PERFORMING EFFECTIVELY
IN MULTILATERAL CONFERENCES AND DIPLOMACY

 

 

About UNITAR

The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1965 as an autonomous institution with the purpose of "enhancing the effectiveness of the United Nations in achieving the major objectives of the Organization, in particular the maintenance of peace and security and the promotion of economic and social development."

UNITAR views training as a core component in developing and sustaining human and institutional capacities, and strives to reflect its commitment to Member States by providing them and other beneficiaries with an extensive range of training and technical assistance opportunities to enhance professional performance and results, and to achieve more effective and efficient decision-making.

With its emphasis on training (and research-on-and-for-training), UNITAR designs and implements each year some 150 training or training-related activities, benefiting over 10,000 participants throughout the world in fields as diverse as diplomacy and international affairs, environment and sustainable development, information technology and peacemaking and preventive diplomacy. In addition to its numerous fact-to-face activities, yearly over 4,500 individuals benefit from UNITAR's e-Learning platform.

As an important pillar of UNITAR, the Multilateral Diplomacy Programme designs and implements training activities for the diplomatic communities in Geneva, Vienna and Nairobi, and, as of 2006, in cities hosting the United Nations regional economic and social commissions. Since 2002, the Programme has broadened its services to Member States by offering on a demand-driven basis courses and workshops at the national and regional levels. Over 50 courses have been implemented thus far in over 20 countries.

As an integral part of the UN system, UNITAR is closer to new trends and developments in multilateral diplomacy and international affairs than many similar training institutions. UNITAR monitors these developments and incorporates new and changing dynamics into its training activities. Many experienced diplomats and senior UN officials serve as resource persons for UNITAR training courses. They are themselves at the center of "real-world" diplomacy, and their knowledge and practical experience are transferred to the beneficiaries.