Malaysia’s Support for Main United Nations Training Vehicle Ensures

Access of Diplomats from Least Developed Countries to UN Courses

 

The Government of Malaysia is the first to contribute to the newly established Fellowship Fund created by the United Nations main training vehicle, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).  A symbolic and timely gesture, in support of South-South cooperation, this contribution will ensure access of diplomats from least developed and developing countries to core diplomatic training courses (CDT).

Since 1965, UNITAR implements a comprehensive training curriculum for diplomats in New York, Geneva and elsewhere on topics ranging from informational sessions on the main United Nations bodies, workshops on election procedures, or United Nations reform to courses on negotiation, resolution drafting and public speaking at the United Nations. 

Under the new business model rolled out by the Institute in 2011, which is based on a cost-recovery fee-based system, a Fellowship Fund has been established to ensure that diplomats from least developed and developing countries can continue to partake in UNITAR’s training curriculum. 

The first contribution by Malaysia to the Fellowship Fund is expected to incite other donors to follow suit.  “Our first motivation in sourcing the UNITAR Fellowship Fund was to show our commitment to supporting continued learning and education within the [United Nations] context for more effective multilateral negotiations, and in this context, to making sure that diplomats from developing and least developed countries can benefit from UNITAR courses,” stated Ambassador Hamidon Ali, the Permanent Representative of Malaysia to the United Nations in New York.  

More information on the UNITAR Fellowship Fund and a list of all New York/Geneva core diplomatic training course offerings is available on:  http://www.unitar.org/mdp/cdt; UNITAR’s online training catalogue is available on:  http://www.unitar.org/event/cdt.

For further information, contact David Koschel, Officer-in-Charge, UNITAR New York Office, tel.:  +1 212 963 9683; or Rabih El-Haddad, Manager, Multilateral Diplomacy Programme, tel.:  +41 22 917 8640.

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For information media • not an official record