UNHCR and WFP launch vehicle leasing service for UN Agencies worldwide

GENEVA – UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced today that they have set up an independent service - UN FLEET - to help their sister UN organizations lease the vehicles they need for operations around the world.

The new service, which operates independently, builds on UNHCR and WFP’s experience in setting-up vehicle leasing schemes. It helps organizations optimize their fleets by advising them on the right vehicle models for their operations and then taking care of the procurement, vehicle preparation and shipping process.

UN FLEET officially started operations on 4 October as UNFPA and UNICEF signed global service agreements for vehicle leasing. The two organizations’ offices across the world will now be able to lease vehicles directly from UN FLEET, through its online portal.

"UN FLEET is a great example of partnership in action and how both qualitative benefits and quantitative efficiency gains can be reached when we work together as one in the UN,” said Kelly T. Clements, UNHCR Deputy High Commissioner.

The UN System collectively operates more than 30,000 light vehicles globally and the new initiative is a concrete step towards streamlining the process of procuring and managing those vehicles throughout their lifecycle. Managing the different fleets in a safe, efficient, and sustainable way will in turn lead to cost reduction, lower emissions and increased road safety.

The ongoing implementation of the UN Reform programme, and specifically the focus on cost efficiencies, is pushing all UN agencies and programmes to pursue more cost-efficient support services.

“These agreements between UNFPA, UNICEF and UN FLEET are an example of United Nations entities finding ways to work more effectively together to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and, on behalf of WFP and UNHCR, we are pleased to leverage our expertise for the benefit of the wider UN community and the people we serve,” said Manoj Juneja, WFP Deputy Executive Director, Management and Chief Financial Officer.

By reducing the duplication of functions and administrative and transactional costs through the consolidation of fleet services, UN FLEET is a tangible UN Reform initiative providing support across the United Nations system towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

UN FLEET is backed by a team of technical experts from both agencies, and managed through a user-friendly digital interface – the UN Fleet Portal. Additional benefits such as full insurance for loss and damage to the vehicle and optional field worthy accessories are also provided by UN FLEET. After a 60-month lifecycle, UN FLEET decommissions the vehicle and provides a replacement vehicle to the client if needed.

Over the past year, UN FLEET has been engaging with a wide range of UN agencies for the provision of leasing vehicles and fleet services. That engagement has included discussions with each agency on its needs, ambitions and operational opportunities or constraints.

About UNHCR

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people.

About WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

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For more information please contact:

UNFLEET

• Phil Jones (Head): [email protected]
• Merel van Egdom (Project and Reporting Officer): [email protected]

UNHCR

• Dominic Grace (Deputy Director, Head of Global Mobility and Infrastructure Service): [email protected]
• James Edward Cook (Associate Communications Officer): [email protected]