About UN Development Business
UN Development Business (UNDB) is published by the United Nations Department of Public Information and is available by subscription. Since 1979, UNDB has been the foremost business publication providing a comprehensive source of information on opportunities to supply goods, works and services for projects financed by the United Nations, governments and the world's leading development banks (the World Bank, International Finance Corporation-IFC, Inter-American Development Bank, African Development Bank Group, Asian Development Bank, Caribbean Development Bank, Millennium Challenge Corporation, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and North American Development Bank).
UNDB is published both online and in paper form. The paper version is printed and mailed twice monthly. The online version (UNDB Online) is updated several times a week. UNDB Online offers easy-to-use search capabilities (searchable by region, country, sector, bank, and other parameters) that enable users to quickly identify sales and consulting leads. Click here to find out more about the subscription options available to you. Both in print and online, UNDB provides the information that companies and consulting firms need to successfully bid on international development bank contracts.
UNDB contains three general categories of information sources as follows:
1. Procurement Notices: Each year UNDB publishes thousands of procurement notices announcing contracts financed by development banks, UN agencies and governments. No other source provides such a comprehensive and wide array of procurement notices from these banks and agencies. There are two categories of procurement notices: (i) General Procurement Notices (GPN), and (ii) Specific Procurement Notices (SPN). GPNs alert potential bidders to the overall types of goods and services needed for a project and to invite firms to express interest in being placed on lists to receive further announcements. These are followed by SPNs (specific invitations to bid, to prequalify or to submit consulting proposals). SPNs spell out the specific goods, works and services needed for a project, often citing the major requirements for bidding, including how to obtain bidding documents, their cost and the bid deadline date. The addresses of the executing agencies are listed, often with the e-mail address and telephone and fax numbers. Click here to view examples of procurement notices.
2. Development Bank Operational Summaries: The Operational Summaries are separate documents inserted in the paper copy of UNDB and available for easy viewing in UNDB Online. These documents list hundreds of projects being considered for financing by the following major development banks:
- World Bank (updated monthly online and published in paper form on the 16th of each month)
- Inter-American Development Bank (updated monthly online and published in paper form on the last day of each month)
- African Development Bank Group (updated quarterly online and published in paper form on the last day of the months of January, April, July and October)
The listings in the summaries include (among other things) a brief description of the project, the official name, the loan amount and contact information. Click here to view examples of summary listings:
3. Contract Awards: This section provides a listing of many awarded contracts from some of the development banks (including the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank), listing pertinent information regarding the contract. Contract awards help companies and consultants monitor the competition and follow-up on subcontracting opportunities. Click here to view a sample contract award.
Projects financed by the major development banks require goods and services from a broad range of firms, including:
- Consultancies in diverse fields, including computer training, education, financial management, environmental assessment, public health, privatization and community planning.
- Manufacturing, Wholesale and Exporting firrms of almost every type of product, from heavy equipment, machine tools and vehicles to specialized materials, personal computers, chemical products and pharmaceuticals.
- Engineering and Contracting Firms with expertise in infrastructure projects (e.g., roads, rail, ports), water delivery and power systems, telecommunications and industrial plants, among others.
If you supply any of the following key sectors, UNDB can help you increase your international revenues:
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Both in print and online, UNDB provides the information that companies and consulting firms need to successfully bid on international development bank contracts.
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UN Development Business (UNDB) has joined forces with the School of Design Strategies, at Parsons The New School for Design
UN Development Business (UNDB) has joined forces with Parsons The New School for Design in a move to leverage the best of the technological world for the launch of its new state-of-the-art website. The project was spearheaded by UNDB Chief and New School alumna, Nina Brandt, and Assistant Professor Carlos Teixeira.
The mutual gain from this collaboration was clear from the beginning: the United Nations would benefit from the design expertise of the Parsons School student team. In turn, the Parsons School would use UN Development Business as a case study that would help understand the complexities of web services needed by an international organization.
In the face of a fast-paced online environment and customer expectations for reliable and up-to date content, UNDB is harnessing all available resources at its disposal to set itself apart. The publication is already well known for its quality, which is the result of a unique style of editing and refining procurement information. The integration of innovative technological features in the soon- to-be launched website will allow UNDB to consolidate its front-runner status in the field of procurement dissemination.
For two semesters, the student team closely worked with UNDB staff to explore opportunities for innovation in a rapidly evolving online and publishing environment. After careful analysis of the current site, the UNDB team’s work processes, industry standards as well as end-user profile and decision-making activities, the team arrived at some compelling preliminary recommendations.
Findings will offer an additional perspective to embrace opportunities that will enhance UNDB's drive to provide the most consolidated portal for business opportunities to its global clientele.
The UNDB team wants to thank Alyssa Davis, Sofia Millares, Alexander Lugaro, Josip Marsan and Rikard Saven for introducing a creative and fresh perspective during 9 insightful months of collaborative learning and inspiration.