The UN in Viet Nam: Pioneering the Efficiency Agenda

When I arrived in Viet Nam as the Resident Coordinator in June 2022 I had one firm determination:  to build upon the many achievements of the UN country team and continue to accelerate action towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  

Like other countries around the world however, Viet Nam’s progress towards the SDGs was stalled by the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and the knock-on effects of other global crises. Responding to this pressure to get the SDGs back on track, we, the UN in Viet Nam are working together to support the Government’s national priorities, including through its second ‘Voluntary National Review’ to assess progress on the global goals. 

The success of our efforts will be built on stronger collaboration, innovation and joint learning, while also making further inroads in improving efficiencies to help us deliver better together.

One way we are doing this is through the implementation of the Efficiency Agenda: a roadmap to consolidate UN support at the country level, reduce the duplication of functions, and in this way reduce costs, and support those who need it most in a cost-efficient manner. 

A significant contribution to the Efficiency Agenda was through our Green One UN House (GOUNH) in Hanoi, which was inaugurated by Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon in 2015. The Green One UN House now hosts 15 UN agencies with approximately 410 staff. At full capacity, it is a testament that it is possible to achieve One UN coherence and cost-effectiveness whilst applying sustainable management practices in line with the SDGs. 

In 2022-2023, we have continued this pioneering spirit to move the needle in the ambitious Efficiency Agenda. 

Here’s what we have done: 

1. All 15 UN agencies in the Green One UN House now benefit from having shared and upgraded Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) services.  Based on a comprehensive ICT review, the upgrade and integration have improved the end user experience and led to significant savings: the we went from needing 30 servers to only three, reducing our carbon footprint and saving more than $1 million.
    
2. Adopted Hybrid Working Models since January 2022 to ensure smarter use of the workspace and anticipate future changes in the world of work. In the first year, 7% of the office capacity was used as hybrid seats, which will be further expanded in 2023.
    
3. As an Ecological Front Runner, we continue to push the envelope on sustainability. In 2022, the UN in Viet Nam received the new LOTUS Building in Operations – Platinum Certification awarded by the Vietnam Green Building Council (VGBC) and other national and international partners for demonstrating our office commitment toward environmental responsibilities. In terms of concrete savings, photovoltaic Solar Panels accounted for 16% of the building’s energy needs (saving USD10,686/year) and 100% of our building’s wastewater was treated in-house – with 30% reused for irrigation purpose. 

The numbers speak for themselves. Cumulatively, the UN in Viet Nam over the period of 2015 to 2022, with full occupancy of the Green One UN House, generated cost-efficiency gains of $ 2.5 million, with $410,000 recorded in 2022. On issues relating to procurement, Human Resources and finance, the UN in Viet Nam generated cost-efficiency gains of $540,000 between 2018-2022.

Now is not a time for complacency. As a frontrunner and a ‘proof of concept’ for the ambitious Efficiency Agenda, we will continue to share our knowledge, innovate and transform our ways of working to help other UN country teams. 

The road ahead will not be without challenges, but together, as we adapt, learn and anticipate change, we will meet these head on. Herein lies the pioneering spirit of the UN in Viet Nam!

This blog was written by the UN Resident Coordinator in Viet Nam, Pauline Tamesis, with editorial support from UNDCO.  To learn more about the work of the UN in Viet Nam visit vietnam.un.org