Who we are

Restructuring for greater effectiveness in the field

UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, promotes the right of every woman, man and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity. The Fund works in partnership with governments, other United Nations agencies, communities, NGOs, foundations and the private sector to raise awareness and mobilize the support and resources needed to achieve this mission.

The Fund is fully committed to a more effective, coherent and better co-ordinated United Nations system that 'delivers as one', which is the essence of the ongoing United Nations reform process.

Since 2007, UNFPA has been decentralizing its operations to become a more field-centred, efficient and strategic partner to the countries it serves. To this end, it established six regional and four sub-regional offices in the field that help co-ordinate work in about 150 countries, areas and territories through a network of 129 country offices.

To face Africa's development challenges head on, in 2013 UNFPA established two regional offices in Africa – East and Southern Africa (ESA) and West and Central Africa (WCA). The East and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) is based in Johannesburg, South Africa, and the West and Central Africa Regional Office (WCARO) is based in Dakar, Senegal. Each Regional Office has 23 Country Offices (COs). The Liaison Office (LO) is located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

At the core of this regionalisation is a UNFPA-wide action plan to support nationally led and owned development, by fostering the use of local knowledge and expertize to improve programme and technical assistance in Africa. Regionalization makes UNFPA a more field-focused, streamlined and effective development partner at the country level.

New homes for the Regional Offices

By strengthening its presence at the regional level, UNFPA is:

• Fostering regional alliances and partnerships to ensure government ownership and leadership of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and Maputo Plan of Action;

• Promoting the creation of regional networks of key change agents, including NGOs, community-based organizations, youth and women’s groups, parliamentarian associations and others to exchange experiences and improve policy implementation;

• Intensifying knowledge sharing among and within countries, and through South-South collaboration.

The main roles of the Regional Offices include:

• Leadership and regional policy direction
• Overall performance and management oversight, including the monitoring and analysis of programmes implemented by the Regional Offices, Liaison Office and Country Offices
• Development of regional strategic policies and analysis (including environmental scanning for trends and key issues affecting the region)
• Building partnerships with regional, political and technical entities
• Ensuring quality assurance and accountability
• Overseeing human resources management, staff support and development (including capacity building of staff)
• Monitoring overall governance issues
• Mobilization of resources.

The roles of the Regional Offices

• Development of regional strategic policies and analysis
• Management of programme and technical support (PTS) to country offices in their respective regions
• Capacity development of staff and experts
• Building partnerships with regional, political and technical entities
• Resource mobilization for regional initiatives
• Enhancing regional information and communication flow
• Overseeing management and accountability of country offices in their respective regions.

The roles/functions of the country offices

• To assist the country in implementing the ICPD ( International Conference on Population and Development ) agenda and achieving the ICPD goals and MDGs in accordance with UNFPA’s strategic direction
• To strengthen understanding of and commitment to the ICPD agenda at the country level through evidence-based policy dialogue and advocacy
• To ensure quality delivery of integrated technical and programmatic support that meets country needs though effective use of partnership networks
• To contribute to national capacity development for the implementation of the ICPD agenda
• To respond rapidly and effectively in humanitarian crises, transition and recovery situations in the country
• To develop and manage effective country programmes
• To mobilize resources for implementation of the ICPD agenda at the country level
• To ensure proper and effective management of Office operations.

Depending on the type and size of the country, UNFPA may be represented by an office with a representative in the country, an office where the UNFPA representative covers several countries from one office, or by a UNDP representative designated as a UNFPA representative.

UNFPA's income in 2009 totalled $783.1 million, including $469.4 million in voluntary contributions from governments and private donors.