EuropaWorld 8/6/2001 The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation -UNIDO

The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) was set up in 1966 to help developing countries establish sustainable industrial development. It became a specialised agency of the United Nations in 1985. Today its main task is to help developing countries and countries with economies in transition, to secure a place in the international market and thus resist marginalisation in the global economy. It is an agency working to relieve poverty by fostering productivity growth.

As part of the United Nations system, UNIDO has responsibility for promoting industrialisation throughout the developing world. Its two mutually supportive core functions are information dissemination and technical co-operation. UNIDO acts as a global forum to generate and disseminate knowledge relating to industrial matters. It is also a platform for dialogue and debate thus enhancing co-operation between the various actors and decision-makers at all levels of society.

UNIDO also designs and implements specialised programmes to support the industrial development efforts of its 169 member countries. UNIDO's services range from simple advice and counsel to provision of professional expertise. Examples include the provision of engineers to help businesses implement global agreements on reducing industrial pollution to helping dressmakers in Africa set up textile co-operatives. The aim is to promote productive employment, a competitive economy and a sound environment through the mobilisation of knowledge, skills, information and technology. Countries can thus accelerate their development without compromising social or environmental targets.

Before being put in place, UNIDO's activities must be approved by its biennial General Conference. Once approved the work programme is overseen by a 700-strong Secretariat in Vienna in co-operation with 36 country and regional offices, 10 investment and technology promotion offices and a number of other offices world-wide. Director-General Mr. Carlos Alfredo Magariños, from Argentina, who took office on 8 December 1997, heads the Secretariat.

UNIDO's financial resources come from regular and operational budgets, with special contributions for technical co-operation activities. The regular budget is derived from Member States' assessed contributions which, for 2000-2001, amounted to more than US$133 million. Technical co-operation is funded mainly through voluntary contributions from donor countries and institutions as well as by the United Nations Development Programme, the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol, the Global Environment Facility and the Common Fund for Commodities.

In early 2001, UNIDO's programmes and projects totalled approximately US$375 million. Of the funding already committed, 40% had been allocated to sub-Saharan Africa, 26% to the Arab region and 34% to central and eastern Europe, Asia and Latin America. More information can be found at the UNIDO website at www.unido.org