United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

Providing a Platform for Agents of Progress

What is UNIDO?

UNIDO was established in 1966 and became a specialized agency of the United Nations in 1985.

Its primary objective is the promotion of industrial development in developing countries and economies in transition. UNIDO also promotes cooperation on the global, regional, national and sectoral levels.

UNIDO works toward improving the quality of life of the world's poor by drawing on its combined global resources and expertise in the following three interrelated thematic areas:

Poverty reduction through productive activities, by promoting industrial growth, focusing on employment and income generation, as well as institutional capacity-building and the development of small and micro enterprises;

Trade capacity-building by assisting countries in building and developing both production and trade-related capacities, including the capacity to conform to the standards of international markets required for participating in international trade;

Energy and environment by focusing on and promoting renewable sources of energy and supporting programmes which maximize industrial energy efficiency, as well as other activities promoting sustainable industrial development and supporting the implementation of international environmental agreements.

How does UNIDO work?

UNIDO employs around 650 staff members at headquarters and in the field. The Director-General of the Organization, Kandeh K. Yumkella (Sierra Leone), assumed office in December 2005.

UNIDO has three policymaking organs: the General Conference, the Industrial Development Board and the Programme and Budget Committee.

The 173 Member States of UNIDO meet once every two years at the General Conference, the supreme policy-making organ of the Organization. The Conference determines the guiding principles and policies, approves the budget and work programme of UNIDO and appoints the Director-General. It also elects representatives to the Industrial Development Board and the Programme and Budget Committee.

The Industrial Development Board has 53 members and reviews the implementation of the work programme, the regular and operational budgets. It also makes recommendations to the General Conference on policy matters, including the appointment of the Director-General. The Board meets once in General Conference years, and twice in other years.

The Programme and Budget Committee, consisting of 27 members, is a subsidiary organ of the Board. It meets once a year and assists the Board in preparing and examining the work programme, the budget and other fi nancial matters.

UNIDO around the world

UNIDO maintains a field network of regional and country offices around the world, many of which cover more than one country. In addition, numerous UNIDO Desks have become operational since the Cooperation Agreement with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) was signed in 2004.

A network of Investment and Technology Promotion Offi ces (ITPOs) and Investment Promotion Units (IPUs) in various countries promote investment and technology flows to developing countries and countries with economies in transition.

In addition, there are several National Cleaner Production Centres (NCPCs) and Programmes (NCPPs), established by UNIDO and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), as well as a growing number of International Technology Centres established by UNIDO in various countries.

UNIDO also has offices in Brussels, Geneva and New York.

Budget

The estimated total volume of UNIDO operations for the biennium 2008-2009 is 382 million euros.

For information contact:

United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

Vienna International Centre
PO Box 300, 1400 Vienna, Austria
Telephone: (+43-1) 26026-0
Fax: (+43-1) 269 2669
Email: unido@unido.org
Website: www.unido.org