Green One UN House's construction kicks off
HA NOI (VNS)– Construction of an office building for all United Nations staff working in Ha Noi – the Green One UN House - kicked off in the city today.
The building will centralise UN staff in Ha Noi to a single location, with the aim of improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the UN in Viet Nam when it is completed in 2014.
Expected to be both energy and water efficient, the new eco-friendly building located at 304 Kim Ma Street will reduce the UN's carbon footprint in Viet Nam, according to the organisation.
It forms one of the six pillars of the "Delivering as One" reform initiative in Viet Nam, which includes: one plan, one budget, one leader, one set of management practices, one voice and the Green One UN House.
The initiative, launched in 2006 in eight pilot countries, will bring together the expertise, experience and capabilities of all UN agencies in the country to provide co-ordinated and effective assistance, the UN said.
Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh described the ground-breaking ceremony as a "reaffirmation of the Viet Nam Government's strong commitment to the implementation of the initiative."
Once completed, the Green One UN House will stand as a symbol of the lasting co-operation between Viet Nam and the United Nations, Vinh added.
Meanwhile, UN Resident Co-ordinator Pratibha Mehta said she hoped the house would strengthen the UN's efforts to deliver-as-one in Viet Nam and make the UN Country Team stronger and more effective. – VNS