Procurement
Ethics and integrity

UNU implements the highest ethics and fair policy when doing business. Vendors can find the supplier codes of conduct under the vendor page. The procurement team are responsible for ensuring and maintaining integrity and ethic throughout the procurement process. All suppliers doing or intending to do business with UNU should follow the highest ethical standards.

UNU has a zero tolerance policy for unethical behaviour and corrupt practices, including:

• Bribery
• Extortion or coercion
• Fraud
• Collusion

UNU will reject and suspend vendors found to peform unethically.

Sustainability

Climate Change is one of the most prominent and challenging issues in the realm of sustainability. Sustainable development, as defined by the United Nations in 1987 is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Therefore, in order to mitigate the impact and to set an effective example as the leader in sustainability worldwide, the United Nations is committing to become a climate neutral public organization. 

Global compact

The United Nations strongly encourages all vendors to actively participate in the Global Compact. The Global Compact is a voluntary international corporate citizenship network initiated to support the participation of both the private sector and other social actors to advance responsible corporate citizenship and universal social and environmental principles to meet the challenges of globalization. 

For further information on the Global Compact, visit UN Procurement Division website.

Social responsibility

All suppliers providing services or delivering goods must follow the UN General Terms and Conditions for Contract, which set out the regulations to prevent child labour, sexual exploitation, and to ensure the workers’ rights.

The UN Supplier Code of Conduct sets forth the expectations of all suppliers with whom the UN does business.  For more details, please find it here: UN Supplier Code of Conduct.

Important: Vendors should note that the United Nations General Assembly resolution 92(1) 1946 restricts the use of the name and emblem of the United Nations. Therefore, vendors under a contract or in a contractual relationship with any of the United Nations’ organizations must not use the UN, UNU, nor UNU-WIDER name, abbreviation, emblem or official seal for commercial purposes with the advocacy of their business prior to a written permission from the organization.