Governance Unit

UNITAR’s Governance Unit contributes to achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) poverty reduction and governance agenda through developing the capacities of public and private sector officials from developing countries, including LDCs, and transition economies to appropriately address a wide range of governance issues.

The Governance Unit consists of three thematic programmes: Local Development Programme, and Public Finance and Trade Programme, whose area of work is briefly described below.

The Antwerp ITCCO is a UN-public-private initiative established under the joint auspices of the United Nations Training and Research Institute (UNITAR) and the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC). It focuses on CSR trainings through a UN perspective to promote and accelerate the private sector’s adherence to the UNGC principles and progress on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The Local Development Programme (LDP), formerly called "Decentralized Cooperation Programme", is a hub for information, communication, and training between local authorities and academic institutions, United Nations Agencies and other local actors such as public and private companies, and civil society. The goal of LDP’s activities is to enhance the capacity of local actors in implementing integrated approaches to sustainable development and urbanization. The programme provides its capacity development activities through a network of International Training Centres for Local Authorities and Local Actors (CIFAL) around the world.

The Public Finance and Trade Programme focuses on raising awareness, networking and training of senior and middle level officials mainly from developing countries and economies in transition in the areas of public finance, including debt management; trade, and intellectual property; and on strengthening the capacities of national and regional institutions to provide training in these areas. In addition to conducting traditional training and networking activities, the programme offers a wide range of e-Learning courses (online training).