United Nations Institute for Training and Research

The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) is a dedicated training arm of the United Nations system. UNITAR provides training and capacity development activities to assist mainly developing countries with special attention to Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and other groups and communities who are most vulnerable, including those in conflict situations.

United Nations Institute for Training and Research
AbbreviationUNITAR
Formation11 December 1963 (1963-12-11)
TypeResearch and training institute
Legal statusActive
HeadquartersGeneva, Switzerland
Head
Executive Director
Nikhil Seth
Parent organization
United Nations General Assembly
United Nations Economic and Social Council
Websitewww.unitar.org
 Politics portal

Facts
  • Established in 1963
  • Close to 55,000 participants per year
  • Close to 500 training related activities per year
  • Headquarters in Geneva (Switzerland) with offices in New York City (US); Hiroshima (Japan) and project offices in Port Harcourt (Nigeria) and Islamabad (Pakistan)
  • 17 associated training centers (CIFAL)
  • About 220 staff and collaborators

History

The idea of a United Nations training and research institute was mentioned for the first time in a 1962 resolution of the UN General Assembly.[1] UNITAR was founded in 1963, following the recommendation of the UN Economic and Social Council to the General Assembly, which commissioned the UN Secretary-General with the establishment of a United Nations Institute for Training and Research as an autonomous body within the UN system.[2][3]

The creation of UNITAR coincided with the addition of 36 States since 1960, including 28 African States to the United Nations. That unprecedented wave of decolonization created a critical need for assistance, as many of the newly independent States lacked the capacity to train their young diplomats. Shaped by its first four Executive Directors[4] originally from newly independent African States, the Institute's vision of training was developed considering the very needs and priorities of recipient countries.

UNITAR commenced functioning in March 1965. The Institute originally had its headquarters based in New York City. In 1993, UNITAR's headquarters were transferred to Geneva (Switzerland).

UNITAR today
Multiculturalism

The Institute provides training and learning services to national and local government officials of UN member states and civil society representatives from around the world. UNITAR strives to respond to the growing demand from UN member States, especially the Least Developed Countries, for capacity development in the thematic areas of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

UNITAR helps governments to understand climate change, chemicals and waste management, and green economy. The institute also assists ministries of finance through its courses on public debt management, finance and trade, and it provides government officials with training in Peacekeeping and conflict prevention. Through its programme on operational satellite applications (UNOSAT), the Institute provides satellite imagery and analysis.

Since 2003, UNITAR provides courses to support municipal and regional leaders dealing with complex public policies.

Another task of the institute is to organize knowledge sharing events for the UN Secretary-General, including the annual seminar for Special Representatives of the UN Secretary-General as well as strategic meetings for UN Departments. UNITAR also spearheads UN inter-agency initiatives such as the one UN Learning Platform on Climate Change or the Global Migration Group.

UNITAR's research activities are focusing on knowledge systems and their practical applications. They support the Institute's training activities through the provision of learning environments adapted to respond to the needs of adult learners, thus facilitating the increase, efficiency and outreach of the Institute's capacity development activities.

Governance
UN General Assembly 20-11-2009

Operated as an autonomous body within the United Nations system, UNITAR is headed by an Executive Director[5] and governed by a Board of Trustees.[6] The Executive Director and the members of the Board of Trustees are appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General.

UNITAR Executive Directors:

Nikhil Seth India 2015–present
Sally Fegan-Wyles Ireland 2012–2015
Carlos Lopes Guinea-Bissau 2007–2012
Marcel André Boisard Switzerland 1992–2007
Michel Doo-Kingué Cameroon 1983–1992
Davidson Nicol Sierra Leone 1972–1982
S.O. Adebo Nigeria 1969–1972
Gabriel d’Arboussier Senegal 1965–1967

Funding
Training and learning

UNITAR is a project-based organization and does not receive any funds from the regular United Nations budget. The institute is financed entirely from voluntary contributions mainly from UN Member States, other UN agencies, international and Intergovernmental organization, NGOs and the private sector.

Offices
NASA radar satellite image of Dublin, Ireland

Headquarters are based in Geneva (Switzerland), complemented with two out posted offices in New York City (US) and Hiroshima (Japan), and project offices in Port Harcourt (Nigeria) and Islamabad (Pakistan).

UNITAR also delivers training through its CIFAL Global Network (Centre International de Formation des Autorités et Leaders) composed of 17 international, associated training centers. These CIFAL centers are located across Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, the Americas and the Caribbean.

Areas of Work

UNITAR has training expertise in multilateral diplomacy, conflict prevention and peacemaking, peacekeeping, adaptation to climate change, green economy, environmental governance, chemicals and waste management, local governance, as well as public finance and trade, and supporting coherence for the 2030 Agenda amongst others. UNITAR also serves as a research centre for application of satellite imagery to humanitarian, conflict or disaster situations, through UNOSAT, the Operational Satellite Applications Programme.

The work of the institute is organized under five pillars:

  • Promote peace and just and inclusive societies (Peace)
  • Prosperity through sustainable economic growth (Prosperity)
  • People and social inclusion (People)
  • Planet, environmental protection and restoration, and climate change (Planet)
  • Optimizing the use of technology and supporting coherence for the 2030 Agenda (Cross-fertilizing knowledge and expertise)

See also

References
  1. "Resolution 1827 (XVII) of 18 December 1962" (PDF).
  2. Economic and Social Council – Thirty-sixth Session Annexes Document E/3780 United Nations Training and Research Institute – Note by the Secretary-General, 28 May 1963
  3. General Assembly resolution 1934 (XVIII) of 11 December 1963
  4. Former UNITAR Executive Directors
  5. Nikhil Seth, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General, Executive Director, UNITAR
  6. UNITAR Board of Trustees
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