1. "Who can participate?"

The training programmes for the diplomatic community in Geneva, Nairobi, Vienna and in cities hosting UN regional Commissions are open to staff members working at their countries´ Permanent Missions in these venues. Staff of all ranks and functions can apply to attend. Space permitting, these programmes will also admit diplomats based in other towns or in their home countries, but no practical or financial assistance can be provided to participants who travel to Geneva, Nairobi or Vienna to attend one of these programmes.

2. "How many participants per country do you accept?"

If we receive more applications for a training seminar than we have places, only one participant per country will be accepted. However, it does happen that we can accommodate more than one participant per country in a particular seminar. Therefore, all interested persons from a particular Permanent Mission are encouraged to apply. 

3. "Are places awarded on a first come, first served basis?"

No. Only once the application deadline is over UNITAR will decide which applicants can participate. All candidates whose applications arrive until the application deadline get an equal chance. Nevertheless, you would make our work a lot easier if you would not send your application at the very last moment.

4. "How much does it cost?"

The training programmes for the diplomatic community and any training materials that are distributed during a course are offered free of charge. All participants are expected to pay their own public transport costs, parking fees, meals, etc.

Please remember that UNITAR is entirely financed by voluntary contributions from UN Member States. The strength and sustainability of the voluntary contributions are essential to meet the training needs and priorities of the Member States.

5. "How do I apply?"

Please complete an application form, have it countersigned by your ambassador and send it to UNITAR so that it arrives before the application deadline expires. Paper copies of application forms and "Information Notes" containing a description of each seminar are also sent by post to all Permanent Mission in the respective target city several weeks before the application deadline. These letters are addressed to the Permanent Representative/Ambassador, whom we ask to distribute the information among their staff.

6. "I applied to attend a seminar, but never heard from UNITAR again. What went wrong?"

Something, obviously! UNITAR will always contact each person who has applied for a training event to say whether he or she can participate or not. Your application may never have arrived. Our reply to you may have been lost. One thing you should always do is check your e-mail (or the e-mail of the person or institution you mentioned on your application form) since we strive to send as much correspondence as possible electronically. If you have no news from UNITAR less than four working days before a training event, please contact us to enquire about the status of your application!

7. "You state that UNITAR prefers to send correspondence by e-mail. My Permanent Mission has no e-mail address!"

You can also use your private e-mail address, such as a "yahoo" or "hotmail" account. What is important is that we can reach you reliably. It does not matter at all to whom the e-mail address belongs.

8. "I was accepted as a participant, but now I am unable to attend because of other urgent commitments. Is that a problem?"

You can easily help us to prevent such a situation from becoming a problem. If you are unable to attend a training programme for which you have been selected, please notify UNITAR in advance. A short phone call or e-mail to any UNITAR staff member of the Multilateral Diplomacy Section, preferably the one who has organized the event and has sent you the confirmation letter, is sufficient. Many of our training programmes are oversubscribed because of high demand. If you give up your place it can be awarded to another interested participant on our "waiting list". Please avoid cancelling less than 24 hours before the start of a seminar and please do not become a "no-show".

9. "What is a ´no-show´?"

A "no-show" is a selected participant who fails to show up for a training event. The place of a "no-show" is wasted because by the time we become aware of the absence it is too late to award the place to somebody else. Please note that we monitor the attendance at all training events. If there are more candidates than places for a particular training event, previous ´no-shows´ may not be admitted to this seminar.

10. "I have never been a ´no-show´, yet UNITAR did not admit me to one its seminars. Why?"

There are other factors that we also take into account. In deciding who is admitted to UNITAR’s seminars and workshops if there is a shortage of places UNITAR applies the following principles:¨

• We limit the number of participants per country.
• We strive for a fair gender distribution.
• Priority is given to developing countries, particularly the least developed countries and those countries having contributed to the General Fund.

11. "What is the difference between a ´seminar´ and a ´workshop´?"

There is actually not a huge difference. A workshop is of a highly participatory nature and typically contains more practical exercises, simulations and role-plays than a seminar. 

12. "Where do the training programmes take place?"

Training Programmes in Vienna are usually held at the Vienna International Centre, training programmes in Nairobi at the UNON Gigiri compound. Please note the most Geneva training programmes do not take place at the Palais des Nations, but at the "International Environment House" (IEH) in Geneva-Châtelaine, where UNITAR has its offices. You can find directions to the IEH here on the UNITAR homepage and on the IEH homepage.

13. "What seminars are planned in the near future?"

Please consult our schedule of training activities regularly. We recommend that you check it for news every six to eight weeks.

14. "What type of seminars have you organized in the past?"

Please visit our online archive of concluded training courses, which contains descriptions of past seminars and workshops.

15. "Can I receive a certificate of attendance for a UNITAR training event in which I have participated?"

Certificates will only be issued to participants who have attended a seminar or workshop in its entirety without missing a session or being excessively late.

16. "Whom shall I contact if I want to apply to attend a seminar, or if I have a question?"

Please contact only UNITAR to submit your application or if you have a question. If you approach the United Nations Office in the country where the training event takes place (UNOG in Geneva, UNON in Nairobi, UNOV in Vienna) our UN colleagues at these offices will not be able to assist.

17. "Anything else I need to know about UNITAR´s seminars?"

Please switch off the ringing tone of your mobile phone while you attend our seminars. All training events start at the advertised time, not ten or fifteen minutes later.