A completely reimagined Engineering Support Manual for Field Missions is now available for all UN staff involved in the planning, design, construction and maintenance of facilities and infrastructure in field missions.
This is not just an update—it’s a ground-up transformation of the original 1998 manual. Developed by the Office of Supply Chain Management, the new edition reflects the latest global engineering practices, technological innovations, and the evolving operational priorities of the United Nations.
The new manual reflects global technological advancements, and the expanding priorities of the United Nations. Major updates include:
- Clearly defined standards of accommodation
- Environmental guidance, aligned with UN environmental policies
- Conceptual design considerations for the establishment of UN camps
- Gender considerations included in camp design parameters, benefiting from the work of the Elsie Initiative.
United Nations field missions operate in unique, complex environments, which often require specialized engineering solutions for rapid deployment. Therefore, the Engineering Support Manual covers the following guiding principles:
• Maximum use of existing infrastructure and facilities
• Use of locally available material
• Consideration of the wider impact on the host country/nation and the objective of leaving a positive legacy
• Prioritization of sources of raw material or supplies controlled by the UN or the host country/nation
• Modification of existing structures rather than new construction
• Design and basic construction standards
• Minimum engineer effort (maximum use of host nation labour and contracting)
• Standard designs and specifications guided by internationally accepted codes of practice
• Timely support and timely delivery of goods
• Provision of cost-effective technical specialized support
• Stages in service delivery process.
