Click on the organisation to go
straight to the text:
UNECE
UN Economic Commission for Europe
UNESCAP
UN Economic & Social Commission for Asia & the South Pacific
UNECA
UN Economic Commission for Africa
UNECLAC
UN Economic Commission for Latin America & the Caribbean
UNESCWA
UN Economic & Social Commission for Western Asia
United Nations Economic
Commission for Europe (UNECE)
Incorporating countries from North America, Western, Central and Eastern Europe and
Central Asia, the UNECE is the forum forging the tools for their economic co-operation.
Moreover, as a forum for dialogue, the Commission aims to bring about a better
understanding and fuller agreements on common guidelines and policies. It also provides a
stage where agreements are negotiated and assistance activities prepared. The main purpose
of these activities and objectives is to harmonise the policies and practices of its
member countries. Not only does this harmonisation facilitate economic exchange
investment, and the integration of transport networks, but also makes environmental
procedures more effective.
The ECE’s position as a regional UN agency allows it to contribute to the
dissemination of conventions and standards negotiated under the its auspices to other
interested UN members states. In addition, it is able to represent the region's concerns
and problems at UN world conferences. The ECE is also able to cross the boundaries of
other regional institutions such as the European Union, NAFTA and the Commonwealth of
Independent States. This position enables the Commission to reduce cross-border tensions
and disagreements between these, and other, agencies whilst representing the interests of
its members at large.
The ECE defines its activities at its annual formal sessions where it reviews the
economic situation in the region and decides its work programme. The programme of work is
based on proposals from members, its own initiatives and decision adopted by the United
Nations General Assembly &/or the Economic & Social Council (ECOSOC). In return
the Commission then submits its recommendations to its parent body, ECOSOC. In addition,
quarterly meetings are held to focus on specific questions.
Undertaking the activities defined at the annual sessions are 14 principle subsidiary
bodies, and approximately 30 working parties of experts to cover the various prescribed
sectors. To support its work the Commission produces publications and studies. Principally
these include the Economic Survey of Europe and the Economic Bulletin for Europe.
For further information on the ECE please refer to:
http://www.unece.org
Back to the top
UN Economic & Social
Commission for Asia and the Pacific
(UNESCAP)
ESCAP has been working since World War II with governments from the region to address
problems relating to poverty eradication, education, social rebuilding, deteriorating
environment and infrastructure needs. Operating as the main UN agency in the Asia and
Pacific region, ESCAP works to benefit the people of the region in regards to social and
economic development.
ESCAP undertakes a number of sub-programmes through which it initiates its objectives.
These include:
Through its Regional Economic Co-operation programme, ESCAP works to strengthening
regional economic co-operation for promoting trade, investment and technology linkages,
and accelerating industrial development.
To address Sustainable Development, ESCAP undertakes Environment and Natural Resources
Development. The programme is designed to enhance national capacities in achieving
environmentally sound development, in line with the provisions of Agenda 21.
The Social Development programme is based on awareness raising regarding human
resources and women in development, with specific reference to poverty alleviation. It
deals with family support, quality of life and social policies, which addresses all
social groups.
The Population & Rural/Urban Development programme focuses on the identification
and understanding of social and economic issues in the areas of population and
development. The programme addresses policy makers and civil society in the alleviation of
poverty relating to development.
ESCAP also operates other programmes relating to Transport, Communications, Tourism,
Infrastructure Development and Statistics.
For further information on the Commission please refer to:
http://www.unescap.org
Back to the top
Economic Commission for
Africa (ECA)
ECA’s primary responsibility is to carry out activities encouraging the growth of
economic and social sectors on the continent. In addition, it operates as part of the
network of African inter-governmental institutions and organisations that implement the
agendas for development adopted by member states.
The Commission focuses its work on capacity building, facilitating government
process’ on positions on development policies, promoting dialogue and analysis of
issues through conferences. In undertaking these objectives, the ECA introduced major
institutional and managerial reforms, which defined 5 core programmes of work and 2 cross
cutting themes. These are as follows:
Facilitation of Economic and Social Policy Analysis, to serve member states with timely
and influential information on new issues and opportunities.
Ensuring Food Security and Sustainable Development to ensure national efforts which
link food security, population and environmental sustainability.
Strengthening Development Management, to aid national ownership of the reform
programmes and to create enabling environments for development.
Harnessing Information for Development, to enhance the information revolution in
Africa. Ensuring information services are a major focus of national attention with
international support.
Promoting Regional Co-operation and Integration, to support efforts aimed to establish
and expedite regional economic co-operation and integration.
Cross cutting themes are:
Fostering leadership and Empowerment of Women in Africa, to improve socio-economic
conditions of women and to enhance women’s involvement in decision making.
Enhancement of ECA capabilities, to upgrade ECA capacity in information and
communications technology, via staff training and engaging the public through mass media.
For further information on the Commission please refer to:
http://www.un.org/depts/eca
Back to the top
Economic Commission for
Latin America & the Caribbean
(ECLAC)
Established in 1948, ECLAC’s broad mandate is to promote economic and social
development through regional and sub-regional co-operation and integration. The commission
undertakes studies and research programmes supporting its objectives and disseminates its
findings to governments to help plan, organise and execute national projects of technical
co-operation.
The Commission acts as a co-ordinating body in formulating and promoting development
assistance activities in reflection of the needs and priorities of the region. To provide
a forum for debate within the region of its economic and social development, ECLAC hosts
conferences, and intergovernmental expert group meetings, whilst also sponsoring workshops
and seminars.
ECLAC’s specific activities and projects surround: balancing the short term
economic policy of the region with medium and long term perspectives; analysis of
structural inflation complemented with studies on the formulation and implementation of
stabilisation and adjustment programmes; incorporating environmental dimensions into
economic and social concerns to explore the link between natural resources and
development; forging links between governance and policy variables as they relate to the
development process.
Through these processes, ECLAC seeks to develop a regional perspective to global
problems and forums, and to introduce concerns about these issues at regional and
sub-regional levels. The Commission provides a link and a voice for the region in
co-ordination with major UN agencies and departments, as well as other specialised
agencies and inter-governmental organisations.
For further information on the Commission please refer to:
http://www.eclac.cl/index1.html
Back to the top
The Economic & Social
Commission for Western Asia
(ESCWA)
ESCWA, originally established in 1973, is the principal organ of the UN responsible for
co-ordinating the economic and social activities of the UN system for the region. Smallest
of the regional economic commissions, ESCWA consists of 13 member states. Its mandate
includes functions to promote economic and social development through regional and
sub-regional co-operation and integration, whilst serving as the main forum for economic
and social development within the UN system for the region.
The Commission undertakes its mandate through the following functions: formulating and
promoting development assistance activities and projects reflecting the needs of the
region; organising conferences and inter-governmental and expert group meetings, including
sponsoring workshops and seminars; carrying out research and surveys within the terms of
reference of the Commission; to liase, complement and co-ordinate activities with other UN
agencies and inter-governmental organisations.
The Commission defined its medium term programme of action at its 19th
Session in 1997. This set out the Commission's work programme from 1998 to 2001. Issues
discussed included transport, international trade, and water resources. The Commission
also progressed its plans to establish its permanent headquarters in Beirut.
For further information on the Commission please refer to:
http://www.escwa.org.lb
Back to the top
Earth Summit 2002 / Partners / Acronyms / Staff / Issues
UN Conventions Focus / Global Agencies / UN Conference Focus
Site Map / Major
Group Organisations / UN Commissions Focus/ Regional Agencies
