UNU Annual Report, 2005 - United Nations University

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Introduction and OverviewIn 2005, United Nations University (UNU)celebrated its 30th year of existence as anautonomous organ of the United NationsGeneral Assembly. In institutional terms, threedecades is a short time; UNU is only half theage of its parent organizations, the UnitedNations and UNESCO (which celebrated their60th anniversaries in 2005). But from theperspective of UNU’s evolution, and itscontributions “to efforts to resolve the pressingglobal problems that are the concern of theUnited Nations, its Peoples and MembersStates,” the University’s first three decadesrepresent a significant period of achievement.Since its modest beginnings in September 1975,UNU has grown and matured into a decentralized,global network comprising UNU Centrein Tokyo, a worldwide network of 12 UNUResearch and Training Centres/Programmes(UNU RTC/Ps), and liaison offices at UnitedNations headquarters (New York) andUNESCO headquarters (Paris). To ensure thatits work remains relevant and responsive to therapid and profound changes of our modernworld, UNU continues to evolve and expand. Anew RTC/P, focusing on issues of global health,is scheduled to become operational in 2006.UNU is one of the smaller United Nationsorganizations, and is reliant on voluntarycontributions. Yet, the University has increasinglyenhanced the nature and impact of itscontributions to the UN system and to theinternational academic community.Within its unique position as the onlyuniversity in the United Nations system, UNUundertakes a wide range of knowledge generation,knowledge transfer, and knowledgeapplication/management activities: basic andapplied research, foresight and policy studies,capacity development, networking/collaborationwith external partners, and disseminationand outreach.The University’s work in 2005 was guidedby UNU Strategic Directions (2005–2008). Thisdocument, which was approved by the UNUCouncil in December 2004, defines the pathforward, including key goals and deliverables.It draws on the insights and recommendationsof several external evaluations conducted since1998, on numerous internal and internal–4UNU ANNUAL REPORT 2005
external discussions, as well as on the experiencegained in implementing the UNU StrategicPlan 2000 and UNU Strategic Plan 2002.An overview of this reportThis annual report presents a broad overviewof the work of UNU in 2005. It does not attemptto provide an exhaustive inventory of theUniversity’s operations and achievements, butrather offers a representative sampling of thegeographic and thematic scope of UNU’s work,highlights selected projects and other activitiesundertaken in 2005, and acknowledges some ofthe partner institutions who collaborated withUNU. Additional information is availableonline at http://www.unu.edu.UNU’s thematic focuses — The “programmespace” within which UNU operates is definedby three variables: (a) the major processes thatare rapidly and profoundly changing ourworld, (b) the actors that are effecting thesechanges, while at the same time being affectedby them, and (c) the topics and themes mostrelevant to UNU’s mission. Within this programmespace, UNU’s activities are clusteredinto two broad programme areas — (i) Peaceand Governance and (ii) Environment andDevelopment — and further focused withinfive thematic areas: (a) Peace and Security;(b) Good Governance — From Local to Global;(c) Development and Poverty Reduction;(d) Environment and Sustainability; and(e) Science, Technology, and Society. Pages 8through 34 of this 2005 Annual Report introducea wide range of activities and accomplishmentswithin each of these five thematic areas,as well as selected activities that cut across orcomplement multiple themes.Capacity development — UNU is stronglycommitted to enhancing individual andinstitutional capacity, particularly in developingcountries. The University provides projectbaseddevelopment opportunities, specializedadvanced training programmes, and fellowships/internships;supports networkingactivities by developing country academics;and provides reimbursable financial aid forstudents from developing countries to attenda university in Japan. Specific capacity developmentprogrammes and courses offered in 2005are listed in the relevant thematic sections,while the various types of capacity developmentopportunities supported by UNU arecovered on pages 35 through 37.Networking — The concept of networking isintegral to the work of UNU. The Universitycomplements its own internal network of RTC/Ps by reaching out to appropriate partnerinstitutions that share similar objectives and bycooperating with other UN system organizations.UNU’s networking activities in 2005 aresummarized on pages 38 through 42.Dissemination and outreach — Effectivecommunication — getting the “right” informationto those who need it, in a timely mannerand useful form — is crucial to the success ofUNU’s work. The University disseminates theresults of its work through a variety of channels,including traditional print media, electronicmedia, and public events, andundertakes public and media relations activities.UNU dissemination and outreach activitiesfor 2005 are reviewed on pages 43 through 47.Resources — UNU’s human and financialresources are covered on pages 48 and 49.Other information — Appendix 1 lists themajor contributions received by UNU in 2005,while appendix 2 introduces the members ofthe governing UNU Council. Additionalappendices — with data on UNU projects,training courses, fellows and interns, publicevents, publications, and more — are availableon the UNU website.INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW5
Page 1 and 2: UNITEDNATIONSUNIVERSITYAnnual Repor
Page 3 and 4: Rector’s PrefaceIn 2005, UNU comp
Page 5: CONTENTSRector’s Preface ........
Page 9: volumes of UNU-WIDER materials were
Page 13 and 14: AFGHANISTAN Kabul — Sitting besid
Page 15 and 16: nance and, in particular, the role
Page 18 and 19: Research ThemesDevelopment andPover
Page 20 and 21: Sharing global prosperityAlthough t
Page 22 and 23: Research ThemesEnvironment andSusta
Page 25 and 26: for Namibian farmers and for the gl
Page 27 and 28: Regional Centres: University of Gha
Page 30 and 31: Research ThemesScience, Technology,
Page 32 and 33: Contributing to the information soc
Page 34 and 35: SelectedCross-Cutting Issues32UNU A
Page 36: legitimacy of a network of mutually
Page 40 and 41: Networking Activities38UNU ANNUAL R
Page 42 and 43: 1,401 networkassociates worked with
Page 44 and 45: PARTNERS IN THE UNITED NATIONS SYST
Page 46 and 47: the first research brief came from
Page 48 and 49: 164UNU discussion andworking papers
Page 50 and 51: Human and FinancialResourcesUNU rec
Page 52 and 53: Selected Titles Published in 2005Ma
Page 54 and 55: Annex 1CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED BY UN
Page 56 and 57:
Annex 2MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL OF UN
Page 58 and 59:
Capacity Development Activities - 2
Page 60:
Office of CommunicationsUnited Nati
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UNU Annual Report, 2005 - United Nations University

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