United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO)
Mission
UNIDO was established in 1966 and became a specialized agency of the United Nations in 1985. As a specialized agency, UNIDO has a governing body (now composed of 172 member states), the Statute and a budget of its own, separate from those of the United Nations Organization and other specialized agencies.
UNIDO has a special place in the UN system as the only organization promoting the creation of wealth and poverty alleviation through manufacturing.
Core functions
As a global forum, UNIDO generates and disseminates knowledge relating to industrial matters and provides a platform for the various actors in the public and private sectors, civil society organizations and the policy- making community in general to enhance cooperation, establish dialogue and develop partnerships.
UNIDO designs and implements programmes to enhance the productivity of industry in developing and transition economies. UNIDO programmes are focused geographically on least developed countries; sectorally on agro-based industries; and thematically on micro, small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Thematic priorities
Poverty reduction through productive activities: promoting industry, especially through small and medium enterprises in less developed areas with a focus on employment creation, income generation and institutional capacity-building;
Trade capacity building, helping countries to build capacities to produce competitive exportable products and to maintain the internationally recognised infrastructure to prove conformity to international standards.
Environment and Energy, promoting industrial energy efficiency and renewable sources of energy, particularly in rural areas, and supporting other activities for sustainable industrial development.
Structure
UNIDO has three policy-making organs: General Conference, Industrial Development Board and Programme and Budget Committee. The chief policy-making organ of the Organization, the General Conference, comprising representatives of all Member States, takes place every two years.
The Industrial Development Board of 53 Members reviews the implementation of the work programme, the regular and operational budgets and, every four years, recommends a candidate for Director-General (DG) to the General Conference for appointment. The DG heads the UNIDO Secretariat.
The Programme and Budget Committee, consisting of 27 Members elected by the General Conference for a two-year term, is a subsidiary organ of the Board, and assists it in preparing work programmes and budgets.
As of December 2005, the chief executive of UNIDO is Director-General Kandeh K. Yumkella (Sierra Leone).
Cooperation with Ukraine
Ukraine is a member of the UNIDO since its establishment in 1966. In December 1995 the Government of Ukraine and the UNIDO have signed the Agreement on Co-operation in the field of Industrial Development. In December 2001 there was signed the Agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the UNIDO regarding outstanding assessed contribution under a Payment Plan. As the result Ukraine has restored its voting right in the Organisation and in 2003 was elected to the Industrial Development Board – the second highest governing body of the UNIDO after the General Conference. In 2007 Ukraine was elected to the Programme and Budget Committee till 2009. In December 2009 during the 13th session of the General Conference of UNIDO Ukraine was elected to the both governing bodies of UNIDO.
Since 1999 the Focal Point of UNIDO has been working in Ukraine.
The following priority areas of technical co-operation were established:
I. Environmental safety, energy efficiency and cleaner production;
II. Technological development and promotion of investment to Ukraine;
III. Development of the private sector and partnership programmes;
IV. Regional industrial development.
At this time UNIDO is implementing and elaborating several pipeline projects for Ukraine in the sphere of the cleaner production, waste water management, bio fuels, renewable energy, food-processing, foresight technologies.
Recent activities in the field of environment and energy in Ukraine include:
In November 2009 the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Petro Poroshenko met the Director-General of UNIDO Dr. Yumkella and discussed the future development of the cooperation between Ukraine and the Organization.
For further information about the UNIDO, please, visit its web-site or contact the Secretariat:
UNIDO Headquarters
Vienna International Centre
P.O. Box 300
A-1400 Vienna
Austria
Tel: +43 (1) 26026-0
Fax: +43 (1) 2692669
www.unido.org