About UNIDO

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is a specialized agency in the United Nations system. The Organization’s primary objective is the promotion and acceleration of industrial development in developing countries and countries with economies in transition and the promotion of international industrial cooperation.

The Organization’s programmatic focus is structured in four thematic priorities, each of which represents different aspects of ISID:

The Organization is recognized as a specialized and efficient provider of key services meeting the interlinked challenges of reducing poverty through productive activities, integrating developing countries in global trade through trade capacity-building, fostering environmental sustainability in industry, and improving access to clean energy.

UNIDO promotes sustainable patterns of industrial consumption and production in order to decouple the processes of economic growth from environmental degradation. UNIDO is a leading provider services for industrial energy efficiency improvement and promotion of renewable energy sources. The Organization also provides assistance to developing countries in the implementation of multilateral environmental agreements, while achieving their economic and environmental goals.

Established in 1966, UNIDO is headquartered in Vienna, Austria. The organization boasts 170 member states and maintains a field network of 29 regional and country offices around the world. As of 1 January 2014, the organization employs some 670 staff at Headquarters and in field representations in about 80 countries, and draws on the services of some 2,800 international and national experts annually, who work in project assignments throughout the world. Gerd Müller is Director General of UNIDO since December 2021.

UNIDO HQ website

UNIDO history

UNIDO in UN system

UNIDO priorities