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United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
( Arabic; French) The United Nations Industrial Development Organization ( UNIDO) mobilizes knowledge, skills, information and technology to promote productive employment, a competitive economy and a sound environment. Furthermore, the Organization enhances cooperation at global, regional, national and sectoral levels. UNIDO was established in 1966 and became a specialized agency of the United Nations in 1985. As a specialized agency, UNIDO has its own constitution, its own member states, its own policymaking organs, its own executive head (Director-General Dr. Kandeh K. Yumkella) and its own regular budget. Moreover, UNIDO disposes of voluntary contributions to finance developmental activities.
UNIDO holds a special place in the United Nations system as it is the only organization promoting the creation of wealth and tackling poverty alleviation through manufacturing. The Organization focuses on three inter-related thematic priorities:
• Poverty Reduction through Productive Activities
• Trade Capacity-Building
• Energy and Environment
To improve standards of living through industries that are both internationally competitive and environmentally sustainable, the Organization has created the largest portfolio of projects related to trade capacity building in the United Nations system. The main focus is on promoting growth in the small and medium enterprise sector - the key generator of wealth in most developing countries. UNIDO plays a leading role in, among others, the implementation of the Montreal Protocol for the elimination of ozone depleting substances (ODS) and the Stockholm Convention for the elimination of persistent organic pollutants (POPs).
Activities in Lebanon
I- Regional Office
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Regional Office has been active for the support of Lebanon in various areas especially following the July 2006 war that has paralyzed the economic and industrial sectors in the country. The Office, which is located in Lebanon, covers three countries namely: Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.
II- Current Activities:
Market Access & Compliance for Lebanese Exports (MACLE) Project:
The MACLE Project, which was formally established on March 2007, has a total budget of 2.2 Millions USD funded by Switzerland through its State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and will be implemented over a period of 3 years. The Government coordinating agency is the Ministry of Economy and Trade and UNIDO is the executing and the implementing agency. Private sector, academic and professional associations are partners in the project execution. The MACLE Project is located at UNIDO Regional Office in Beirut.
Lebanese Agro-Industry Support and Economic Recovery (LAISER) Project:
As a rehabilitation activity after summer 2006 war, the Lebanese Government and UNIDO formulated the LAISER Project- Lebanese Agro-Industry Support and Economic Recovery. The purpose of the project is to support economic recovery and restore of industrial units in war-affected areas of Lebanon thereby generating employment and alleviate poverty in the country.
Food Safety (phase II) Project: Assistance to the Lebanese Meat and Milk-Processing Sectors in their Efforts to Gain Increased Market Access:
The project continues the ongoing activities within the Integrated Programme for Lebanon (IP) by upgrading and streamlining the legal and institutional support framework for trade facilitation and improved market access. It continues the work and the activities carried out within the project “Strengthening Human and Institutional Capacity for Upgrading Safety, Quality and standards of Lebanese SMEs with Pilot Application to Tahina and Halawa Manufacturers” by dealing with two new supply-chains: the meat and milk processing sectors. Following to the request of the Minister of the Economy and Trade for the extension of the project until the end of 2009 for the completion of the planned activities which was approved by the Project Activity Committee (PAC) in April 2008, the activities of the project were re-launched in July 2008.
Lebanese Cleaner Production Center project:
Established in 2002, its core activities entail: Awareness Raising, In-plant Demonstrations, and Training & Capacity Building. Its main beneficiaries are SMEs in the Dairy, Agro-Food Canning, Paper & Cardboard, and Plastic sectors. In March 2008 LCPC was considered a completed project, however, a project proposal for its extension has been approved by the PAC in June 2008 for submission to potential donors, including Austria, the second phase of the project were re-launched in April 2009.
III- Future activities
As follow-up to the visit of the UNIDO Director-General to Lebanon in August 2008, a memorandum of understanding was signed between UNIDO and the Ministry of Industry and the following activities were agreed upon to be followed-up and undertaken:
1. Promote public and private sector dialogue and partnership leading to the formulation of a national industrial and competitiveness policy;
2. Support of the Ministry of Industry and in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, in establishing pilot projects for Agro-Food Industries and Export Board for Ago-Food Industrial Products;
3. Enhance the capacity of the Lebanese industries and strengthen the national capability for a better and cleaner industrial environmental management through the well recognized Cleaner Production Center (LCPC);
4. Mobilize funds for industrial environmental projects trough the Lebanese Cleaner Production Center – LCPC, especially on Energy Efficiency and to implement a pilot project on Solar and Renewable Energy Efficiency, CDM and industrial waste management.
5. Support Business Environment Competitiveness and Innovation in particular related to SMEs and industrial modernization and upgrading;
6. Expansion of existing support to economic recovery of SMEs after July 2006 war in the main damaged areas in Lebanon (Southern Lebanon, Southern Suburbs of Beirut and Bekaa) in order to increase the Labour Market in the industrial sector, particularly in South and Bekaa Region;
7. Finalization of the Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion Programme (EDIP) for Lebanon in consultation with the involved national institutions, whereas the Ministry of Industry is the counterpart;
8. Develop a Franchising programme for integrating Lebanese SMEs in national, regional and international supply chains;
9. Supporting the private sector in establishing a SME support center in order to improve the competitiveness of SMEs through providing a range of useful information and services, such as compliance regulations, credits schemes, and business plan preparation;
10. Continue supporting the National Quality and Conformity system to ensure increase market access and protection of consumers and of the environment through assistance and cooperation with the key national institutions such as IRI, LIBNOR, COLIBAC etc., focusing on packaging and a national Quality Seal; Consumer Protection; Food Traceability and Safety; Laboratory Accreditation; TBTs and SPS. The trade capacity-building programme will also cover the strengthening and promotion of Lebanese traditional products (such as Honey, Kechek …) in the national, regional and international markets;
11. Promote the exchange of experiences in areas of common interest on both regional and interregional levels with special emphasis on South-South Cooperation, with a view of strengthening regional cooperation activities and programmes;
12. Pledge money and mobilize funds to support and assist to arrange an International Investment Conference in Lebanon for the recovery rebuild the damaged SMEs due to July 2006 war.
For more information about UNIDO programme:
Updated in May 2009
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