Eco-friendly headquarters to be built for UN agency

Update: 08/01/2013
The Vietnamese Government and the United Nations have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on building an eco-friendly home for the international organisation in the country.

The agreement on constructing the "Green One UN House" is a new milestone in advancing its reform effort in Viet Nam, a joint statement from the UN Communications Office in Ha Noi and the Viet Nam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

"UN organisations and agencies in Viet Nam aim to co-locate and work together to improve effectiveness and efficiency of UN in Viet Nam," the statement said.

Under the MoA, the existing building at 304 Kim Ma Street, Ha Noi, will undergo major renovation and retrofitting to become an eco-friendly home for the UN in Viet Nam.

The Green One UN House will facilitate inter-agency teamwork and programmatic synergies.

The new building will use energy and water efficiently, thus "reducing the environmental footprint of the UN in Viet Nam," the statement said.

The building will bring together UN staff who are currently scattered in more than 10 different locations throughout Ha Noi.

"The office building will also enable the UN to pool various administrative services and achieve sizeable cost efficiencies," the UN said.

The Green One UN House project is a joint endeavor between the Government of Viet Nam, donors and the UN Country Team.

Source: VNS