International Meetings in a nutshell
International trade is one aspect of the economy that has been most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Do you have any challenges or questions you’d like to discuss? We are offering you an opportunity to get answers via our webinars. Guest experts will discuss their point of view on international trade and provide tips on how to make it through the pandemic and get ready to resume your business.
Topics discussed in this International Meetings webinar
Join us on January 26 at 10 a.m. (ET) for a free webinar and learn more about the ecosystem of the United Nations (UN). Every year, the UN procures a significant volume of goods and services to support missions around the world, in every sector from agriculture to sustainable energy. Most UN programs are delivered by UN country offices and are often implemented by national authorities in the recipient country. All UN aid is untied and open to Canadian entities.
Come and learn more about the criteria and principles to qualify under UN standards.
About the United Nations (UN)
The United Nations system includes a number of specialized agencies that undertake work in support of both development and humanitarian requirements. To fulfil this mandate, the UN procures a significant volume of goods and services annually—USD$22.3 billion total in 2020, with $140.61 million being awarded to Canadian suppliers. All UN procurement must abide by the following principles:
- Best Value for Money, which consists of selecting the offer that best meets the end-users’ needs and takes into account several factors, including quality, experience, the vendor’s reputation, life-cycle costs and benefits, and parameters for measuring how well the good or service allows the organization to meet is objectives.
- Fairness, Integrity and Transparency, ensuring fair, open and rules-based competition. All vendors are treated equally and the process features clear evaluation criteria, unambiguous solicitation instructions, achievable requirements, and rules and procedures that are easy to understand.
- Effective International Competition, giving all potential vendors timely and adequate information on requirements, as well as equal opportunity to participate, restricting participation only when absolutely necessary to achieve stated goals.
- In the Best Interest of the UN Agency, meaning all business transactions must conform to mandates and principles of the United Nations.
Learn more about the International Development Market
Aid agencies and the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) market provide billions in financial assistance to over 100 developing countries. This results in hundreds of projects approved annually and over $50 billion in potential business opportunities in emerging markets.
A unique opportunity to:
- Understand the UN procurement process;
- Learn about the evaluation criteria;
- Understand the vendor registration procedures;
- Identify how to find business opportunities in the various agencies of the UN.
Who is this International Meetings webinar for?
- Canadian firms and individual consultants interested in bidding on UN agency business opportunities.
Activity schedule
10:00 a.m. – 10:05 a.m.: Introduction by Camille Crouzier, Project Manager, International Market Development, Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal
10:05 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.: Presentation by Leah Johnston, Trade Commissioner, Office of Liaison with the International Financial Institutions (OLIFI), Embassy of Canada, Washington
10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.: Presentation by David Costello, Procurement Officer, United Nations Procurement Division (UNPD), Office of Supply Chain Management
10:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.: Question period and wrap-up