General Assembly Distr.: General 9 October 2002

Original: English

Fifty-seventh session

Report of the Executive Director of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research*

* The present document is an advance version of the report of the Executive Director of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research. The final version will be issued as Official Records of the General Assembly, Fifty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 14 (A/57/14).

02-62671 (E) 041102 *0262671* A/57/14

TABLE OF CONTENTS Paragraphs Page

Introduction 1-23 3 Report of Activities 24-154 8

I. Training Programme in Multilateral Diplomacy and International Affairs Management 24-76 8 A. Diplomacy Training and Fellowships 24-42 8 B. Peacemaking and Preventive Diplomacy 43-52 10 C. Programme of Training for the Application of Environmental Law 53-63 12 D. The International Migration Policy 64-72 14 E. Programme of Correspondence Instruction in Peacekeeping Operations 73-76 16

II. New York Office 77-85 18

III. Training and Capacity Building Programmes in the Field of Economic and Social Development 86-154 20 A. Training and Capacity Building Programmes in Chemicals and Waste Management 86-104 20 B. The Climate Change Programme 105-110 23 C. International Training Center for Local Actors: Programme on Decentralized Cooperation and Sustainable Development (CIFAL) 111-123 25 D. Information and Communication Training Programmes 124-144 27 E. Training Programme in the Legal Aspects of Debt and Financial Management for Sub-Saharan Africa and Vietnam 145-148 30 F. Foreign Economic Relations 149-154 31

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INTRODUCTION

1. The present report covers the period from 1 • The importance of UNITAR’s role as a July 2000 to 30 June 2002. It follows the format neutral insider, to evaluate United Nations introduced some years ago, namely a short programmes and activities; factual description of on-going programmes, • The importance of providing training that followed by a chronological list of training keeps its focus on developing countries, and activities and statistics of participation per distinguishing therein the diversity of needs country and per region. and means within developing countries themselves; 2. The report is presented in three main • The diversity of the Trustees’ own chapters: backgrounds and expertise, and the importance of this diversity for developing I. Training Programmes in Multilateral UNITAR future plans; Diplomacy and International Affairs • The need for UNITAR to develop Management; partnerships and cooperation with II. Activities of UNITAR New York Office; international financial institutions for III. Training and Capacity Building programmes on trade-related matters; Programmes in the field of Economic • The possibility of expanding the outreach of and Social Development. programmes through e-learning, as demonstrated by the success of the Debt 3. Detailed information is available on line: and Financial Management Programme, and www.unitar.org. The web site has been recently the need for other UNITAR programmes to updated. follow suit; • The rising number of requests for “à la carte” 4. The recommendations of the General training, particularly in International Affairs Assembly over the last decade have been fully Management Programmes, and the difficulty implemented, notably, that the programmes of trying to meet all the needs.” should focus on areas where priority needs have been identified, that cooperation should be New Trends fostered with training institutions from within and outside the United Nations and that stringent 6. The training programmes addressing civil financial and administrative management should servants of Member States from various be exercised to maintain a balanced budget. ministries and at different levels of functions and Similarly, the recommendations of UN responsibilities are continuing. The workshops examining bodies (the United Nations Board of and seminars addressed to diplomats are mostly Auditors, the Advisory Committee for conducted at headquarters of the Organization Administrative and Budgetary Questions and the in New York, Geneva, Vienna and Nairobi. Most Office of Internal Oversight Services) have been of the programmes dealing with economic and progressively implemented. social development are organized in the field. Over two thirds of the activities take place in 5. Regarding the design and conduct of developing countries and countries in transition. programmes, the Conclusions and Recommendations of the last session of the 7. During the period under review, 223 Board of Trustees (30 April to 2 May 2002) programmes, workshops and seminars have reads as follows: been organized, benefiting over 11,400 participants throughout five continents. “The programme presentations were highly appreciated by the Trustees and elicited in- 8. Over recent years, UNITAR has developed depth discussions. Some crosscutting methodologies for the design, launching and questions and comments raised could be implementation of training and capacity building summarized as follows: 3 A/57/14 programmes. These encompass the entire information, materials and process, from the identification of needs to the networks/community of users; report to the General Assembly, including the • Greater visibility and access to UNITAR’s various validations of relevance, quality and training programmes; financial ingenuity undertaken by the donors and • Considerable reduction in costs associated recipients, the Advisory Committee on with course management at UNITAR; Administrative and Budgetary Questions, the • Re-usability of content in future UNITAR United Nations Board of Auditors and, in training. particular, by UNITAR Board of Trustees. Capacity Building 9. Among the most recent trends in UNITAR’s activities, at least four deserve to be mentioned: 11. Regarding capacity building, UNITAR has development of distance and e-learning, conducted an in-depth reflection over recent emphasis on capacity building or strengthening, years. Conclusions drawn from this reflection research on innovative methodologies and indicate that institution strengthening is the increased participation in intergovernmental ultimate goal of training. It also implies undertakings. comprehensive and durable action. Training activities must be multiplied and diversified. It is Distance and E-learning vital that the competent authorities within the recipient countries, the local authorities and 10. Over the past few years, UNITAR has various leading communities must properly developed correspondence training courses in assess the institutional infrastructures necessary the field of peacekeeping operations and for guaranteeing the good management of the international environmental law. These issues at stake. Development agencies should programmes are meeting with increased also be involved to the greatest possible extent, success. Following extensive theoretical and including in strategy planning. Mid-term practical research and experience, UNITAR is capacity building programmes are increasingly now ready to launch its e-learning activities. E- designed for a number of selected countries of learning is expected to increase the traditional the developing regions. This goes beyond the participant base, to offer updated and relevant traditional approach of technical assistance or modules “anytime and anywhere” through the cooperation, instead being centered on the web and other related technologies, to have a concept of human and institutional capacity multiplying effect through incorporation and use building to increase ability to manage and of its online modules by partners in developing govern. countries. The e-learning platform should provide the technological tools for UNITAR Training Methodologies participants to access course content and experts in a manner that addresses the specific 12. Research on and for training has now needs of the target audience. UNITAR places a become a constant and increasing activity of special emphasis on cooperation with regional UNITAR, including training needs assessments, and national training institutes from developing conduct and use of evaluation results and countries. E-learning is recognized as having knowledge sharing. many advantages: 13. In the perspective of capacity building • Offering updated and relevant training involving a greater number of national and modules to its audience at low cost; international stakeholders, needs assessment, • Reducing the cost per participant; in particular self-needs assessment, must be • Interactivity, personalization, content given particular emphasis. In fact, capacity structure and engagement; development interventions that are not preceded • Empowering individual participants by by a stock-taking and situation analysis and providing flexible and easy access to systematic identification of key issues, priorities and capacity needs are likely to be remain 4 A/57/14 ineffective. To address this issue, UNITAR has information exchange and networking functions. developed, together with several international All aspects of evaluation benefit from an partner organizations, tools and methodologies interactive relationship with existing UNITAR to assist countries to undertake self-assessment programmes and activities, and the considerable of capacity needs in a number of areas in the experience and resource base of training, field of economic and social development. With research and management in many priority guidance and technical support provided by areas of concern to the United Nations. UNITAR, partner countries prepare so-called UNITAR is pursuing theoretical reflection and National Profiles which are key national pragmatic action in this field. references documents compiled through multi- sectoral and multi-stakeholder collaboration and 15. The last and most recent reflection on include all relevant information and analysis training conducted by UNITAR touches upon the needed for priority setting and action plan foundation and sharing of action-derived development in a particular area. National knowledge. UNITAR will undertake new Profile programmes have so far been initiated to partnerships with the private sector in the area the areas of chemicals management, climate of knowledge creation and sharing. This change, desertification, environmental approach is now perceived not merely as an information systems, and debt and financial alternative strategic option but as a key to management. More recently, the Global organizational survival. Public institutions, and Environment Facility (GEF) has requested organizations from civil society need to benefit UNITAR to assist in preparing a guide to support from that experience. As countries move countries in the conduct of self-assessments of towards the implementation of various capacity needs relating to the Rio Conventions development initiatives, their need for increased (Biodiversity, Climate Change and access to know-how is more and more acute. Desertification). In a similar vein, the Secretariat To date, however, that know-how is neither of the UNECE Aarhus Convention has entered readily nor widely available, as the expertise into an agreement with UNITAR to assist required for large-scale implementation of countries to prepare a National Profile related to development activity is in very short supply. the Implementation of the Aarhus Convention. Strengthening implementers’ capacity to learn from action, to create their own knowledge 14. Evaluation is a widely recognized tool to banks and to share lessons learned is the only measure effectiveness and to help define ways way towards successful development on a of increasing effectiveness. Many activities, global scale. programmes and projects are evaluated on an ad-hoc basis, routinely, or at the request of a Active participation in intergovernmental stakeholder. In most cases, these evaluations meetings involve counterpart officials and organizations in developing countries associated with the 16. Thanks to the recognized relevance of its activities, programmes and projects being training and research programmes and the evaluated. Evaluation is a tool that does not regained credibility, UNITAR is frequently invited often live up to expectations, effort and cost. In by the United Nations to participate more directly many cases, findings and recommendations and concretely to intergovernmental events. remain a part of the report and never find their During the period under review, UNITAR was way into the culture, decisions and actions of the called upon to participate in the preparation of activities, programmes and projects concerned. two major events – the World Summit on Evaluations should not only meet an institutional Sustainable Development (WSSD), held in or programmatic requirement, but should lead to Johannesburg, August 2002, and the World lessons learned, to best practices that are Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), to actually followed, to a dependable assessment take place in Geneva in 2003 and Tunis in 2005. of impact – in short, to greater effectiveness. UNITAR’s contribution remains focused on The capacity to provide evaluation services is a aspects and issues on which UNITAR has natural extension of the research and training, gained experience over the last decade.

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17. UNITAR’s contribution to the WSSD has Meeting for the WSIS, which was held in been very specific and concrete. The context Bamako in May 2002. and the modus operandi of the Summit were in harmony with UNITAR’s flexible approach to its 19. Participation in world events, organized actions and its constant quest for cooperation. under the aegis of the United Nations, is a new UNITAR, in association with several other aspect of UNITAR’s activities. This should intergovernmental bodies, non-governmental continue and increase with time, in particular in organizations, civil society, academia and areas where UNITAR now has recognized private corporations has prepared the expertise in training and capacity building. announcement of three partnership initiatives, namely: Financial Fragility

• Local Capacity Building and Training on 20. The financial situation of UNITAR is stable Sustainable Urbanization: a Public-Private but remains vulnerable. This prevents UNITAR Partnership; from answering numerous requests for • Partnership for Capacity Building to assistance from developing countries and Implement the Globally harmonized System countries in transition. The two main issues are for Chemical Classification and labeling the rental and maintenance costs of UNITAR’s (GHS); premises in New York and Geneva and the low • Capacity Building Initiative on the application level of voluntary contributions to the General of Information and communication Fund. Technologies (ICT) for the establishment of Environmental Information System in Africa 21. For over a decade now, UNITAR Board of (SISEI). Trustees has proposed that the offices put at UNITAR’s disposal by the United Nations should 18. UNITAR is a member of the High Level be free of rent and maintenance costs. The Organizational Committee (HLOC) of the World rationale behind this is the fact that UNITAR Summit on Information Society. The Institute offers training programmes to diplomats has been conducting several training and accredited to the United Nations Headquarters, capacity building programmes in the field of new regardless of their nationality, grade or information and communication technologies. functions, free of charge. This constitutes an UNITAR was requested to design and conduct a undoubted contribution to both the Member Special Support Programme for Least States and the Organization. In return, the Developed Countries (LDCs). Again in Board of Trustees advocates that the cooperation with intergovernmental and non- Organization should waive the charges to governmental organizations, academia and civil UNITAR and place the Institute on the same society, UNITAR is building a forum from which footing as other similar institutes within the LDCs may better assess the challenges of the United Nations. The issue is debated each year World Summit and express their concerns by the Second Committee but no decision has regarding the emerging information society, their been taken as yet. particular difficulties at the technological level, but also at the economic, social and legal levels. 22. The second issue is the continuing low level Developing countries in general and LDCs in of voluntary contributions to UNITAR’s General particular, would glean the greatest possible Fund while participation in cost-free training benefit from the WSIS if they are able to express programmes is increasing. This increase also their interest during the preparatory phase and includes participants from industrialized take an active part in the conclusions and countries that have not yet resumed their recommendations of the Summit itself. UNITAR voluntary contributions. The General Assembly has been invited by the Government of Mali, the has already recognized this “discrepancy”. The Economic Commission for Africa and the United Nations Board of Auditors has analyzed International Telecommunications Union to the situation in depth. An excerpt of their report contribute to the African Regional Preparatory is annexed. It shows that the participation of 6 A/57/14 civil servants from industrialized countries has (e) UNITAR should continue with its fund- increased significantly, now reaching around raising efforts, as these initiatives took years one third of the total participants, while their to bear fruit. Meanwhile, and with the financial contribution has not increased. assistance of the Trustees, it should identify desk-officers and key people in capitals 23. During its last session, in May 2002, the responsible for allocating funds, and seek to Board of Trustees discussed at length the best better inform them on the performance and possible measures to “address the discrepancy activities of UNITAR.” between the decline in contributions to the General Fund of the Institute and the increase in In conclusion, the Board considered that participation in its programmes” (A/54/229). The many avenues for fund-raising were still Board recommended the following: open and unexplored, and that the quality and credibility of UNITAR programmes and “(a) UNITAR should not reduce its current management provided a good “cause” to programmes nor refuse the participation of take to capitals. It decided therefore to nationals from non-contributing countries in establish a committee, initially composed of its programmes, as both of these measures six Trustees, to assist the Executive Director could be counter-productive. However, in fund-raising tasks.” participating countries should be made fully aware of the costs pertaining to the conduct of these activities and the overall financial situation of UNITAR; …

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REPORT OF ACTIVITIES

I. Training Programme in Multilateral Diplomacy and International Affairs Management

A. Diplomacy Training and Fellowships

Introduction negotiations skills; conference diplomacy; negotiation of international legal instruments; 24. Many developing countries and countries in sturcture and retrieval of UN documentation; UN economic transition are facing new tasks in the official documents system; diplomatic privileges; field of international cooperation. It is therefore public speaking; chairing meetings, effective essential to provide them with a sound presentations and others. background on the various aspects of diplomacy within a multilateral setting. Appropriate training 28. During the period under review, 27 training in this field will facilitate access to the activities were conducted under this category, multilateral working environment; it will also 19 in Geneva, 5 in Vienna and 3 in Nairobi. A enable countries to participate more efficiently in total of 658 diplomats participated in these international fora and to enhance their domestic training activities. The training courses capacities for development. conducted in New York are reported on separately, under Chapter II, below. Main Activities Tailor-made Training 25. The training activities of UNITAR’s 29. UNITAR’s tailor-made programmes target International Affairs Management Programme government officials, diplomats, diplomatic are being designed and conducted in the trainees, civil servants dealing with various following areas: aspects of international affairs, academics, and staff members of inter-governmental Training for diplomats accredited to the organizations or NGOs. United Nations at Geneva, Nairobi and Vienna 30. Participants in tailor-made training activities 26. These training programmes in multilateral learn how to act more efficiently on the diplomacy are designed for the benefit of multilateral scene, for the benefit of their members of permanent missions accredited to countries or organizations. Thus, UNITAR the United Nations at Geneva, Nairobi and enhances domestic capacities for development Vienna. As a rule these courses are offered free in UN member States. Countries define their of charge to UN member States. own training needs and priorities and inform UNITAR about them. 27. Training courses for the diplomatic communities in Geneva, Nairobi and Vienna 31. UNITAR then works out a budget estimate focus on general, specific and practical aspects for the respective training activity which can be which are instrumental for diplomats in used as a basis by the requesting agency, accomplishing their professional tasks in a department or institution to secure funding. multilateral setting. Workshops, seminars and Tailor-made training activities can, for example, briefings are being offered in the form of be organized in a sub-regional context whereby awareness and orientation training as well as the participating countries/agencies share the practical skills training. Topics include: UN costs of the training. UNITAR’s tailor-made system overview; functioning of principal UN training programmes are financed from extra- organs; resolution drafting; basic and advanced budgetary sources, i.e. funding has to be

8 A/57/14 provided from outside the regular UNITAR • 7 - 18 January 2002, Yaoundé/Cameroon budget. UN/UNITAR Regional Training Programme in International Law for French-speaking African 32. Once the funding for a particular activity has Countries been secured, UNITAR develops a training curriculum on an individual basis, selects • 20 May - 7 June 2002, Banjul/The Gambia trainers and handles all administrative and Training on Diplomatic Practice: Module I logistic aspects of the programme. Lastly, (conducted in collaboration with UNDP and the UNITAR carries out the training, provides all Gambian Diplomatic Training Academy) trainees with background material and evaluates the success of the training project. • 22 - 26 June 2002, Tehran/Islamic Republic of Iran 33. The topics offered within UNITAR’s tailor- Workshop on Conference Diplomacy and made training programme vary within a wide Multilateral Negotiations range of areas. New course modules are being developed and added depending on the evolving Fellowship Programmes needs and on the nature of the requests 35. UNITAR fellowship programmes provide received. Courses are offered in the areas of junior to mid-level professionals from United multilateral diplomacy, international affairs Nations Member States with substantive subject management, public international law, knowledge in the areas of public international communication skills and new information law, international affairs management and the technologies. international civil service. As a rule, these training courses last much longer than the 34. The following tailor-made training activities aforementioned training programmes, covering were conducted in the period under review, with periods of three weeks, six weeks and seven the participation of 245 trainees: months. They are recurrent, annual programmes and participation is based on a competitive • 19 - 23 March 2001, Tokyo/Japan selection process. UNITAR/FASID Course on International Organizations: three-day training module on Fellowship Programme in International Law, The negotiation skills Hague 36. This United Nations/UNITAR training • 12 - 16 May 2001, Tehran/Islamic Republic programme for lawyers from developing of Iran countries and countries in transition was Seminar on International Courts and Tribunals established under the United Nations for Practitioners from the Middle East, Central Programme of Assistance in the Study, Asia and the Caucasus Region Teaching, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law. A limited • 2 - 6 July 2001, Baku/Azerbaijan number of places is available for lawyers from UNITAR/UNDP Seminar on Sustainable Human other countries on a cost-covering basis. The Development course covers, inter alia, international criminal law, treaty law, law of the sea, environmental • 17 - 20 September 2001, Lilongwe/Malawi law, humanitarian law, refugee law, human UNITAR/UNDP Workshop on Chairing, rights, trade law and trade dispute settlement, Participating and Negotiating in Bi and dispute resolution, negotiation of international Multilateral Meetings legal instruments and law of international watercourses.This training is conducted in • 24 - 28 September, Geneva English and French. Sports for Development Project - Module I. The United Nations System

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Fellowship Programme in International Affairs International Relations and the Paris-based Management: Capacity Building for Human International Institute of Public Administration. Security, Geneva 37. This three-week training programme 40. The training comprises four months of introduces junior to mid-level diplomats to the instruction followed by a three-month practical multilateral diplomatic work environment with a internship within a United Nations organization special focus on matters related to human or specialized agency. The course covers the security. The fellowships are reserved for international civil service, international public trainees from developing countries and countries administration, international organizations, in transition. Interested diplomats from international law, international economic industrialized countries may also attend, but relations, negotiation techniques, report writing, must pay a course fee. The programme covers public speaking and new information and the United Nations system, United Nations communication technologies. This training is reform proposals, United Nations peacekeeping, conducted in French. preventive diplomacy, multilateral negotiation, dispute settlement, mediation, disarmament, 41. In the period under review, 101 trainees humanitarian assistance, HIV Aids, human received training under UNITAR’s multilateral rights, humanitarian law, environmental law, diplomacy fellowship programmes. international courts and tribunals, public speaking and chairing meetings. Advisory services 42. UNITAR’s training programme in multilateral 38. The training is offered in English only. diplomacy and international affairs management is also offering assistance in the elaboration of Fellowship Programme on the International Civil training curricula for diplomatic institutes in Service, Yaoundé, Paris, Geneva Member states. These advisory services can 39. This seven-month programme is open to include the development of fully-fledged training trainees from the public and private sectors of curricula, the elaboration of specialized training French-speaking developing countries. It is modules, the organization and evaluation of organized with the support of the Agence inter- training activities, the implementation of study gouvernementale de la Francophonie in visits to UN HQ sites as well as the assistance in collaboration with the Cameroon Institute of the setting up of diplomatic libraries or new information technology units.

B. Peacemaking and Preventive Diplomacy

Programme for Briefing and Debriefing of DVDs/videos of the interviews, which will Special Representatives and Envoys of the accompany the Handbook; 4) an annual seminar Secretary-General for SRSGs and senior UN staff to provide a forum to share experiences and lessons and to 43. This project is being carried out to preserve promote dialogue; and 5) a more systematic and pass on the valuable lessons and briefing programme based on the experience of Special and Personal recommendations of SRSGs. The Handbook for Representatives and Envoys of the Secretary- SRSGs and DVD/videos will form one part of the General (SRSGs) and to ensure that these are briefing programme for new SRSGs. All of used to refine and enhance UN peace these activities are being carried out in close operations. The project has five components: cooperation with the senior staff in relevant UN 1) the debriefing of current and past SRSGs departments. through in-depth interviews; 2) the preparation of a Handbook for SRSGs, consisting of a well- 44. The first “Seminar for Current Special and organized summary of lessons and Personal Representatives and Envoys of the UN recommendations from these interviews; 3) a set Secretary-General” took place in Mont Pèlerin, 10 A/57/14

Switzerland in March 2001. The second will Foreign and Defence Ministries of African take place at the same venue in October 2002. States, as well as key staff from inter- The first round of in-depth interviews with governmental and non-governmental Special Representatives has taken place and a organizations in the region. It focuses on the draft of the Handbook for SRSGs, based on pressing need to improve the prevention and those interviews, is now being completed and resolution of conflicts in Africa. African experts will be ready for the 2002 seminar. As well, from across the continent serve as resource videotaped interviews have been carried out persons. The programme addresses the with a number of SRSGs and senior Secretariat challenges faced by practitioners and decision- staff and a sample of these will also be available makers in their efforts to assess and respond to at this meeting. the proliferation of emerging crises in the region. It is designed to strengthen coordination and 45. The programme is funded by the Department collaboration among actors and institutions and of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of to provide a cadre of persons who could be Canada, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of called upon to use their skills to assist peace Sweden, the Federal Department of Foreign processes in Africa. The first regional training Affairs of Switzerland, and the Department for programme was held in October 2000 in Dakar, International Development of the United Senegal, and the second in October 2001 in Kingdom. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A third meeting is planned for November 2002. These UNITAR-IPA Fellowship Programme in programmes have received funding from the Peacemaking and Preventive Diplomacy International Development Agency of Canada, the Federal Foreign Office of Germany, the 46. This yearly programme, now in its tenth year, Royal Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway, the offers advanced training in conflict analysis, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, and the negotiation and mediation to middle and senior Department for International Development of the level UN staff and diplomats who wish to learn United Kingdom. or refine these skills. The major focus is on the peaceful resolution of disputes through the UNITAR-Regional Peacekeeping Training United Nations. The two-week training Centre (RPTC) Sub-regional Training programme, held in Holmenkollen, Norway in Programme to Enhance Conflict Prevention 2002, offers the latest knowledge and and Peacebuilding in Southern Africa experience in conflict resolution through case studies, seminar discussion of obstacles and 48. The UNITAR-RPTC Training Programme to issues and the hands-on practice of negotiation Enhance Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding and mediation exercises. The programme is in Southern Africa was established to provide currently supported by the Department of advanced training in conflict analysis, prevention Foreign Affairs and International Trade of and resolution to middle and senior level Canada, the Federal Foreign Office of Germany, professional staff from Ministries of Foreign the Royal Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway, Affairs and Defence of Member States of the the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, and Southern African Development Community the Department for International Development of (SADC). In addition, it also invites the the United Kingdom. participation of relevant members of staff from the SADC Secretariat, as well as UNITAR Regional Training Programme to representatives of key non-governmental Enhance Conflict Prevention and organizations focusing on peacemaking in Peacebuilding in Africa Southern Africa. This programme is co- organized with the SADC RPTC and focuses on 47. This programme has been developed as an the pressing need to address issues of extension of the Fellowship Programme peacemaking in the Southern Africa region and (mentioned above) to provide training at the the challenges faced by practitioners and regional level. It includes participants from the decision-makers in their efforts to assess and

11 A/57/14 respond to the current and potential conflict indigenous peoples in problem-solving situations in the sub-region. The training approaches to negotiation. The training is programme takes place at the RPTC designed to build representatives’ capacities to Headquarters in Harare, Zimbabwe. The first more effectively negotiate with governments and programme was held in March 2000, and the other dominant groups to have their needs met, second in February 2001. These programmes while preserving effective working relationships. have been funded by the Royal Ministry of Indigenous and minority experts, as well as Foreign Affairs of Denmark. other specialists, including representatives of regional organizations, serve as resource Network for the Promotion of African persons for the training programme. The Principles of Conflict Resolution and international programme is conducted annually Reconciliation / Réseau pour la promotion at the time of the UN Working Group on des principes africains de résolution des Indigenous Populations held at the United conflits et de réconciliation (REPARCOR) Nations in Geneva. The first programme took place in 2000 and the second in 2001. As well, a 49. This Network has been established between regional training programme is conducted in a intergovernmental and non-governmental different part of the world each year. The first organizations working to promote the regional training programme, for the Americas, revitalization and use of African cultural was held in Mexico in 2001. A second approaches to peacemaking. The Network programme is planned for February 2003. seeks to promote the use of the positive cultural values, knowledge and skills that exist within 51. In May 2002, the UNITAR Seminar for African indigenous approaches to conflict Members of the Permanent Forum on resolution and reconciliation. The Network, Indigenous Issues was organized in New York at which has Focal Points in all sub-regions of the request of a number of Permanent Forum Africa, collaborates with initiatives that seek to Members. The Seminar was planned to assist draw upon African cultural values to build a their efforts to prepare for and implement the culture of peace on the African continent. For first historic meeting of the Permanent Forum on additional information, please refer to the Indigenous Issues at United Nations Network's website at www.africanprinciples.org. Headquarters, and to facilitate work on their The initial funding for the establishment of the important mandate. Network was received from the Department for International Development of the United 52. The programme is funded by the Department Kingdom. of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Canada, the Royal Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Training Programme to Enhance the Conflict Denmark, the Federal Foreign Office of Resolution and Peacebuilding Capacities of Germany, the Royal Ministry for Foreign Affairs Minority and Indigenous Peoples’ of Norway, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Representatives Sweden, and the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland. Plans are underway to 50. This programme provides advanced training hold this meeting at the University for Peace in to key representatives of minority and Costa Rica in December.

C. Programme of Training for the application of Environmental Law

53. UNITAR’s Programme of Training for the management for sustainable development. The Implementation of Environmental Law programme is relevant for countries throughout (Environmental Law Programme or ELP) was the world but specifically responds to the needs originally launched in 1997 to promote the of developing countries and countries with strengthening of national legal and institutional economies in transition. components to improve environmental 12 A/57/14

General approach programme. This correspondence course has been designed to reach a large number of people 54. Environmental law is an essential tool for the working for governmental and non-governmental governance of sustainable development. It organizations as well as professionals and students provides the foundation for governmental from the academic and research institutions in policies and actions for the conservation of the countries throughout the world. The programme environment and for ensuring that the use of material of the first phase of the course consists of natural resources is both equitable and 10 courses in international environmental law. sustainable. Much of the modern body of environmental law has been developed at the 58. Currently, Phase I (1-10) is available in international level, most notably through the English with the exception of volume 9, which adoption of international conventions. These had to be replaced by a new version, taking into must be implemented at the national level account new developments in the field of through appropriate legislation. environment and trade. The original manuscript is in French and it is being printed. As for the 55. This concern is even more relevant today, French version of Phase I (1-10), it will be given the limited capacity of many countries to completed by October 2002. The Spanish implement an increasing number of international version of Phase I will be ready by the end of agreements on the environment. Particularly in 2002. The development of the second phase will developing countries and in countries with commence early next year depending on the economies in transition, environmental availability of funds. legislation is often incomplete or outdated and there is a lack of qualified and trained personnel 59. By mid-2002, 430 participants are following to remedy these deficiencies. By furthering the the course coming from 87 different countries. knowledge of the public, it is possible to create a They are requested to submit the end-of-course firm basis for the application of environmental examination included for each Course to law at the national level. UNITAR for evaluation. Upon successful completion of the series, each participant 56. UNITAR’s Programme for the receives a UNITAR Certificate of Attendance. Implementation of Environmental Law was According to a new rule introduced in May 2001, prepared in partnership with IUCN and UNEP. an Award of Merit will be conferred to those who Financial support has been provided by the submit a final essay of 15 pages, upon Swiss Agency for the Environment, Forest and examination by the UNITAR expert team. Landscape, the Ministry of Development and Cooperation of the Netherlands, the Ministry of E-Training Environment and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France, the “Agence intergouvernementale de 60. In the era of globalisation characterised by la Francophonie” (AIF), the U.S. Environmental quick changes and rapid developments, e-training Protection Agency, the Governments of Japan, is an innovative tool to face the new challenges in Ireland and Mexico. The United Nations Office the field of information dissemination throughout the for Project Services, UNDP, UNESCO, the world. What is more, international environmental World Heritage Convention and the Carl law is a relatively new discipline, which has Duisberg Gesellschaft have also been progressed very quickly over the last decade. E- supporting the programme. training is the appropriate tool to keep up with the rapid changes in the field of international Correspondence Instruction environmental law, as it will be easier to adjust and adapt the course modules to actual developments. 57. Along with inaugural and specialised follow-up In the light of these developments, and considering workshops and capacity building activities at the the pressing request from various parties and national and regional level, the distance learning participants UNITAR has decided to make all the through correspondence instruction in international courses available on the web as an e-training environmental law is the central component of the package free-of-charge. The programme can thus

13 A/57/14 be at the disposal of the largest possible audience the implementation of environmental obligations having access to the Internet. With the financial through the recommendations to government support of Agence Internationale de la organizations, courses and workshops, training Francophonie (AIF), the Environmental Law of key government officials. UNITAR/ELP has Programme has initiated a pilot phase by launching organized national capacity building the French version of the correspondence courses programmes for countries in South East Asia. In (starting with the volumes 1,3,4 and 9) on the 2002, four capacity building programmes will be Internet and establishing a platform for e-training, organized. Two of these will take place in cooperating with French-speaking African Senegal (Tourism and Environment, Toxic countries. ELP envisages making the e-training Waste Management as a follow-up to the package available in Spanish in the coming introductory regional workshop for West Africa), months. one in Mauritius (Tourism and Environment) and one Seychelles (coastal zone management). National and Regional workshops Two others should be organized in Madagascar in 2003. The last four activities are follow-up 61. The Correspondence Instruction Course is seminars to the introductory regional workshop supplemented by regional and national for the Indian Ocean region. workshops. These specialised follow-up workshops and seminars are held at regional A la Carte Training and sub-regional level along with selected efforts for environmental capacity building at 63. A special seminar for French-speaking national level. Since 1997, regional workshops European magistrates will take pace in Divonne- have been carried out for the Asia-Pacific, les-Bains next November. In 2003 other Caribbean, East, West and North Africa, Eastern specialized workshops will be prepared for Europe, Oceania and the Indian Ocean region. magistrates (especially for the countries in In July 2002, a seminar for Central American economic transition), inspectors or lawyers. countries took place in Panama. A regional Compliance and implementation issues will be workshop for North Africa will be organized in key questions for ELP in the next two years. Tunis in October 2002. ELP has organized three Access to information and public participation workshops on biological diversity for the Asia- are also topics to be deeply analyzed. The Pacific region in Kushiro, Japan. After a positive implementation of the Aarhus Convention and assessment, ELP will be in charge of a new the preparation of the national profiles are training programme in Kushiro in March 2003, priority projects to be realized jointly with the introducing the participants into the Chemicals and Waste Management Programme implementation of multi-lateral agreements of UNITAR. Common projects will be conducted related to marine biological diversity. with the International Training Centre for Local Actors (CIFAL) of UNITAR, in the framework of Capacity Building which ELP will be responsible for the legal aspects of the training activities for local and 62. National capacity building programmes are regional authorities in the field of environment. long-term intensive capacity building projects on

D. International Migration Policy

64. At the beginning of August 2002, the UNHCR and other global and regional International Migration Policy Programme (IMP) institutions dealing with migration issues and was in its fourth year of implementing related aspects. Its purpose is to offer capacity government capacity building activities on all building to meet national migration management aspects of migration. The inter-agency activity, and policy development needs, at national and co-sponsored by UNITAR, UNFPA, IOM and regional levels, and to foster regional dialogue ILO, also works in close co-operation with and co-operation on migration issues. Based on

14 A/57/14 the overwhelmingly positive feedback received Migration Policy Seminar for the Caribbean from participating governments and institutions Region in close co-operation with IOM, and over the years, and the on-going adjustment in involving the same regional actors as in 2001, approach and regional focus, IMP is today namely UNFPA, ILO, UNITAR, UNHCR, regarded as a logical, cost-effective and UNAIDS, CARICAOM, ECLAC and OAS.) sustainable mechanism to impart migration policy and management expertise to migration 67. Under its regional approach, IMP continues managers in different parts of the world. to gather countries that are part of a ‘common migration space’, which, while not always 65. Within a period of 4 years, IMP activities defined by a specific region, incorporates States have benefited over 600 senior and middle level sharing common migration interests and government officials from some 105 countries. concerns. In an effort to share global migration Over 200 international and government experts, policy approaches and experiences, IMP also as well as numerous government observers facilitates the interface between developing from Western and other countries, have offered countries and international experts and their support in these meetings. governments with more advanced migration management capacity and expertise. The on- 66. Between November 1998 and August 2002, going sharing of information and best practices, IMP has organised eleven major regional and the facilitation of inter-State dialogue migration policy meetings: Budapest in constitute essential contributions to developing November 1998 with 14 governments from and transit countries’ efforts to address more Central and Eastern Europe; Pretoria in April effectively and efficiently increasingly complex 1999 with 13 governments from Southern Africa; and intricate migration challenges. Bangkok with 19 governments from Asia and the Pacific; Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyz Republic in May 2000 68. In 2001 and 2002, IMP's inter-disciplinary with 13 governments from Central Asia, the and inter-agency approach was reinforced Caucasus and Neighbouring States; a Follow-up through the increased participation of a wider Seminar in Swaziland in November 2000 with 14 gamut of international and regional partner governments from Southern Africa; a Follow-up institutions, including IOM, ILO, UNFPA, Seminar on Labour Migration in Geneva in UNITAR, UNHCR, UNODCCP, UNHCRC, December 2000 with 15 governments from UNAIDS, Interpol, European Commission, Central and Eastern Europe; Kingston, Jamaica ECLAC, CARICOM, ECOWAS, OSCE, ICMPD, in May 2001 with 9 governments from the IGC, ICRC, SAMP, MRI and RCMRI. Caribbean region; Follow-up Consultations in Istanbul in June 2001 with 13 governments from 69. Taking account of the changing facets of Central Asia, the Caucasus and Neighbouring international migration, IMP’s core curriculum States; Dakar in December 2001 with 16 was adjusted and expanded further. It now governments from West Africa; Nairobi in May contains fourteen chapters dedicated to the 2002 with 13 governments from East Africa, the many aspects of migration and human Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes Region; and displacement, including the link between asylum Istanbul in July 2002 with 14 governments from and irregular migration, migrant trafficking, Central Asia, the Caucasus and Neighbouring migration and HIV/AIDS, migration and national States. (In September 2002, in Bucharest, and regional security and stability, and migration Romania, IMP is co-organising with ICMPD, data collection, analysis and exchange. SECI and in co-operation with IOM, a Senior Level Meeting to address trafficking in human 70. A key feature of IMP’s concept remains that beings in South Eastern Europe under the of sustainability, through follow-up activities with auspices of the Task Force on Trafficking in the same governments and, as possible, the Human Beings of the Stability Pact for South same government officials that met in a first Eastern Europe; and in October 2002, in Santo regional IMP meeting. As for 2002, many of the Domingo, Dominican Republic, IMP is activities planned for 2003 are the result of prior organising a follow-up to the (2001) International IMP activities in the region, where participating

15 A/57/14 governments requested IMP to pursue its Joint IMP/ILO/IOM Migration Policy and capacity building activity. All such follow-up Management for Government Officials: an activities are based on recommendations and International Training and Capacity Building conclusions adopted by participating Project; and the Joint IMP/ICMPD/IOM/SECI governments, and work agendas are prepared in Comprehensive Programme for Training, direct consultation with them. Exchange and Co-operation to Address Trafficking in Human Beings in South Eastern 71. Tentative plans for 2003 include: A Migration Europe (South Eastern European Stability Pact). Policy Seminar for the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East; a Follow-up Migration Policy 72. Copies of the IMP Programme and Budget Seminar for Asia and the Pacific; a Third IMP Document 2003 will be made available upon Migration Policy Seminar for Southern Africa; a request at [email protected]. The IMP website may Fourth Meeting of the ‘Issyk-Kul’ Dialogue for be consulted for further information concerning Central Asia, the Caucasus and Neighbouring past and current IMP activities at States; in addition to on-going activities of the www.impprog.ch

E. Programme of Correspondence Instruction in Peacekeeping Operations

73. The UNITAR Programme of Commanding United Nations Peacekeeping Correspondence Instruction (UNITAR POCI) Operations; Commanding UN Peacekeeping was established to provide standard distance Operations (in English, French or Spanish); training that would be universally available at a Logistical Support of UN Peacekeeping low cost to a large population of geographically Operations (in English or Spanish); Operational distributed students. Since 1995 this training has Logistical Support of UN Peacekeeping; Serving been provided to students through self-paced as a United Nations Military Observer: Methods correspondence courses, and all training and Procedures (in English, Spanish, or material is provided in the form of printed course Swahili); History of UN Peacekeeping booklets. In collaboration with the Department of Operations 1945 to 1987; History of UN Peacekeeping Operations Training and Peacekeeping Operations 1989 to 1997; UN Evaluation Service, this programme ensures that Civilian Police: Restoring Order Following the content of the courses justly reflects Hostilities (in English, Spanish, or Swahili); The accepted United Nations practices and policy. UN Peacekeeping Force in the Former Each of the 16 courses offered covers a different Yugoslavia: Dayton to Kosovo (in English or aspect of peacekeeping. All 16 courses are French); Demining in the Aftermath of War, available in English, three are in French, one is Preventing Casualties To Peacekeepers and the in German, five are in Spanish, and three are in Civilian Population (in English or German); Swahili. During the period from 1 July 2000 to 30 International Humanitarian Law and The Law of June 2002, the Programme processed 3,465 Armed Conflict (In English or French); Global enrolments, with students coming from 91 Terrorism; Peacekeeping and International troop-contributing nations. The programme Conflict Resolution; Security for UN completely is financially self-supporting through Peacekeepers; The Conduct of Humanitarian enrollment revenues. Student enrollment fees Relief Operations (In English or French); and range from US$75 to US$125 depending on the Introduction to the UN System. UNITAR POCI’s course and cover all costs: printing, shipping, 16 course authors are from nine different nations processing, administration, authors’ royalties, and are all experienced peacekeepers and overhead, etc. respected practitioners in their field.

74. The individual course titles offered by the 75. Each course consists of a series of lessons Programme to students include the following: containing lesson objectives, training material Principles for the Conduct of Peace Support and an end-of-lesson quiz with the answers Operations (in English, German, or Swahili); provided so that students may monitor their own 16 A/57/14 progress. A comprehensive End-of-Course 76. A Cooperative Programme has been Exam is completed by the students and established that links UNITAR POCI distance submitted for grading. If they meet the minimum training with classroom courses on every passing score of 75%, they receive a Certificate- continent provided by selected universities and of-Completion from UNITAR POCI. Students national training programmes. Students who may obtain information about the programme complete a classroom course, one through UNITAR POCI’s web page correspondence course per month for 12 (www.unitarpoci.org), through which they may months, and an original research thesis are also enroll, communicate with their instructor, awarded a “Certificate-of-Training in United participate in the chat room, and submit their Nations Peace Support Operations”. exam. For students without web access, all operations may be done through the mail.

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II. New York Office

77. The UNITAR New York Office was of the fortieth session of the Commission for opened in October 1996, in accordance with Social Development: Integration of social and various resolutions of the General Assembly and economic policy; the series on issues related to with a decision by the UNITAR Board of the functions and workings of the Bretton Woods Trustees. Its key mandate is to organize training Institutions; the Debriefing on the results of the for delegates in New York and to strengthen the International Conference on Financing for Institute’s cooperation with the United Nations Development and on linkages with the World Secretariat, programmes and funds, as well as Summit on Sustainable Development; the with academia, foundations and the private WTO/UNITAR workshop on international trade sector in the Americas. The Office also provides negotiations; the DOALOS/UNITAR briefing on briefings on other UNITAR programmes developments in ocean affairs and the law of the conducted from its Geneva headquarters. It sea 20 years after the adoption of the United furthermore maintains liaison service to another Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea; the North America-based UNITAR programme, UNU/UNITAR Pre-Conference of Parties namely, the Programme of Correspondence Workshop on the Framework Convention on Instruction in Peacekeeping Operations. Climate Change and the briefing on environmental law. Major activities of the New York Office 82. The New York Office has continued with 78. The main operational task of the New York institutional partnerships with centres of Office is to design and conduct training academic excellence, such as the University of programmes for permanent missions in New Texas at Austin, the Stillman School of Business York. From July 2000 to June 2002, the Office at Seton Hall University, the Fletcher School of conducted some 66 training events, or close to Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, the three events per month. Programmes are German Management Academy and Columbia designed on the basis of the needs and requests University. In the private sector, in addition to formulated by the missions and through regular others, the Office has a close and productive assessments conducted by UNITAR at the end relationship with Intel Corporation. of each course. Since July 2000, the Office has trained 2.545 participants, while the range, 83. Increasingly, the New York Office receives depth and number of programmes have direct requests from permanent missions for progressively increased. additional programmes. In this context, training events relating to environment and sustainable 79. From July 2000 to June 2001, the New York development, information technologies, Office offered 31 courses ; from July 2001 to international economics and finance, June 2002, it offered 35 courses (an increase of international law and international trade, as well 4). as skills training in such fields as negotiation techniques, effective speaking and the drafting 80. Some intensive courses, such as the annual of resolutions, have been developed. The Office Campus on international trade and the Campus will continue this strategy of flexibility and on new communication technologies, provide diversity of following specific requests from delegates with a platform from which to missions, while at the same time consolidating undertake more extensive training on themes of the themes and curricula that have proven their particular importance. relevance to the work of the delegates. Efforts to offer wider access and a strengthened follow-up 81. The New York Office aims to provide timely to each event are ongoing, notably through training events to contribute to the specific work handbooks and training material, as well as the of delegates in New York; for example, the use of web sites. DESA/UNITAR workshop on the priority theme 18 A/57/14

84. The New York Office draws its resource Special projects persons from a variety of agencies and departments within the United Nations system, 85. The Series on Policy Awareness and as well as from academic institutions, non- Training in Information Technology, organized governmental organizations and private or public by the New York Office, was launched under the corporations. The Office has a number of joint auspices of the ICT Task Force and the Working programmes, which include a study programme Group on Informatics, with the support of Intel for diplomats accredited to the United Nations Corporation. The series aims to enable with the Law School at Columbia University, a diplomats accredited to the United Nations in series on sustainable development in practice New York to acquire specific computer skills and with the United Nations University, a workshop be exposed to workings of the Internet. It also series with the World Bank, an annual week- raises awareness and understanding of policy long campus on international trade with the and security issues related to the information University of Texas at Austin and the World society. It consists of a set of four progressive Trade Organization; a workshop series with the modules and one seminar presented as a cycle, Dag Hammarskjöld Library, a workshop series which is repeated four times a year. It is under a partnership with Seton Hall University, expected that some 400 participants will benefit and a workshop series on public-private from one or more modules in the series in 2002. partnership for sustainable development with the German Management Academy.

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III. Training and Capacity Building Programmes in the Field of Economic and Social Development

A. Training and Capacity Building Programmes in Chemicals and Waste Management

UNITAR’s Training and Capacity Building country-driven (by countries for countries) and Programmes in Chemicals and Waste involve all interested and affected parties. Management (CWM) National Chemicals Management Profiles 86. These programmes support developing 88. Assessing and diagnosing the existing legal, countries and countries in economic transition in institutional, administrative and technical their efforts to ensure that dangerous chemicals infrastructure for the sound management of and waste are handled safely without causing chemicals through the preparation of a National harm to human health and the environment. The Profile is considered an important prerequisite programmes are closely linked to the for building national capacity in a systematic implementation of Agenda 21 and related policy way. National Profiles have also been instruments which set out the responsibilities of recognised as an important tool for countries have towards the goal of sustainable implementation of international chemicals- development. As a participating organisation in related agreements, in particular for preparing the Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Implementation Plans for the Stockholm Management of Chemicals (IOMC), a Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. cooperative agreement among UNEP, FAO, Through its National Profile Programme, WHO, ILO, UNIDO, UNITAR and OECD, UNITAR provides IFCS-endorsed guidance, UNITAR contributes its experience in training training and technical support to assist and capacity building methodologies, while countries. By June 2002, some 68 countries UNITAR’s IOMC partners contribute their have prepared a National Profile, and another substantive expertise in specific areas of 24 are in preparation. chemicals and waste management. Information Exchange Among Institutions Programmes to Facilitate Integrated and Stakeholders Chemicals Management 89. Chemicals management at the country level often involves a wide range of activities 87. The cross-sectoral nature of chemicals conducted by ministries, stakeholders, and other management, and the interests of various institutions. Often, national chemicals government ministries and other stakeholders in management experts and civil servants lack this area, require an integrated and coordinated knowledge of activities that are conducted by approach at the country level and the different national institutions due to inadequate development of an organisational framework information exchange. In support of country- through which sustained national action in the based efforts UNITAR, in cooperation with area of sound management of chemicals can be UNEP and other partners, has developed ensured. The following interrelated UNITAR guidance for strengthening information programmes, guidance materials and support exchange at the national level. UNITAR’s SISEI1 services are designed to assist countries in Programme is also a key contributor to this systematically addressing this challenge and are work. To-date, a series of pilot workshops have closely linked to the various recommendations taken place in developing countries to support issued by the Intergovernmental Forum on this work. Chemical Safety (IFCS). Underlying principles that guide all activities include that they be 1 Système d'Information et de Suivi de l'Environnement sur Internet 20 A/57/14

Strengthening National Coordination intergovernmental organisations and non- Mechanisms governmental organisations is planned for 2002. 90. Strengthening coordination among Ministries and other interested and affected parties on Country Projects to Support Integrated chemicals-related issues can help to avoid Chemicals Management duplication of efforts and may lead to more 93. With the support of the Swiss Agency for efficient use of scarce resources. Coordination Development and Cooperation, three countries – can also catalyse joint decision-making and, in Ecuador, Senegal and Sri Lanka – are the longer term, result in more coherent national participating in two-year projects (ending in early policies. In response to requests from countries 2003) entitled “Developing and Sustaining an to learn about the different experiences and Integrated National Programme (INP) for the approaches to national coordination, UNITAR Sound Management of Chemicals”. These has initiated a survey in 2002 in order to projects are implemented in cooperation with all facilitate the sharing of lessons learned IOMC participating organisations, as well as regarding country approaches to coordination. In other international and national partners. A addition, draft guidance has been developed in formal advisory body has been established to the context of a related programme in three provide overall guidance and to ensure developing countries. The development of systematic utilisation of expertise available further guidance materials and training is through UNITAR’s IOMC partner organisations. planned. Countries address integrated chemicals management issues and Action Plan Coordinated Priority-Setting development on topics identified through a 91. Setting priorities in a coordinated way allows national priority-setting process. Expected countries to focus their limited resources on results include an updated National Profile, effectively addressing critical chemicals-related completed Action Plans on two priority topics, a issues. UNITAR has prepared a guidance financial resource mobilisation strategy and document on organising a National Priority- strengthened national inter-ministerial and multi- Setting Workshop, and provides support to stakeholder mechanisms. The Programme is interested countries to organise such an event, designed in a flexible manner to allow countries resources permitting. By 2002, some 16 to consider areas of particular importance to countries had organised a National Priority their national situation. Setting Workshop with the support of UNITAR. Specialised Training and Capacity Building Coordinated Financial Resource Mobilisation Programmes 92. Capacity building for the sound management 94. On a select number of topics, UNITAR offers of chemicals requires the mobilisation of specialised guidance to assist countries in their resources – both human and financial. strategy development processes. In each Understanding the resource allocation planning Programme, UNITAR works jointly with at least process within a country is an important step one other IOMC participating organisation to that can lead to successful financial mobilisation. develop guidance, provide technical support and Ministries working together towards financial build advisory networks. A systematic planning resource mobilisation may collectively generate framework is provided, while all substantive new and additional resources for the sound decisions are made by partner countries. management of chemicals, in particular from Following are brief descriptions of the activities external sources. UNITAR guidance has been conducted. developed in response to demands originating both from countries and from donor Chemical Hazard Communication and governments. A Thematic Workshop on this Implementation of the Globally Harmonized topic, bringing together representatives from System for the Classification and Labelling developing countries, countries with economies of Chemicals (GHS) in transition, other governments, 95. The goal of chemical hazard communication is to ensure that employers, employees and the

21 A/57/14 public know about chemical hazards and how to Skills-Building Programmes protect themselves. The subject of chemical 99. In many instances, civil servants and experts hazard communication is also an integral from non-governmental organisations charged element within the areas being addressed under with chemical safety responsibilities lack skills to the Globally Harmonized System for the develop effective strategies to address specific Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), chemical management topics. To address these which is currently being finalised through a key challenges, UNITAR has developed a range of UN subcommittee. A joint UNITAR/ ILO skills-building services and training activities. programme assists countries to develop and implement chemical hazard communication Action Plan Development action plans through participation of affected and 100. Whether nationally-identified priorities interested parties. address an individual or group of chemicals, an infrastructure issue, a specific chemicals 96. A Programme Advisory Group with management instrument or a relevant participants from international organisations, international agreement, sound and well countries, industry, labour groups, universities coordinated Action Plans need to be developed and other interested parties has been which outline precise goals, objectives, planned established. It reviews programme documents, activities, suggested implementation ensures complimentarity with other hazard mechanisms, as well as financial and human communication initiatives, and provides resource needs. UNITAR provides guidance and guidance regarding programme implementation. training to partner countries in the area of Action With the support of the Netherlands Minister for Plan development and project planning and Development Cooperation, a pilot project to management with an emphasis on chemicals develop a national chemical hazard management subject areas. Cooperation with communication strategy is being implemented in UNEP to undertake Action Plan development 2002-2003. A WSSD partnership proposal, skills-building in the context of the Stockholm designed to assist with realising an IFCS and Convention is ongoing. Bali Prepcom goal of GHS implementation by 2008, has been proposed by UNITAR, OECD Risk Management Decision-Making for and ILO. Priority Chemicals 101. A growing number of international Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers agreements dealing with chemicals of (PRTRs) international concern, such as the Stockholm 97. Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers Convention or chemicals included in the (PRTRs) have proven to be an effective tool for Rotterdam Convention on Prior Informed environmental management by providing Consent (PIC), oblige countries to make national government and the public with information on risk management decisions. This Programme, releases and transfers of toxic chemicals to air, conducted in cooperation with the International water, and land. The UNITAR PRTR Training Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS), aims to and Capacity Building Programme, which is strengthen skills and capabilities of those implemented in co-operation with OECD and responsible for chemicals management at the UNEP Chemicals, assists countries in the national level to undertake sound risk design and implementation of national PRTRs. management planning. Training activities conducted under the Programme promote a 98. A series of UNITAR guidance and resource general understanding of risk assessment documents is available to assist countries in methodologies and risk management developing a PRTR. At the international level, approaches in order to assist countries to make UNITAR has initiated a Network of PRTR well-informed risk management decisions. The Resource Persons through which interested Programme is implemented through country- countries learn about and have enhanced based projects during which partner countries access to PRTR-related expertise in countries choose a priority chemical(s), undertake a and organisations. situation analysis and develop options for action

22 A/57/14 as part of the development of a risk Supporting Activities management plan. A country-based project in Ghana is under way, with the support of the 103. In order to facilitate access to existing Netherlands Minister for Development information and experiences and to provide Cooperation. A detailed guidance document is added value to ongoing capacity building efforts being developed in cooperation with IPCS and of various actors, UNITAR is conducting the UNEP. following capacity building-related support activities and services. Development of a Public Involvement Plan Organisation of Thematic Workshops on 102. Development of sound public involvement Priority Topics of National Chemicals plans is an area of growing interest in Management developing countries and countries with 104. A series of Thematic Workshops on economies in transition. As a first step towards Priority Topics of National Chemicals developing targeted guidance and training Management Capacity Building has addressed material in this area, UNITAR has initiated a topics such as information exchange collaborative research project with the University (September 1998), awareness-raising (October of Cape Town. The project will identify practical 1998), legislation (June 1999), risk management lessons learned in South Africa from involving decision-making (October 1999), and chemicals the public in risk management decision-making analysis and monitoring (November 2001). following constitutional reform in 1994. Workshops on coordinated financial resource mobilisation and strengthening coordination are planned for 2002-2003.

B. The Climate Change Programme

Overview and Background conducted one major LDC workshop in cooperation with the Secretariat of the UNFCCC 105. In 1993, UNITAR and the Climate and UNDP (see LDC section) and developed Convention Secretariat launched a pilot climate two new country driven capacity building change programme, called ‘CC:Train’, followed initiatives. by a full three year programme to address problems that developing countries were facing Survey ‘Who needs what to implement the in managing climate change issues. After the Kyoto Protocol? An Assessment of the successful completion and evaluation of Climate Change related Capacity-building CC:Train, the UNITAR programme was Needs in 33 Developing Countries’ profoundly reorganized in 2001 with the continuous financial support of the Swiss 106. In the context of the UNFCCC Agency for Environment, Forests and negotiations regarding capacity building Landscape to adjust to evolving needs and the Decisions, the United Nations most recent decisions taken by the Parties to the Foundation/UNFIP and the Governments of Convention and the Kyoto Protocol. The Canada and Norway funded a survey carried out fundamental objective of the current CCP is to by four regional investigating institutions (Africa, solidify its country driven approach and serve as Asia, Latin America, and Middle East) together a rapid and efficient implementation tool for the with UNITAR. Preliminary results were work of the UNFCCC as well as the presented in The Hague (COP6 Part 1). The Implementing Agencies, acting for the GEF, as regional reports were completed mid 2001 and financial mechanism of the Convention. In the the final report was launched in Marrakech reporting period, UNITAR concluded a major (COP7). The most important conclusion of the survey on capacity building needs to implement assessment is that increased emphasis on the Kyoto Protocol in developing countries capacity building activities – in the widest sense

23 A/55/14 of the term – is a key component to the delegations, leaves a capacity gap that successful implementation of the UNFCCC in contributes to their difficulty to integrate fully into developing countries. the multilateral process. The new CCP project aims to strengthen the human resource and LDC capacity building to Address Climate institutional capacity of developing countries for Change Issues effective negotiation, policy analysis and coordination on climate change. It seeks to 107. Also in the recent context of the promote an institutionalised and sustainable UNFCCC negotiations, an agreement was made approach to capacity building by strengthening to provide urgent support to Least Developed endogenous centres in designated countries. Countries (LDC). The UNITAR Climate change programme developed a project for GEF funding 109. The immediate training target groups through UNDP, to support human and include three existing regional centres based in institutional capacity building of the climate Africa (Dakar and Cape Town) and Asia change Focal Points from the 46 LDCs. This (Colombo, Sir Lanka), who will reach out and project is aiming at providing ICT equipment and target the UNFCCC national focal points, senior training to UNFCCC Focal Points from all LDCs level climate negotiators, focal points for bilateral with the objective of improving communication and multilateral development assistance, and among themselves and the rest of the world. A other concerned government actors and UNFCCC/GEF workshop was held in Bandos stakeholder groups in the targeted regions. The (Maldives) in October/November 2001 to main project activities include institutional disseminate knowledge on the “Capacity capacity building; a training of the trainers building Self Needs Assessment” methodology, programme; training programme development a new type of GEF capacity building funded and first implementation by the regional centres; projects. The allocations of grants to allow the and, a pilot phase for developing an interactive purchase of ICT equipment could be made distance learning programme to support the available to 41 LDC Focal Points by mid 2002. negotiating and policy analysis capacity of designated countries. Potential donors currently Strengthening Human and Institutional review this project, mainly the Directorate Capacity in Developing countries for General for Development of the EC and its Effective Negotiation, Policy Analysis and implementation is expected early 2003. Coordination on Climate Change Institutional Building to Facilitate the 108. Some developing countries have Implementation of the UNFCCC in the Central experienced difficulty over the past ten years in Group 11 (CG11) integrating effectively into the climate change negotiations. Widespread structural 110. A support programme was formulated by impediments, weak and often inexperienced UNITAR in close coordination with the UNFCCC human resources, low levels of infrastructure, Focal Points of the “Central Group 11”, i.e. the and institutional deficiencies have constrained Central European countries that have agreed their capacity. In many of these countries, upon concrete GHG reduction targets, to fulfil although support was provided to help them with their commitments under the Convention and the formulation of their National the Kyoto Protocol. The proposed capacity and Communications, these conditions have institution-building project will enable them to worsened, and they are sure to continue to fulfil their commitments under the UNFCCC, by inhibit the degree to which these countries developing their capacity to establish and prepare for intergovernmental negotiations and maintain permanent national GHG inventory negotiate effectively during international systems compliant with international guidance meetings. These capacity constraints are and standards. In particular, the proposed exacerbated by the frequent turnover of project will facilitate and support the CG11 professional staff common to many developing Parties in planning for and establishing national countries. This reality, together with their inventory systems with the following objectives. inability to field large and specialized At COP7, in November 2001 in Marrakech, the

24 A/55/14 draft support programme was reviewed and well as practical details on national discussed with the eleven UNFCCC Focal implementation partners. Funding raising for this Points attending the conference. The project capacity building project is a priority of the concept also includes 11 Annexes describing UNITAR CCP in order to start its implementation specific needs and priorities at country level as early 2003.

C. International Training Center for Local Actors: Programme on Decentralized Cooperation and Sustainable Development (CIFAL)

111. The CIFAL programme, based in Divonne- association and private sectors available les-Bains, France, aims at answering concerns of to local actors; decentralized actors and providing elements of • To create conditions required for professional training to individuals involved at local supranational discussion between local levels of responsibility. actors and international institutions.

Providing specific services Workshops and Seminars

112. The CIFAL Programme provides 114. In 2000, with the financial support of the • A decentralised cooperation service Mairie de Divonne, Département de l’Ain, the structure; Region of Rhône Alpes and the Canton of • An international space for meetings and Geneva, in the framework of the European exchange of experiences between local Union Interreg II programme, five seminars were actors such as local authorities, para- organized to test the CIFAL concept: public and private structures working in • Tourism and sustainable development; the field of sustainable development • Decentralized cooperation in the frame of (water, sanitation, waste management) sustainable development in relation with the and global actors such as UN Agencies United Nations system; and Global companies; • Territorial Community Services of Internet • A working decentralised cooperation and Decentralized Cooperation (Case of system open to all local actors in the field Mali, Case of Mauritania); of sustainable social and human • High level Meeting on Partnerships between development and international European territorial Regions/Communities cooperation. and the United Nations in the frame of the sustainable reconstruction of Regions 113. Working in the spirit of decentralised coming out of crisis (Balkans in general, cooperation, CIFAL objectives are: more specifically Kosovo). • To assist local actors in the local implementation of international 115. Some 400 participants have already commitments taken either by their benefited from the seminars, expressing Government or by the territorial satisfaction with the CIFAL formula. Meetings of community; multiple actors are undoubtedly conducive to an • To help local actors to find an audience appreciation of the variety of points of view and on the international stage and have an to be in contact with other approaches in the active and positive contribution to a spirit of decentralized cooperation. The controlled globalization; participation of speakers coming from various • To help local actors to benefit from horizons could lead to wider outlooks and more experiences, tools, financing structures valuable discussions. and international partnerships; • To make expertise of the international 116. These initial seminars have revealed that system, territorial communities, and local actors have a strong need for the creation of a permanent facility, open to all, where it

25 A/55/14 would be possible to obtain consulting services, (Curitiba, April 2002), Asia-Pacific (Shanghai, meet people and be associated in a dynamic June 2002), and Europe (Lyon, July 2002). Each move toward a local and international regional forum has focused on specific public development in a non-bureaucratic environment. services topics such as water and sanitation, waste management, energy and transport, Action in the field shelter and slum upgrading, public health, and municipal informatization. The key participants 117. At field level, the CIFAL Programme has were local authorities and their partners in the contributed to a number of decentralized public, private and civil society sectors, as well cooperation experiences: as external programmes they cooperate with. These support programmes originate from • In Lebanon, assisting municipalities and multilateral and bilateral organisations, local actors of Northern Lebanon to develop international associations of local authorities, their reconstruction action scheme in a post international NGOs, as well as the international conflict context. The project is developed in business community. the framework of UNOPS RESS / UNDP initiative. 120. The regional pre-Summit workshops have resulted in concrete recommendations and • In Tunisia, assisting the Ministers of action plans for filling gaps, avoiding overlaps Environment and Interior of Tunisia to and exploiting complementarities in the support develop a training strategy for Local Agenda available to local actors. 21. A pilot training project has started with the Municipality and the Region of Monastir, 121. At the same time, the stated objectives, in the elaboration of their Local Agenda 21 as officially presented at Johannesburg, were through a participatory approach. the bringing together of a number of UN Agencies (UNITAR, UN-HABITAT, UNDP, • In Kosovo, assisting UNMIK and UNDP UNAIDS, UNOPS, UNECE, WHO), Inter- within the Logo Program, as a pilot project, governmental Bodies (the European Union), two municipalities of Kosovo, to develop their Associations of Cities (both global and regional), own administrative system for better local NGOs (Global Ecovillage Network, Fondation du governance: MUDIS, in cooperation with two Devenir), and the private sector (Vivendi municipalities of Switzerland and France. Environnement), in order to develop a Contribution to the World Summit on comprehensive capacity building and training Sustainable Development (WSSD) programme based on a public-private partnership initiative for Local Authorities to 118. UNITAR, with the United Nations Human achieve sustainable urbanization. Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT), and the World Federation of United Cities (UTO), on 122. The public – private partnership type 2 behalf of the World Association of Cities and initiative on capacity building and training for Local Authorities Coordination (WACLAC), sustainable urbanization, targets the following agreed to organise, in cooperation with NGOs specific projects to be implemented starting in (Global Eco Village Network) and the Private the year 2002: Sector (Vivendi Environnement), “Regional Fora • Regional training centers in Curitiba, Durban, on Sustainable Urbanisation”. These fora aimed Shanghai, Kuala Lumpur and Lyon with and at identifying the priorities of local authorities for Local Authorities in the field of and their partners in building their capacities for environment (water, sanitation, waste sustainable development and to review available management, public transport). external support in different thematic and • An Internet server to get access to local geographic contexts. technical services related to environment for local authorities (water, sanitation, waste 119. The regional fora were organised management, public transport). between December 2001 and July 2002 in Africa • Training for Local applications of (Durban, December 2001), South America International Legal Instruments related to the 26 A/55/14

Environment, as developed so far in the • The participation of UNITAR to the CIFAL at Divonne-les-Bains in France. International University for Sustainable • Local Governance for modernization of local Development. management, local transparency and participatory approach. 123. These activities, sponsored by various • Training Local Authorities in the field of AIDS structures (UN Agencies, Governments, Local for their local involvement. Authorities, NGOs and Private Companies) will • Decentralised cooperation and Local Agenda be implemented starting early 2003. 21. • The internationalisation of the right to access local services.

D. Information and Communication Training programmes

124. UNITAR has been working on capacity • Assisting countries with their reporting to the building and training projects and programmes Conference of the Parties. in the field of information and communication technologies (ICT) since 1986 and has E-Learning developed a strong and stable network of • Using the UNITAR e-learning platform for partnerships with experts and specialized distance training; institutions from all over the world. Our partner • Research on the pedagogical adaptation of institutions include UN Agencies, Inter and training to this new media. Governmental bodies, NGOs, Technical institutions, Universities, engineering, as well as A la carte training business companies. 126. UNITAR is conducted a wide range of “à 125. For the last two years UNITAR, has la carte” ICT training activities from basic to faced an increased number of related training advanced professional technical courses, as and capacity building activities, which has given well as on related policy, socio-economic and the opportunity to structure its ICT programmes legal issues, mostly in Africa. within 4 main clusters: 127. Basic technical skills-development A la carte training sessions, including introduction of PC operating • Hands-on introductory and advanced training systems, use of office automation tools, email on the use of ICT; and Internet, and web-design, are organized for • Training on the technical and the legal civil servants in Member States and delegates aspects of the Internet; from Permanent Missions to the UN in New • Certificate training programme. York, Geneva, Nairobi and Vienna. Activities are conducted in collaboration with other UN E-governance agencies, Governmental and private partners. • Applications to local, urban, national and global governances: social and economic 128. Advanced technical training sessions affairs, the environment and finance; are being conducted for engineers and • Role and place of ICT within the Information technicians in developing countries in the fields Society. of data base management, geographic information systems, remote sensing and web Support to international instruments & other site development. These sessions have been agreements developed with OSS in one hand for the African • Preparing countries for negotiations on Continent and with UNEP for the GEO 3 Outlook international legal instruments; programme, throughout the 5 continents. • Improving links and working relationships with UN Conventions’ Secretariats; 27 A/55/14

129. Policy Awareness sessions in an understanding of and facilitating discussions Information Technology on topics related to on guidelines for international policy-making. policy and security issues are also regularly conducted for diplomats of permanent missions 134. E-governance at the national level: the to the UN in Geneva, Nairobi, New York and “Internet for Sustainable Development Vienna. Programme” has assisted Gabon in entering the Information Society by providing specific target 130. Specialized courses are also set up for, groups with a comprehensive understanding of among others, journalists in the Democratic the issues at stake and by focusing, in particular, Republic of Congo in the context of UN Quick on technical aspects (telecommunication and Impact Project, lawyers and Telecom decision computer science infrastructures), legal makers in Francophone Africa on issues such questions (intellectual property, e-trade, illegal as: ICT and North/South relations; Reducing the and harmful content, public information, 'digital divide'; Domain names and global encryption..) and socio-economic issues. governance of the Internet; Information systems and security issues; Global policy issue; 135. Environmental E-governance: the International Law and Cyberspace; and E- “Environmental Information System on the commerce. Internet Programme (SISEI)” jointly developed with the Observatory of Sahel and Sahara, ITU 131. Specific training material have been and UNEP, seeks to generate an adequate developed such the second version of the CD framework among environmental stakeholders ROM “Internet in South” developed with (government agencies and administrations, UNESCO, WIPO, the World Bank, the NGOs, academic & private sectors) in African Francophonie and the French Ministry of countries and sub-regions in order to implement Foreign Affairs. “Internet in South” is real virtual systems for the validation, circulation and library with many scientific and legal texts as harnessing of relevant environmental well as many free software. Other specific information, with a view to strengthening the training material have been developed with the participative approach at both the decision- different ITC training activities. making and the operational levels. The last two years have been used to finalize the pilot phase E-governance at national level in 7 countries (Benin, Mali, Marocco, Senegal, Tunisia and Uganda) and at 132. Within its mandate to enhance the regional levels with 2 regions (Union du effectiveness of the United Nations and its Maghreb Arab and the Permanent Inter members states, and in the context of the Governmental Committee for Drought in Sahel). evolving ICT era, UNITAR has continued to work A second phase for all African countries is under these last two years on how to improve preparation to start in 2003. governance at different levels through capacity building and training. 136. E-governance at the local level: the “International Training Center for Local 133. E-governance at the multinational Authorities Programme (CIFAL)” has designed level: the “Internet for Sustainable Development and developed a double concept addressing the Programme” is currently working on Internet issues of urbanization, modernization of local governance and the harmonization of a legal administration and social dialogue between local framework through the “Law & Cyberspace authorities and the civil society. After Lebannon Project”, sponsored by the International and Senegal in 2000, one major project has Organization of Francophonie. Also, the been conducted in 2001 and 2002 in Kosovo, Intel/UNITAR Campus on New Communication aiming at i) increasing the amount and quality of Technologies and Diplomacy aims at exposing information available to municipal staff for participants (senior-level diplomats) to issues administrative planning and decision-making; relative to the governance of ICT at the and ii) facilitating participatory processes in the multilateral level. Both initiatives aim at providing new framework of decentralization.

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Support to international instruments & other views on the use of geospatial information for agreements sustainable development. UNITAR has been a partner with UNEP and EIS Africa in the 137. UNITAR, through the ICT component of organization of the fourth AFRICAGIS its environmental programmes, provides Conference which was held in Nairobi in countries with the most recent knowledge and November 2001. More than 500 participants insights on strategies and issues related to ICT attended. UNITAR will be partner for the fifth development which could assist in the edition and the tenth anniversary in Dakar implementation of international environmental Senegal in the year 2003. conventions. E-Learning 138. The “Chemicals and Waste Management Training Programme” deals with conventions 142. With the aim of improving its efficiency, and agreements related to the Pollutant Release reaching a broader audience and reducing the and Transfer Registers (PRTRs), the Globally cost of training per participant, UNITAR is Harmonized System for the Classification and developing on-line training courses available on Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) and, more a UNITAR e-learning platform. The key recently, the Stockholm Convention on objectives are to strengthen existing ties with Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). It has regional training centers, offer joint courses with developed guidance and training material to partners in Africa and elsewhere and develop facilitate effective information exchange on new frameworks for partnerships with countries. chemicals involving all relevant ministries and UNITAR is also aiming at developing @-learning stakeholders at the national level. capacities in countries where IT awareness is still poor, so as to ensure access to UNITAR 139. The “Climate Change” programme, in the training programmes. context of the UNFCCC negotiations, executed a UNDP/GEF funded project to strengthen 143. E-learning on the “Legal Aspects of Debt, human and institutional resources of the Financial Management and Negotiation” and the UNFCCC National Focal Points from the Least “Application of Environmental Law” will be Developed Countries. This one-year project available by fall 2002. improved their connection to the World Wide Web and their capacity to efficiently retrieve Contribution to the World Summit on climate change information on the UNFCCC Information Society Secretariat website. A training manual was produced to summarize basic technical ICT 144. The International Telecommunications information and climate change resources Union (ITU), as lead agency in the preparation available on the web from all UN agencies, and of the World Summit on Information Society contains more than 150 sites. (WSIS), has requested UNITAR to provide Least Developed Countries with the most recent 140. In the context of its second phase of knowledge and insights on strategies and issues activities to start in 2003, The “Environmental related to Information and Communication Information System on the Internet - SISEI” Technology development and support them in programme is providing links between national their efforts to prepare for the Summit. The and sub-regional focal points of the UNCBD, objective of this initiative is to enhance the ability UNCCD and UNFCCC Conventions through the of LDC’s to express their needs as far as the elaboration of shared information systems and role that information technology can play in web portals. alleviating poverty, supporting good governance and protecting human rights as well as 141. Since 1993, within the framework of the promoting innovation and enterprise as part of Agenda 21, Chapter 40, UNITAR has initiated, in the process of achieving sustainable social, cooperation with partners, a series of GIS economic and political development. The project Conferences in Africa where practitioners, from should enable all the key stakeholders in these around the world, share their experiences and countries, governments, civil society and

29 A/55/14 businesses, to fully assess the value-added that This project will ultimately seek to enable these their participation in the Summit can provide. It countries to suggest appropriate follow-up will also seek to enhance their capacities to programmes and articulate a plan of action and more adequately negotiate their interests during appropriate strategies, to be included in the proceedings and put forward relevant proposals. recommendations of the WSIS.

E. Training Programme in the Legal Aspects of Debt and Financial Management for Sub-Saharan Africa and Vietnam

Overview and Background • Arbitration and Dispute Resolution; • Negotiation Techniques and Strategies in 145. UNITAR's Training Programme in the relation to Financial Transactions; Legal Aspects of Debt, Financial Management • Financial Management, Negotiation and the and Negotiation has its genesis in a high-level Bretton Woods Institutions; expert meeting (Geneva, April 1987). Since • Legal Aspects of Debt Negotiation and then, training (through short-duration regional Renegotiation; seminars and workshops) and capacity building • Legal Aspects of Public Debt Management; initiatives have been undertaken to develop and • Debt Management and National Budgeting; enhance the skill levels of government officials • Legal Aspects of Debt and Financial (particularly from the Ministries of Finance, Management (Sensitization of High-level Justice, Attorney-General's Chambers, Foreign Officials); and Affairs, Central Banks and Universities) in the • Negotiation and Drafting of Loan legal aspects of debt, financial management and Agreements. negotiation of financial transactions. In this respect, UNITAR has exercised its 147. The hallmark of this period has been the acknowledged comparative advantage in the expansion of this programme for 16 French- design and implementation of regional training speaking African nations. Furthermore, programmes addressed at sensitizing senior collaboration with Regional Training Institutes government officials and training middle-level has been consolidated and expanded in all officials to various aspects of debt and financial regions of Africa. All workshops conducted by management. The hallmark of this period is UNITAR have been conducted in conjunction consolidation of regional training activities for with its partners on a strictly cost-sharing basis English-speaking African countries, and keeping in view the comparative advantage commencement of training in 16 French- in training of the partners concerned. The speaking Africa and the development of online African Regional Partner Training Institutes training using new information technologies. include: • Eastern and Southern African Management Sub-Saharan Africa Institute (ESAMI, Arusha); • 146. In the reporting period, UNITAR International Law Institute - Uganda Legal conducted 14 regional workshops benefiting 401 Centre of Excellence (ILI-Uganda, Kampala); • government officials from East, West and Macroeconomic and Financial Management Southern African countries (both English and Institute (MEFMI, Harare); • French-speaking). Additionally, training West African Institute for Financial and materials were compiled and distributed as part Economic Management (WAIFEM, Lagos); of each workshop and a series of documents as and well as best practice materials were published • Pôle-Dette (Yaoundé, Cameroun) for and distributed. The workshop topics included: French-speaking Central and West Africa. • Negotiating and Drafting Specific Clauses in Loan Agreements; • Effective Public Debt Management; 30 A/55/14

Vietnam workshops and dissemination of training materials are planned in the coming months and 148. Following a needs assessment years. The two workshops have been conducted conducted by UNITAR, during the reporting in Hanoi so far. UNITAR has also successfully period, UNITAR has conducted one national concluded a project to offer training to workshop for the Government of Vietnam Vietnamese government officials jointly with benefiting 26 officials. The results, as reflected UNDP Hanoi on Development and Regulation of in the participant questionnaires, have been Capital Markets. extremely positive. Future national training

F. Foreign Economic Relations

149. UNITAR’s Training Programmes on Recently, the programme has placed particular Foreign Economic Relations (FER) seek to emphasis on training in International Trade strengthen human resources within public Relations and the Multilateral Trading System as institutions in developing countries and countries some countries in the region are currently with economies in transition in the fields of negotiating accession to the World Trade financial management, trade, and investment. Organization. Training workshops are targeted primarily to senior and middle-level public sector officials UNITAR/UNCTAD/UNDP Training Programme involved in managing external debt, negotiating in Effective Debt Management loan and trade agreements, promoting foreign direct investment and facilitating the 151. Since June 1998, UNITAR, in development of Small and Medium-sized partnership with UNCTAD and UNDP, organised Enterprises (SMEs). In recent years, the scope a series of four training workshops on Debt of the programme has been expanded to include Management for Eastern Europe and the private sector entrepreneurs in order to enhance Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). a closer public-private cooperation. In the Making the most of the complementary expertise reporting period a total of 855 participants of each organisation, the workshops covered attended UNITAR workshops on Foreign various dimensions of debt management, from Economic Relations. the legal to the financial aspects, focusing on operational issues and the development of Training Programme in International specific skills for effective debt management. Economic and Financial Relations for the Central Asian Republics and Azerbaijan Fellowship Programme on the Legal Aspects of Debt and Financial Management 150. During the two years from July 1998 to June 2000, UNITAR has conducted twelve 152. The Fellowship Programme, organised training workshops in Central Asia and jointly with the Irish Institute for Public Azerbaijan. Workshops were both of a regional Administration (IPA), was conceived as a regular and national nature focusing on three main forum for training of debt managers from various subject areas: debt management; international Sub-Saharan African countries on the legal trade and customs modernisation; and aspects of debt management. The programme, investment promotion and SMEs development. of two weeks duration, was initiated in Regional workshops were conducted on issues September 1999 and counted on the considered relevant for the entire region where participation of 23 public officials from 11 African individual countries could benefit from countries. The structure of the Fellowship discussion and exchange of experiences with includes three modules: the Core Programme, neighbouring countries. National workshops comprising lectures on specific technical issues seek to provide a more specific training of debt management; the Action-oriented approach geared to match the specific training modules with practical exercises, case studies needs of public officials within a given country. and simulation games; and Study visits to 31 A/57/14 relevant Irish public sector institutions dealing Commercial Diplomacy, (conducted together with debt management. In a follow-up with UNCTAD), International Accounting assessment conducted 6 months after the Standards, Auditing of Public Institutions and programme all participants unanimously agreed Structure and Management of Public Institutions. that the programme was very beneficial for their everyday work showing a clear interest in further 154. All training programmes have developed training. a practical approach to training with experienced practitioners as resource persons and the use of Training Programme on Public case studies and simulation games to provide Administration and Financial Management participants with the opportunity to practice the for the Palestinian Authority skills developed. An external review of Irish Aid involvement with UNITAR concluded that the 153. The training programme aims to assist content of the Fellowship Programme was both public sector officials from the Palestinian “relevant and of high quality”. In March 2000, an Authority in the development of some of the external evaluation commissioned by the donor, technical skills required for an efficient public the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, administration. During the period under stated that the programme in Central Asia was consideration, 13 training workshops were “of high quality and has yielded a good to very conducted largely in cooperation with the good response” highlighting the practical nature Ministry of Planning and International of the workshops. Cooperation. The topics covered include