In 2021, the United Nations spent a record amount on procurement — and by a huge amount. Spending was up almost a third on the year before.
In 2022, procurement remained at those elevated levels, but for completely different reasons.
Spending rises in 2021 were driven by health-related procurements due to the COVID-19 response. In 2022, the spending on health dropped, but this was compensated for by a massive rise in spending on food, as well as big jumps in the cost of energy and travel.