Caspian Sea case.” The discussion focused on the impacts of climate-driven water-level change and the need for stronger cooperation between science, policy, investment and implementation.

Blueing the Caspian Sea contributes to these efforts by supporting Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to strengthen pollution monitoring and biodiversity planning, while promoting better knowledge exchange and more coordinated action across the region.

Financed by the , implemented by the and executed by , Blueing the Caspian Sea is helping strengthen the resilience of the Caspian Sea and support a more sustainable future for the region.

10/09/2026

On the 8th of September, our UNOPS Albania team and Albania’s Centralised Purchasing Operator (OBP) signed a cooperation agreement to support the continued modernization and strengthening of public procurement in Albania.

UNOPS will bring its international procurement expertise to support OBP in strengthening institutional capacity, improving internal processes and performance, and further aligning procurement practices with international standards and good practices.

10/09/2026

Behind every project is a story of impact.
A school rebuilt → students learning again
A medical clinic → vital healthcare within reach
A livelihood restored → opportunities to thrive
Practical solutions. Tangible results.
Watch how UNOPS delivers for communities around the world 🌍

04/09/2026

What happens when young people from across Central Asia come together to exchange ideas, challenge perspectives and shape the next steps of regional cooperation?

From 19 - 21 August, members of the five Youth Sounding Boards in Central Asia gathered in Aktau, Kazakhstan, for their 2nd Regional Coordination Meeting under the EU Civil Society Facility in Central Asia.

Representing Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, participants reflected on the first year of their work with EU Delegations, shared experiences from their countries and explored how youth voices can contribute more meaningfully to dialogue and decision-making.

The three-day programme combined reflection with practical learning. Discussions focused on youth participation and regional cooperation, while skills sessions explored human rights and advocacy, communication on sensitive topics, artificial intelligence and digital security.

A visit to Kuryk Port also gave participants an opportunity to see regional connectivity in practice and connect their discussions with the wider Global Gateway agenda.

Beyond the sessions themselves, the meeting demonstrated the value of creating spaces for young people to exchange perspectives across borders, learn from one another and build lasting professional and personal connections.

UNOPS is proud to support the implementation of the EU Civil Society Facility in Central Asia and initiatives that help strengthen dialogue, cooperation and meaningful youth engagement across the region.

01/09/2026

Heritage is not simply about the past. It is about who we are, what we value, and what we choose to carry forward.

This year’s European Heritage Days begin under a powerful theme: “Heritage at Risk: Revive, Resist, Reimagine.” Across Europe, communities are invited to reflect on what is at risk and on our shared responsibility to protect, restore and give new life to the heritage we share.

For Albania, this message has a particular resonance.

The 2019 earthquake reminded us how quickly cultural heritage can be placed at risk. But it also showed what is possible when institutions, communities and international partners come together with a shared commitment to preserve what matters.

Through , the European Union and UNOPS worked alongside Albanian institutions and communities to restore cultural heritage sites damaged by the earthquake, not simply rebuilding walls, but helping bring back places that hold memories, traditions and a sense of belonging.

When we preserve heritage, we preserve more than buildings. We preserve stories. We preserve knowledge. We preserve identity. We create spaces where future generations can connect with the past while imagining what comes next.

25/08/2026

Climate change doesn’t stop at borders. Neither should our response.

Heatwaves, droughts, wildfires and growing pressure on water resources affect communities, economies and ecosystems far beyond national borders. Building climate resilience therefore requires countries and communities to work together.

Within the EU Civil Society Facility in Central Asia, the Thematic Working Group on Climate Change and Environment brings together civil society voices from across the region to share ideas, expertise and perspectives on these shared challenges.

The Working Group highlights the need for stronger exchange of knowledge and data, as well as joint research on issues such as water efficiency, land degradation, forests and ecosystem adaptation. It also calls for civil society to have a stronger voice in shaping, implementing and monitoring regional and international climate policies.

19/08/2026

A new milestone for healthcare infrastructure in Uzbekistan 🇺🇿

The Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan, the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) and UNOPS have signed an agreement to support the development of a new 300-bed multidisciplinary hospital in Beshkent City, Kashkadarya Region.

The agreement also marks UNOPS’ first collaboration with ADFD, opening an important new partnership. The ADFD-funded component forms part of a wider $127.1 million healthcare infrastructure project, which also includes a new hospital in Karshi and the expansion of telehealth facilities across the region, with financing from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).

The new Beshkent hospital will replace existing infrastructure and provide modern facilities for services including maternity, paediatrics, surgery, infectious diseases, pathology and outpatient care, helping expand access to quality healthcare for communities across Kashkadarya.

We look forward to building on these partnerships and supporting the implementation of the project, turning this investment into modern, accessible and resilient healthcare infrastructure and better services for communities across the region.

👉 Read the full press release:https://content.unops.org/documents/libraries/press-releases/2026/en/Press-release-Uzbekistan-New-agreement-advances-healthcare-infrastructure-in-Kashkadarya-Region.pdf



UNOPS

14/08/2026

Marking Caspian Sea Day in Turkmenistan

On 12 August, UNOPS Austria Multi-Country Director Simonetta Siligato joined government representatives, regional partners and experts in Awaza, Turkmenistan, for the Scientific and Practical Conference “Protecting the Caspian Sea Ecosystem: Regional Cooperation and Sustainable Development.”

This year’s Caspian Sea Day marks an important milestone: 20 years since the Tehran Convention entered into force, establishing the first legally binding regional agreement among the five Caspian littoral states for the protection of their shared marine environment.

In her remarks, Simonetta Siligato highlighted the importance of translating regional commitments into lasting results. Through the Blueing the Caspian Sea project, UNOPS is supporting Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan to strengthen pollution monitoring, improve biodiversity planning and improve the management of marine protected areas, contributing to stronger national capacities and regional cooperation for the protection of the Caspian Sea.

As environmental pressures on the Caspian continue to grow, strong partnerships and regional cooperation remain essential to protecting the sea, its ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.

Visit the website to learn more about the project:
https://www.blueingthecaspiansea.project.unops.org/