UNITAR HOAP Representative Office

The representative Office of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) of the Hiroshima Office for Asia and the Pacific has been working in TSPU since September 2005 in the Bibliographic information Center (TSPU, building 1, room 238). The office offers various books, journals and other materials which were presented by our partner - the UNITAR Office in Hiroshima and also journal “Nipponia” which is kindly provided by the Japanese Embassy in Moscow.

Photo: Rector V.V.Obukhov and Director of Hiroshima UNITAR Office N.Azimi

The main goal of the office is to inform professors, teachers and students of TSPU about the UNITAR activities and first of all those of the Hiroshima Office for Asia and the Pacific.

In addition to the paper materials, visitors of the UNITAR representative office have an opportunity for the internet access and check the latest information from the UNITAR site at www.unitar.org/hiroshima . On this site there is detailed information about the current issues, planned seminars and other past activities held by the UNITAR. Besides visitors can obtain some latest information about UNIAR current programmes: Programme for information society, Environmental programme, Programme of Multilanguage diplomacy and others among them. Starting March 2007 the Russian version of the UNITAR site is also available. Translation of the site was done by the International Office, TSPU. After visit to the UNITAR representative office, people are offered to answer some questions for the further improvement of the work of the office.

The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)

The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) www.unitar.org was established in 1965 as an autonomous body within the United Nations with the purpose of enhancing the effectiveness of the Organization through appropriate training and research. Its headquarters is situated in Switzerland. UNITAR is governed by a Board of Trustees and is headed by an Executive Director. The Institute is supported by voluntary contributions from governments, intergovernmental organizations, foundations, and other non-governmental sources.

UNITAR has the following functions: to conduct training programmes in multilateral diplomacy and international cooperation for diplomats accredited to the United Nations and national officials involved in work related to United Nations activities; to carry out a wide range of training programmes in the field of social and economic development; to carry out result-oriented research, in particular, research on and for training and to develop pedagogical materials including distance learning training packages, work books, as well as software and video training packs; to establish and strengthen cooperation with other inter-governmental organizations, faculties and academic institutions, in particular for the development of research on and for training.

The mandate of UNITAR is to enhance the effectiveness of the United Nations in achieving the major objectives of the Organization through appropriate training and research, in particular in the fields of maintenance of peace and security and the promotion of economic and social development. UNITAR carries out training programmes mainly for government officials, scholars and representatives of civil society from developing countries.

Since its restructuring and renewal in the early 1990s UNITAR has seen a rapid expansion of both the number of its programmes (from roughly 40 in 1991 to 150 in 2003) and participants (from roughly 2,000 in 1991 to nearly 10000 in 2004). The Institute has maintained a steady and progressive development policy and in August 1996 opened its New York Office to conduct training programmes for delegates working at the United Nations Headquarters. The UNITAR Hiroshima Office for Asia and the Pacific was established in July 2003. The Asia-Pacific region comprises some 50 countries representing over 60 per cent (3.5 billion people) of the world population. The importance of this region, its vitality and its influence in the world – in political, economic, cultural and social fields – is fully recognized by UNITAR. Capacity building is a key factor in the future developments of Asia-Pacific and a regional UNITAR Office devoted to training and research has therefore a natural "raison d’etre".

Since the creation of UNITAR in 1965, the share of the Asia-Pacific region in terms of the programmes provided by the Institute (number of persons by country benefiting from UNITAR's training) is roughly at about 15 per cent . It is expected that through the opening of a regional office in Hiroshima, UNITAR will increase and intensify its capacity-building activities in this region exponentially, so as to strike a balance with the region’s population and its potential. Additionally, it is important that UNITAR’s training programmes be tailored according to the needs and realities of each region and the Institute’s presence in the Asia-Pacific region will surely improve its own capabilities, allowing for training activities that are more effective since they will be coordinated and harmonized from within the region.

Hiroshima Office for Asia and the Pacific

The objective of the Hiroshima Office for Asia and the Pacific (HOAP) is to fulfill the mandate of UNITAR in the region through training activities based on the priorities and needs of the countries thereof.

During the first three years of operations, HOAP has established a specific approach and methodology in addressing its priority areas, namely Management and Conservation of World Heritage Sites, Sea and Human Security, Biodiversity, International Economics and Finance and Post-Conflict Reconstruction. Throughout, cross-cutting themes, such as principles and methodologies of training, the role of information technology and distance learning have been explored and emphasized.

To the extent possible, UNITAR's training is not limited to single events, but developed as multi-year, national and/or regional training series. In other words "training for trainers"” and focus on "training methodologies" has become an inherent part of the overall strategy of HOAP. Training modules/guidelines that could be adapted and applied by national/regional trainers, such as training units or departments within national ministries, national/regional think tanks, universities and other international and regional organizations, will have precedence. HOAP will also seek to provide assistance/guidance to the second-layer training (conducted by UNITAR trainees) in the region.

Photo: Vice-rector V.Y.Epp with Director of Hiroshima UNITAR Office .N. Azimi