United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)

UNECE provides analysis, policy advice and assistance to governments, it gives focus to the United Nations global mandates in the economic field, in cooperation with other global players and key stakeholders, notably the business community. The UNECE also sets out norms, standards and conventions to facilitate international cooperation within and outside the region. The area of expertise of the UNECE covers such sectors as: economic cooperation and integration, energy, environment, housing and land management, population, statistics, timber, trade, and transport. UNECE has 56 member States. However, all interested UN member States may participate in its work. Over 70 international professional organizations and other non-governmental organizations take part in UNECE activities.The Commission offers a regional framework for the elaboration and harmonization of conventions, norms and standards. The Commission's experts provide technical assistance to the countries of Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA) and of south-east Europe. This assistance takes the form of advisory services, training seminars and workshops where countries in transition can share their experiences and receive support from other countries in the region.

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) is one of the five regional commissions of the United Nations. It is the forum where the countries of western, central and eastern Europe, central Asia and North America - 56 countries in all - come together to forge the tools of their economic cooperation. That cooperation concerns such areas as economic cooperation and integration, energy, environment, human settlements, population, statistics, timber, trade, and transport. The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) as a multilateral platform facilitates greater economic integration and cooperation among its fifty-six member States and promotes sustainable development and economic prosperity through: policy dialogue, negotiation of international legal instruments, development of regulations and norms, exchange and application of best practices as well as economic and technical expertise, technical cooperation for countries with economies in transition. The UNECE contributes to enhancing the effectiveness of the UN through the regional implementation of outcomes of global UN Conferences and Summits. Its terms of reference have been defined by ECOSOC.

  • Civil Society
  • Coordination of International Assistance
  • Economic Foundations for Growth and Development
  • Employment Generation
  • Energy
  • Environment (to promote regional cooperation)
  • Gender
  • Good Offices and Peace Support
  • Norms & Standards
  • Norms & Standards (e.g. in trade, agriculture, statistics) and multilateral agreements (e.).g. in transport, energy, environment) that promote regional cooperation, sustainable peace and development and support UN peacekeeping and peacebuilding missions
  • Sustainable peace and development and support UN peacekeeping & peacebuilding missions.

Norms & Standards
The UNECE, through its ongoing activities, programmes and work-plan across several economic sectors, provides a framework for regional cooperation and sustainable economic development, including innovation and competitiveness, as well as provides capacity-building and technical training, thereby contributing to conflict prevention and peacebuilding in the region.
Other
  • Capacity and development training
  • Direct project implementation
  • Financial support
  • Policy advice
  • Project support services
  • Research and policy development
  • Technical assistance
Description of activities
Advisory Workshop on the UNECE legal instruments in the field of transport and on related infrastructure and border crossing developments in the Southeast Europe (Thessaloniki, Greece, 19– 20 December 2005) / All 56 UNECE member countries with an emphasis on Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA)and South East Europe (SEE). Provides continuous and ongoing inputs to regional fora in relevant sectoral activities. Example: participates regularly in the OSCE economic and environmental forum. / All 56 UNECE member countries with an emphasis on Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA)and South East Europe (SEE). Implementation Guides for the Protocols to the 1979 Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution to facilitate the ratification and implementation of this multilateral agreement in EECCA and SEE countries. / All 56 UNECE member countries with an emphasis on Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA)and South East Europe (SEE). The Pan-European Programme on Transport, Health and Environment (THE PEP), promoting sustainable urban transport development, policy integration among the three sectors and promotes regional cooperation and sharing of best practice and urban transport solutions serving as a conflict prevention tool, in particular in Central Asia. / All 56 UNECE member countries with an emphasis on Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA). Through the Committee on Economic Integration, promotes a policy, financial and regulatory environment conducive to economic growth, innovative development and higher competitiveness in the region of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, focusing mainly on countries with economies in transition. Example: «International Conference on Reducing Barriers to Entrepreneurship and Encouraging Enterprise Development: Policy Options» / All 56 UNECE member countries with an emphasis on Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA).
Capacity-building workshops and technical training programmes. Example: «International Conference on Knowledge Sharing and Capacity-Building on Promoting Successful Public-Private Partnerships in the UNECE Region», Tel Aviv, Israel, 5–8 June 2007 / All 56 UNECE member countries with an emphasis on Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA)and South East Europe (SEE).
Pilot projects for improved policy implementation. Example: UNECE Energy Week: "Investing in Energy Security" Geneva, 26-30 November 2007 / All 56 UNECE member countries with an emphasis on Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA)and South East Europe (SEE).
Not direct financial support, but financing of capacity-building worskhops and technical training programmes, including financing the participation of member governments from countries with economies in transition. / All 56 UNECE member countries with an emphasis on Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA)and South East Europe (SEE).
In the context of workshops and technical training workshops, exchange of information on best practices. Example: "«International Conference on Reducing Barriers to Entrepreneurship and Encouraging Enterprise Development: Policy Options» 18-19 June 2007. Example 2: «First Meeting of the Team of Specialists on Innovation and Competitiveness Policies», 8-9 March 2007. Example 2: Round-Table: "Transport Security and in the Pan-European Context: Selected Issues and Options" 8 February 2006, Geneva. / All 56 UNECE member countries with an emphasis on Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA)and South East Europe (SEE).
Regional advisors covering sector-specific activities targeted toward EECCA and South East Europe countries. / All 56 UNECE member countries with an emphasis on Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA)and South East Europe (SEE).
Research and occasional papers on macroeconomic trends and policy development in the region. Example: "Environmental policy and international competitiveness in a globalizing world: challenges for low-income countries in the UNECE region". / All 56 UNECE member countries with an emphasis on Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA)and South East Europe (SEE).
Capacity-building workshops and technical training seminars in fields such as transport, environment, energy efficiency, trade and statistics. Example: "International Air Monitoring, Data, Reporting and Environmental Effects" 17-19 October 2006, Almaty, Kazakhstan / All 56 UNECE member countries with an emphasis on Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA) and South East Europe (SEE).
Advisory Workshop on the UNECE legal instruments in the field of transport and on related infrastructure and border crossing developments in the Southeast Europe (Thessaloniki, Greece, 19– 20 December 2005) / All 56 UNECE member countries with an emphasis on Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA)and South East Europe (SEE). Provides continuous and ongoing inputs to regional fora in relevant sectoral activities. Example: participates regularly in the OSCE economic and environmental forum. / All 56 UNECE member countries with an emphasis on Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA)and South East Europe (SEE). Implementation Guides for the Protocols to the 1979 Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution to facilitate the ratification and implementation of this multilateral agreement in EECCA and SEE countries. / All 56 UNECE member countries with an emphasis on Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA)and South East Europe (SEE). The Pan-European Programme on Transport, Health and Environment (THE PEP), promoting sustainable urban transport development, policy integration among the three sectors and promotes regional cooperation and sharing of best practice and urban transport solutions serving as a conflict prevention tool, in particular in Central Asia. / All 56 UNECE member countries with an emphasis on Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA). Through the Committee on Economic Integration, promotes a policy, financial and regulatory environment conducive to economic growth, innovative development and higher competitiveness in the region of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, focusing mainly on countries with economies in transition. Example: «International Conference on Reducing Barriers to Entrepreneurship and Encouraging Enterprise Development: Policy Options» / All 56 UNECE member countries with an emphasis on Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA).

Economic Foundations for Growth and Development
  • Capacity and development training
  • Direct project implementation
  • Financial support
  • Policy advice
  • Project support services
  • Research and policy development
  • Technical assistance

Coordination of International Assistance
  • Americas
    • North America
      • United States of America
      • Canada
  • Europe
    • Eastern Europe
      • Republic of Moldova
      • Romania
      • Czech Republic
      • Slovakia
      • Russian Federation
      • Ukraine
      • Poland
      • Belarus
      • Bulgaria
      • Hungary
    • Northern Europe
      • Estonia
      • Latvia
      • Lithuania
      • United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
      • Sweden
      • Denmark
      • Finland
      • Iceland
      • Norway
      • Ireland
    • Western Europe
      • Austria
      • France
      • Liechtenstein
      • Switzerland
      • Belgium
      • Netherlands
      • Germany
      • Luxembourg
      • Monaco
    • Southern Europe
      • Montenegro
      • Spain
      • Albania
      • Italy
      • Bosnia and Herzegovina
      • Croatia
      • Serbia
      • Malta
      • Greece
      • Portugal
      • Slovenia
      • Andorra
      • Holy See
      • San Marino
      • (The former Yugoslav) Republic of Macedonia
  • Asia
    • Central Asia
      • Kazakhstan
      • Kyrgyzstan
      • Tajikistan
      • Uzbekistan
      • Turkmenistan
    • Western Asia
      • Armenia
      • Georgia
      • Turkey
      • Azerbaijan
      • Israel
      • Cyprus
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
Palais des Nations Geneva 10 CH-1211
See map: map.search.ch, Google Maps
http://www.unece.org
United Nations
More than 10 years
Between 1 million to 50 million CHF per annum
223
Palais des Nations Geneva 10 CH-1211
See map: map.search.ch, Google Maps
Headquarters

The UNECE is housed in the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG), the representative office of the United Nations in Geneva. With more than 1,600 staff, we are the biggest United Nations duty station outside of headquarters in New York and provide critical support to the Organization's efforts. We service over 8,000 meetings every year, making UNOG one of the busiest intergovernmental conference centres in the world and a focal point for multilateral diplomacy. Together, we strive to strengthen our contribution towards realizing the vision of the United Nations for a more stable, secure and prosperous world for all.

223
Mr
Ján Kubiš
UNECE Executive Secretary, Undersecretary General of the United Nations
Brinda Wachs
Environmental Affairs Officer

Network

UN regional commissions

Type: 
Formal
Type: 
United Nations / IOs
Description: 

Synergies with the other four UN Regional Economic Commissions (ESCAP, ECLAC, ECA, ESCAW). Provides capacity-building and technical training and expertise, exchange of best practice, intra-regional cooperation, etc.

ECE member states

Type: 
Formal
Type: 
Governments
Description: 

Formal institutional membership. Ministries from 56 UNECE member governments across sectors of transport, energy, environment, agriculture, trade, commerce, foreign affairs, etc.

Civil Society / NGOs

Type: 
Informal
Type: 
NGO
Description: 

UNECE cooperates with hundreds of NGOs and UN observers in its technical and scientific intergovernmental meetings in the fields of transport, energy, environment, agriculture, trade, commerce, foreign affairs, etc.

Partnership

OSCE

Type: 
Formal
Description: 

Formal institutional membership. Memo of understanding and review of commitments in the economic and environmental dimension. participation in the OSCE economic and environmental forum.

Partner organisations: 
IGO

EC

Type: 
Formal
Description: 

Formal institutional membership. UNECE cooperates with the European Commission across many sectors (DG TREN, Environment, Agriculture, International relations, and health and EC relies on UNECE's multilateral agreements when drafting much of community sector-specific legislation and directives, e.g. on air quality, transport networks, etc.

Partner organisations: 
Government