UNITED NATIONS INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION

Mission

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) helps developing countries and countries with economies in transition in their fight against marginalization in today's globalized world. It mobilizes knowledge, skills, information and technology to promote productive employment, a competitive economy and a sound environment. Carlos Magariños, the Director-General of UNIDO, describes the Organization as a specialized United Nations agency that focuses its efforts on relieving poverty by fostering productivity growth.

Background

UNIDO was set up in 1966 and became a specialized agency of the United Nations in 1985. As part of the United Nations common system, UNIDO has responsibility for promoting industrialization throughout the developing world, in cooperation with its 169 Member States. Its headquarters are in Vienna, and with 35 country and regional offices, 13 investment and technology promotion offices and a number of offices related to specific aspects of its work, UNIDO maintains an active presence in the field.

Core Functions and Services

As a global forum, UNIDO generates and disseminates knowledge relating to industrial matters and provides a platform for the various actors- decision makers in the public and private sectors, civil society organizations and the policy- making community in general- to enhance cooperation, establish dialogue and develop partnerships in order to address the challenges ahead. As a technical cooperation agency, UNIDO designs and implements programmes to support the industrial development efforts of its clients. It also offers tailor-made specialized support for programme development. The two core functions are both complementary and mutually supportive. On the one hand, experience gained in the technical cooperation work of UNIDO can be shared with policy makers; on the other, the Organization's analytical work shows where technical cooperation will have the greatest impact by helping to define priorities.

Web Site: www.unido.org

E-mail: unidophi@philonline.com