UNICEF construction brings sustainability commitments to life
UNICEF’s sustainable construction supports its programmes while minimising environmental impact.
In 2021, UNICEF procured construction services totalling $257.1 million, including $106.7 million in the Middle East and North Africa Region and $64.1 million in the West and Central Africa Region. Additionally, UNICEF implements millions of dollars in construction works through its partners.
UNICEF construction covers a range of projects, from large national warehouses that support immunization programmes to rural classrooms and water and sanitation facilities in communities. Sustainability principles are inherent in implementing all these projects. Construction provides a significant opportunity for UNICEF to support operations and programmes for children while minimising the environmental impact on the planet and communities.
Building schools with local resources
In 2021, UNICEF used local materials and labour to reconstruct 384 classrooms in 64 schools destroyed during the 2016 - 2019 Kamuina Nsapu insurgency in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. UNICEF employed a sustainable, transformable school model to get children back into the classroom as quickly as possible and later transformed the foundation and frames of these temporary structures into permanent buildings.
The conversion of semi-permanent schools into permanent buildings was achieved by constructing permanent masonry walls. The work was undertaken by local communities using local materials readily available in the local market, reducing the environmental footprint of transporting materials from elsewhere.
Engaging the local community in school reconstruction contributed to social sustainability – and kept alive the region’s tradition of local communities building and taking ownership of their schools.
Testing green building in remote and challenging environments
Much of Qinghai province in China is remote, mountainous, arid – and endures very cold winters. Under conditions that challenge standard building approaches used elsewhere in the country, UNICEF piloted the construction of innovative water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities in conjunction with China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.
At a community health centre in Qinghai’s Huzhu County, UNICEF constructed climate-resilient toilets that utilised a combination of energy- and water-saving technologies. The water cistern embedded in the wall of the structure increases the water flow rate and, consequently, uses only 0.5-3l of water per flush – less than half the amount of water required in by standard toilets.
Solar energy provides 100 per cent of the heating in the building that houses the toilets. Water heated by solar energy is also used for handwashing. The wall of the toilet building uses polyurethane thermal insulation to reduce its total energy needs.
UNICEF hopes to scale this innovative, climate-resistant sanitation facility elsewhere in China – and globally – for schools and health centres in challenging environments.
Greening the UNICEF office in Bangladesh
In December 2020, UNICEF opened the doors of its new three-storey office in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The office can host over 200 staff members and its construction deployed several sustainable building strategies.
The greening of this office began with its architectural design, developed in consultation with UNICEF’s Greening Team, which works to make construction projects more sustainable. The U-shaped design maximizes the use of natural light, decreasing the demand for artificial light during the day. Its double-paned windows support efficient use of the building’s air conditioning.
“The UNICEF office in Dhaka establishes a new benchmark for sustainable construction for UNICEF. It illustrates the agency’s commitment to providing a safe and healthy workspace for our professionals while moving the needle towards our sustainable construction goals.”
UNICEF installed 20 kilowatts of solar capacity, lowering the building’s demands on externally provided electricity. Energy use was further reduced by using low-consumption, sensor-based LED lighting.
Reducing water consumption was a priority in building design. This state-of-the-art facility utilises rainwater for landscaping and cleaning needs such as washing the office’s official vehicles. Bathroom faucets are sensor-based, a technology shown to reduce water consumption by up to 30 per cent.
To reduce carbon inside the building, printing rooms are enclosed and utilise exhaust systems. Carbon detectors and air purifiers support air quality and safety. The project resulted in an eco-friendly working environment that enhances natural lighting and provides better temperature regulation, that has increased staff well-being.
UNICEF is committed to reducing the environmental impact of its global operations and programmes, making environmental sustainability a key consideration in everything it does. Sustainable operations and programmes are a core component of UNICEF’s Strategic Plan 2022-2025 and Supply Division includes a series of environmental considerations in its procurement processes, including reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and has adopted sustainable procurement practices in support of its commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Sustainable strategies in construction
UNICEF employs key strategies to reduce is environmental footprint and increase the sustainability of the structures it builds, including utilising:
- Local or regional sourcing of materials to reduce CO2 emissions of transportation.
- Recycled building materials.
- Waste disposal channels for toilets and kitchens, which eliminate pollution of groundwater.
- Rainwater harvesting to be used for toilets, gardening, or other needs.
- Smart energy meters and other monitoring of energy use by UNICEF-built facilities.
- Green technologies such as LED lighting, efficient climate control systems, sensors for lights and faucets, and non-toxic paints.
- Solar technology to provide green electricity
