Orientation Briefing on Vienna's Multilateral Working Environment

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Type:

Briefing

Specific Target Audience:

Core Diplomatic Training

Date:

13 Nov - 14 Nov 2012

Duration of event:

2 days

Location:

Vienna, Austria

Programme area:

Peace Security and Diplomacy, Multilateral Diplomacy

Fee:

No fee

Participation subject to application approval by UNITAR. Notification will be sent once application selection process has been finalized.

The registration is closed
Deadline for application: 9 November 2012

Background

Effective and efficient participation in multilateral conferences conducted at the United Nations Office at Vienna requires a sound knowledge of the structure and functioning of the UN System and its various components. Over the years, the mandate, governance and decision-making of the Vienna-based UN agencies, funds and specialised agencies have evolved considerably and diplomats are increasingly called upon to cover the work of various organisations with diverse decision-making mechanisms. This briefing will provide a concise overview of the United Nations System at Vienna, it will explain the structure, mandate and governance of the main organisations and it will provide the diplomats with the agenda of the main professional events for 2012/13.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the briefing, participants should be able to:

Understand the difference between the United Nations Organisation and system;
Define the structure, mandate and functions of the major international organisations in Vienna;
Recognise and analyse linkages between the international organisations in Vienna;
Understand the decision-making process and the governance system of these organisations;

Content and Structure

Representatives of international organisations and agencies such as UNODC, UNIDO, IAEA, CTBTO, OOSA, and OPEC will give presentations and answer questions about their organisation's structure, activities and current projects. Other organisations may still be added or removed from this list.

Methodology

General presentations from representatives of international organisations will be followed by more informal case studies and discussions, covering various aspects that are relevant for the professional tasks of diplomats working for Permanent Missions in Vienna. In addition to these presentations, time has been allocated for the dissemination of practical information, which will be useful to diplomats in their daily life.

Targeted Audience

This briefing primarily targets members of Permanent Missions accredited to the United Nations Office in Vienna who wish to familiarise themselves in a concise and intensive manner with the work of these organisations. A limited number of seats will be offered to international civil servants recently posted in Vienna.

Additional Information

UNITAR reserves the right to make a selection among candidates, if necessary. The selected candidates are requested to regard their participation as a firm commitment and to attend the course in its briefing. Please do not register if you think you may not be able to attend all meetings.