UNITAR's mandate is to enhance the effectiveness of the UN through training and research. It provides training to assist countries in meeting the challenges of the 21st century, conducts research on innovative training and capacity-building approaches and forms partnerships to develop and implement such programmes.
Activities
UNITAR designs and conducts over 150 different training and capacity-building programmes each year, benefiting more than 28,6000 persons annually. Of particular interest to environmental organizations are its training activities on:
the application of environmental law, which assists government officials, academics, lawyers, judges, planners and NGOs to pursue the goals of sustainable development more effectively;
chemicals and waste management, which helps to support developing countries and countries in economic transition in their efforts to ensure that dangerous chemicals and waste are handled safely;
climate change, the primary goal of which is to support developing countries in implementing the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC);
new information and communication technologies (databases, remote sensing, Geographic Information Systems, Internet), which now offer new mechanisms of management and access to information on line.
Type of organisation:
Intergovernmental organizations
Established:
1965
Number of staff:
55
Head/Director:
Executive Director: Carlos Lopes, Assistant Secretary-General
Cooperation
with individuals and institutions in member States, UN agencies, government representatives and NGOs.
Publications
UNITAR's publications include practice-oriented books, manuals, training materials and distance learning courses. A list can be found on the website.
