Last updated: October 2024
Established in 1996, the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) is the UN's official headquarters in Africa, located just 9.7 km from the heart of Nairobi. In line with the UN's global sustainability goals, the office took significant steps to reduce its environmental footprint as it expanded. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), buildings contribute to a third of global energy use and are major sources of greenhouse gas emissions. To address these issues, new buildings were designed to prioritize energy and water efficiency, with a focus on sustainability. Completed in 2011, the new headquarters reflect the UN's broader commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The design includes 6,000 m² of solar panels, rainwater harvesting systems, energy-efficient lighting, and natural ventilation, making the complex energy-neutral and water-efficient. It generates as much solar energy as it consumes, supporting over 1,200 staff members. Additionally, the project carefully preserved indigenous trees and created micro-ecosystems within the interior gardens, further aligning with the UN’s environmental mission. By embedding these green features, the UNON complex serves as a model for sustainable development in urban settings, echoing the UN’s efforts to combat climate change and promote ecological resilience globally. (Ref. 1, 2, 3, 4)
UNON New Headquarters
UN Visitor Service Nairobi
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Nature in buildings (indoor)
- Atriums/Courtyards
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change adaptation
- Climate change mitigation
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
- Improvements to water quality
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Land use and Socio-economic change
- Rapid urbanization
- Other
Key priorities
Climate action (adaptation and/or mitigation), Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration)
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Creation of any other green urban spaces, Other
Project objectives
To achieve water efficiency and recycling through the implementation of a rainwater catchment system and wastewater treatment facilities (Ref 1).
To ensure the new building is energy neutral by meeting its electricity requirements through power generated by solar panels over the year (ibid.).
To promote reduction and recycling while maximizing sustainability without compromising the quality of the working environment (ibid.).
To serve as a showcase for sustainable design and exemplify green building technologies that can be adopted by other organizations and locations, thereby promoting sustainable architecture across the region (ibid.).
To increase green spaces within the building to encourage biodiversity and create cool, beautiful interior gardens that preserve African indigenous wild species and plants, enhancing CO2 absorption and addressing high temperatures (ibid.).
Implementation activities
1) Comprehensive studies conducted to identify major energy-consuming areas and refine sustainability targets, case studies and technical baseline studies from other successful green building projects conducted (Ref 1);
2) Local materials prioritised, bamboo, solar panels, and energy-efficient lighting, among other sustainable technologies used ; 100% recyclable carpet and environmentally friendly paints used (ibid.)
2) 6,000 m2 of solar panels on the rooftop, generating 750,000 kWh electricity for the building’s 1,200 users (Ref 1, 6);
3) The building sited for the maximum number of existing trees to be preserved; Micro-ecosystems created in the interior gardens, wild indigenous species and plants from elsewhere in Africa planted; Biodiversity expected to grow and increase alongside the plants’ CO2 absorption capacity; Automated irrigation programmed to maximise efficient water use (Ref 1);
4) The chimney design and airy walkways ensure good airflow and comfortable internal temperatures (Ref 1, 3);
5) Low-energy bulbs and light detection controllers installed, expected to save up to 70% on lighting costs; Lighting network connected to the building management system enables greater efficiencies on maintenance (Ref 1);
6) 7.5 million Litre of rainwater harvested from the roof in an average rainfall year; Rainwater and recycled water will meet all the irrigation needs; Dual flush lavatories to reduce water consumption by between 40%-60% (ibid.).
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Increase urban vegetation cover to reduce urban heat island effect
Climate change mitigation:
- Increase the availability of green urban space for carbon storage (street tree cover)
- Other
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Create new habitats
- Protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect native species
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Led by non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Multilateral organisation
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
- Taskforce groups
- Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
- Co-management/Joint management
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The office construction project was launched by the UN with a committed partnership between the United Nations Office at Nairobi, UN-HABITAT, UNEP, local architects and contractors, and international technology firms (Ref 1); The funding also came from the UN (Ref 5); Case studies and technical baseline studies from other projects were used to develop green plans that were achievable and comparable to international standards (Ref 1); Perspectives from the UNEP and UN-HABITAT staff, the future occupants, were sought and taken into account by the representatives from the start (ibid.). A green task force set up, including the key building project staff and those that are responsible for the sustainability aspects of the building and fully integrate environmentalists (ibid.); The land on which the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) is located belongs to the Government of Kenya, who has granted long term use of the land to the UN (Ref 8).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Yes
("It is a practical and impressive expression of the United Nations desire to green its operations as part of the Sustainable United Nations initiative" (Ref 1).)
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Type of enablers
Support from transitional governance actors, Funds, subsidies or investment for GI/NBS in the city (available for the city or provided by the city)
Financing
Total cost
More than €4,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- Multilateral funds/international funding
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Lowered local temperature
- Expected lowered local temperature
- Energy efficiency improvements
- Achieved energy efficiency improvements
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved stormwater management
- Achieved improved stormwater management
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Achieved increased green space area
- Reduced biodiversity loss
- Expected reduced biodiversity loss
- Increased number of species present
- Achieved increased number of species present
- Increased presence and recovery of wild species
- Achieved increased presence and recovery of wild species
Economic impacts
- Reduce financial cost for urban management
- Achieved reduce financial cost for urban management
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved access to urban green space
- Achieved improved access to urban green space
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Achieved increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Health and wellbeing
- Enhanced cognitive restoration, relaxation and stress relief
- Achieved enhanced cognitive restoration, relaxation and stress relief
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs
Unknown
References
1.
United Nations Office at Nairobi (n.d.). United Nations Office at Nairobi. United Nations Office at Nairobi, Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];
2.
Maina, J. (2011). UN Office Complex in Nairobi Sets Pace for Green Economy. Construction Kenya, Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];
3.
United Nations Environment Programme (2011). Building for the future: A United Nations showcase in Nairobi. United Nations Environment Programme, Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];
4.
IISD (2011). UNEP Showcases New Green Buildings in Nairobi. IISD, Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];
5.
Design Crucial (2009). UN Headquarters in Kenya go green. Design Crucial, Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];
6.
Muiruri, P. (2016). UN office in Nairobi sets pace in green desi. The Standard, Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];
7.
The Christian Science Monitor (n.d.). Green roofs in Nairobi save energy, water. The Christian Science Monitor, Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];
8.
United Nations in Kenya (n.d.). The United Nations in Kenya. United Nations in Kenya, Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];
9.
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) (2019). 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census: Volume 4 Distribution of Population by Administrative Units. Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), Accessed on September 17, 2024, [Source link];
10.
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) (2019). 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census: Volume 3 Distribution of Population by Age and Sex. Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), Accessed on September 17, 2024, [Source link];
11.
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) (2019). 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census: Volume 4 Distribution of Population by Socio Economic Characteristics. Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), Accessed on September 17, 2024, [Source link];
12.
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) (2019). 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census: Volume 1 Population By County And Sub County. Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), Accessed on September 17, 2024, [Source link];
13.
Ayoyi, D. (2024). Google Maps. Google Maps, Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];
14.
Charagu, D. (2023). Google Maps. Google Maps, Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];
15.
Josiah, E. (2024). Google Maps. Google Maps, Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];
16.
Chama, J. (2023). Google Maps. Google Maps, Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];
17.
Sirengo, A. (2024). Google Maps. Google Maps, Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];
18.
Loco, P. (2023). Google Maps. Google Maps, Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];
19.
Otieno, S. (2024). Google Maps. Google Maps, Accessed on September 18, 2024, [Source link];
UNON New Headquarters
UN Office at Nairobi (UNON)
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.