Building the Foundations for Human Dignity, with Jorge Moreira da Silva | UNOPS

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Published Jul 3, 2026

Fighting for and believing in change is in Jorge Moreira da Silva’s blood. Now executive director of UNOPS, the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), the former Portuguese minister is helping to improve lives. From restoring roads and repairing power plants to running health centres and constructing renewable energy mini-grids, UNOPS implements projects in more than 130 countries – often in fragile and conflict-affected settings.

“It's about providing social basic human needs. We have found a way to provide livelihoods to 15 million people in Afghanistan...rehabilitating roads, streets, water canals, paying men and women to do the job.”

In this episode, Jorge Moreira da Silva reflects on the practical and political challenges of delivering projects in complex environments – from funding gaps to lack of political will. He also shares how releasing an Iberian lynx and earning his pilot’s license have to do with keeping hope alive through dark times.

Since this interview was recorded, the UN Secretary-General has appointed Jorge Moreira da Silva to lead the UN task force for the Strait of Hormuz. The Initiative aims to facilitate the delivery and movement of much needed fertilisers and related raw materials to Asia and the African continent. The urgent delivery of these fertilisers is crucial to avert more hunger and food insecurity. He has been engaged in extensive consultations with all parties involved to drive this initiative.

[00:00] Introduction
[00:43] UNOPS: Fit for Service
[02:55] Infrastructure as a lifeline
[05:30] Highlighting impactful climate and energy projects
[07:34] Providing livelihoods for 15 million people in Afghanistan
[09:30] Delivering aid under political constraints
[11:03] Witnessing the devastation in Gaza
[18:51] Restoring human dignity through infrastructure
[21:00] The risks humanitarians take
[23:57] War’s impact on children in Ukraine
[25:54] Confronting global injustice
[27:35] Path to the United Nations
[31:21] Family, sacrifice, and service
[34:13] Personal time and balance
[36:11] A vision for a better world
[38:34] Closing remarks

Listen to more Awake at Night episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwoDFQJEq_0b6hu1e8oxsch9W0D7vkNqt
#podcast #UnitedNations #AwakeAtNight #UNOPS #Infrastructure

About Awake at Night
Hosted by Melissa Fleming, UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, the podcast ‘Awake at Night’ is an in-depth interview series focusing on remarkable United Nations staff members who dedicate their career to helping people in parts of the world where they have the hardest lives – from war zones and displacement camps to areas hit by disasters and the devastation of climate change.