Iran joined the United Nations in 1945 as a founding member and since then the UN has had a continuous presence in the country. During the past 63 years, the UN has forged strong and lasting partnerships with the government and a wide range of others, including the civil society and local communities to promote respect for human rights, protect the environment, fight disease, foster sustainable development and reduce poverty. We are also working with our counterparts to assist the world’s largest refugee population here, improve access to health services, create jobs, expand food production and fight drugs.

Specifically, the UN system in the Islamic Republic of Iran is helping the country reach the “Millennium Development Goals” set by world leaders at the September 2000 Millennium Summit. To this end, agencies are assisting the Government to halve extreme poverty, improve the health of mothers and children, fight diseases and improve education and also support the national authorities to monitor the country’s progress towards these Goals.

Just as the UN seeks to harmonize the actions of all nations on a global level, it also aims to coordinate its own operational activities within each country. As the designated representative of the UN Secretary-General, the UN Resident Coordinator assumes overall responsibility for, and coordination of, UN operational activities at the country level. Under the aegis of the Resident Coordinator, the 17 agencies, programmes, funds and offices represented in Iran make up the UN Country Team, working together in identifying areas for UN system interventions, work and collaboration.

To coordinate the substantive work of the UN agencies, a number of inter-agency thematic groups and operational teams have been established, which are basically working groups designed to address some important themes and agreed outcomes, and to coordinate the operational and programmatic work of the agencies on those specific subjects. The theme groups focus on such issues as disaster management; communications; gender; HIV/AIDS; MDGs capacity building; good governance and human rights; improvement of economic performance and job creation; energy efficiency; science and technology transfer and ad-hoc themes like Afghanistan Compact.

As defined by the General Assembly, the Common Country Assessment (CCA) is the common instrument of the United Nations system to analyse the national development situation and identify key development issues. Both a process and a product, the Assessment takes into account national priorities, with a focus on the Millennium Development Goals and other commitments, goals and targets of the Millennium Declaration and international conferences, summits and conventions.

The UN Country Team, in collaboration with its national and international counterparts, published the first CCA for Iran in August 2003.

Through the CCA, the UN and its partners identify areas requiring priority attention, based on a common analysis of key development challenges within the country. The CCA also serves as a stepping-stone towards the formulation of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), which articulates a common UN system response to a selected number of challenges identified, and sets the foundation for joint programming of UN Agencies in Iran.

This booklet aims to communicate the purpose and aim of the UN presence in Iran, highlight the organization’s key achievements and flagship activities in the country, and underline current priorities towards its ultimate goal of helping the nation achieve development and prosperity.

For more information, please contact our office in Tehran and/or visit our website:

www.un.org.ir

Knut Ostby

UN Resident Coordinator in the

Islamic Republic of Iran

Address: No. 8, Shahrzad Blvd., Darrous,Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran

P.O. Box 15874-4557, Tehran, Iran

Tel: (98-21) 2286 0691-4 E-mail: rc.office.iran@undp.org

Facsimile: (98-21) 2286 9547 website: www.un.org.ir

Food and Agriculture

Organization of the United Nations

History of Agency in the World and Iran

• 1943: FAO was founded by 44 governments who met in Hot Springs, Virginia, US.

• 1945: the 1st Session of FAO Conference was held in Quebec City, Canada and established FAO as a specialized UN agency.

• 1951: FAO Headquarters moved from Washington, DC, US to Rome, Italy.

• 1953: Effective December 01, Iran is a member to FAO.

• 1981: The first World Food Day observed on 16 October.

• 1992: Effective May, the FAO Representation Office was re-opened in Iran.

• 1996: World Food Summit, Rome, Italy.

• 1997: FAO launched campaign against hunger initiative TeleFood.

• 2002: “World Food Summit 5 Years Later” was held to review WFS achievements.

• 2008: High Level Conference on World Food Security, the Challenges of Climate Change and Bioenergy, Rome, Italy.

Priorities Globally and in Iran

FAO’s Vision and Global Goals: FAO’s vision is of a world free of hunger and malnutrition where food and agriculture^{^[1]} contributes to improving the living standards of all, especially the poorest, in an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable manner. To foster the achievement of this vision and of the Millennium Development Goals, FAO will promote the continuing contribution of food and sustainable agriculture to the attainment of three global goals:

Reduction of the absolute number of people suffering from hunger, progressively ensuring a world in which all people at all times have sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life; Elimination of poverty and the driving forward of economic and social progress for all with increased food production, enhanced rural development and sustainable livelihoods; Sustainable management and utilization of natural resources, including land, water, air, climate and genetic resources, for the benefit of present and future generations.

FAO’s Strategic Objectives: Sustainable intensification of crop production; Increased sustainable livestock production; Sustainable management and use of fisheries and aquaculture resources; Sustainable management of forests and trees, land, water and genetic resources, and improved responses to global environmental challenges affecting food and agriculture; Improved quality and safety of foods at all stages of the food chain; Enabling environment for markets to improve livelihoods; Improved food security and better nutrition; Improved preparedness for, and effective response to, food and agriculture threats and emergencies; Gender equity in access to resources, goods, services and decision-making in rural areas, and increased and more effective public and private investment in agriculture and rural development.

Main projects/activities in Iran

In line with the priorities of the Government for sustainable agriculture and rural development, FAO’s focus, in the medium term is to seek enhanced investment in agriculture, especially, at the value-chain level, to increase income and employment opportunities for the rural poor.

FAO has assisted Iran in the preparation of Framework for Sustainable Agriculture Development Strategy in June 2005. Similarly, the National Strategy and Action Plan on Drought Preparedness, Management and Mitigation in the Agriculture Sector was prepared in 2007 to enhance the capacity of Government in disaster management.

The 3 to 5 years National Medium Term Priority Framework (NMTPF) is being formulated within 2009 to contribute to the Government’s endeavours towards sustainable agriculture and rural development. NMTPF aims at: (a) mainstreaming the rural and low-income farmers in the development process to improve their livelihood, food security and nutritional status; (b) harnessing the network of research and academic institutions and high quality expertise of Iran to assist other countries of the region through the South-South Cooperation; (c) promoting agri-commercialization and export oriented agriculture.

FAO is assisting Iran Fisheries Organization to develop a comprehensive programme of fisheries development to ultimately achieve per annum target of 1.5 million tons of production as per the Vision 2025 Document. FAO’s technical assistance within the framework of sustainable fisheries development and ecosystem based approach could be given in the following possible areas: (i) Marine fisheries development; (ii) Aquaculture development; (iii) Value chain investment to capture the export markets; and, (iv) Institutional and capacity strengthening.

Assistance in the seed sector is also being provided to ensure: (a) more efficient seed production, distribution and marketing systems; and (b) enhanced plant variety protection capacity in the country.

FAO has also introduced a novel participatory and environmentally friendly approach through Farmer Field Schools to promote organic agriculture and biological control of pests and diseases in various crops including wheat, cucumbers, tomatoes etc. A project to protect pistachio crop and industry from aflatoxin contamination is also being implemented.

A GEF related project has recently been approved for FAO to assist the Government in preparing an important project: Rehabilitation of Forest Landscapes and Degraded Land with Particular Attention to Saline Soils and Areas Prone to Wind Erosion.

In the animal health sector, FAO is assisting the government to combat Foot and mouth disease and institute measures for prevention and control of avian influenza.

FAO, through international communication campaigns, such as World Food Day and Telefood, plays an important role in raising public awareness of hunger and poverty in mobilizing support for achieving food security.

Address: Room 1701,17th Floor, Ministry of Jihad-e-Agriculture,Keshavarz Boulevard,Tehran, Iran

P.O. Box 15875/4557

Tel: (98-21) 8136 3701-2/8896 0731 E-mail: FAO-IR@fao.org

Facsimile: (98-21) 8896 4104 website: www.fao.org

Joint United Nations

Programme on HIV/AIDS

History of Agency in the World and Iran

UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, brings together the efforts and strengths of 10 UN system organizations to the global AIDS response. The co-sponsors of UNAIDS are: UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank.

Based in Geneva, the UNAIDS Secretariat works in more than 75 countries worldwide under the overall supervision of UN HIV/AIDS Theme Groups. UNAIDS Iran was established in 2005 and is covered by the Regional Support Team for the Middle East and North Africa which is located in Cairo, Egypt.

Established in 1994 by a resolution of the UN Economic and Social Council and launched in January 1996, UNAIDS is guided by a Programme Coordination Board (PCB) with 22 government representatives from all geographical regions, the UNAIDS co-sponsors, and five representatives of non-governmental organizations, including associations of people living with HIV. In 2008, Iran was elected to PCB for three years.

Priorities Globally and in Iran

• By bringing together the efforts and resources of its co-sponsors, UNAIDS supports increasing intervention for HIV prevention, care and treatment of those infected and epidemic impact reduction activities worldwide.

• The objective of UNAIDS is to have global support for an exceptional response in tackling this epidemic.

• 2001 was a very important year in the history of HIV and AIDS, when Heads of State and Government from 189 nations, including the Islamic Republic of Iran, met at the first ever UN General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on HIV/AIDS and adopted the declaration of commitments on HIV/AIDS.

Main projects/activities in Iran

• To stop AIDS, UNAIDS supports strategic information and better profiling of the epidemiologic situation of the country in order to enhance design and implementation of interventions for different groups of population. The most-at-risk groups which UNAIDS is concerned about include, injecting drug users, prisoners, sex workers and men who have sex with men;

• UNAIDS sensitizes the policy-makers through an evidence-informed advocacy strategy;

• UNAIDS supports National AIDS Commission as the one and only national AIDS coordinating body and aims for fulfillment of “the Three Ones” principle; “One” national multi-sectoral AIDS authority, “One” national strategic framework for action and “One” national comprehensive monitoring and evaluation plan;

• UNAIDS coordinates UN response and harmonizes UN actions based on a jointly identified key-result matrix and an agreed technical support division of labour;

• UNAIDS supports people living with and affected by HIV and tries to reduce stigma and discrimination against them towards universal access to care, support, treatment and positive prevention interventions, and

• UNAIDS makes partnership with civil society and non-governmental sectors to promote their role in a more comprehensive response.

Address: United Nations Building No. 8, Shahrzad Blvd., Darrous, Tehran, Iran

P.O.Box: 15875/4557

Tel: (98-21) 2286 0691-4/2286 0925 - 8/2285 8950/22858950 E-mail: iran@unaids.org

Facsimile: (98-21) 2285 8951 website: www.unaids.ir

United Nations

Assistance Mission in Afghanistan

History of Agency in the World and Iran

• The united Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) is a political mission, directed and supported by the UN’s Department of Peacekeeping Operations.

• Its headquarters are in Kabul, with eight regional offices and ten provincial offices throughout Afghanistan. In addition, UNAMA has liaison offices in Islamabad, Pakistan, and Tehran, Iran.

• UNAMA’s mandate was established on 28 March 2002 through UNSC resolution 1401. On this day, the Tehran UNSMA (UN Special Mission to Afghanistan) liaison office, which had been established in May 2000, was renamed as the UNAMA liaison office in Iran.

• The mission is directed by a Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for Afghanistan who also acts as the Head of UNAMA. As an integrated mission, UNAMA has two main pillars, one dealing with development issues, and the other handling political matters. These are headed by the SRSG’s two deputies.

• UNAMA’s key role is to promote peace and stability in Afghanistan by leading the efforts of the international community.

• Together with the Government of Afghanistan the mission supports the rebuilding of the country and the strengthening of the foundations of peace and a constitutional democracy.

• The UNAMA mandate from 2008 to 2009 remained defined by the previous resolutions 1662 (2006) and 1746 (2007).

• The UNAMA office in Tehran was actively involved in preparations towards the Bonn Agreement (2001), the Emergency Loya Jirga (2002), the Constitutional Loya Jirga (2004), and the Presidential elections (2004). The implementation of the Afghanistan Compact (2006) and the Paris Declaration (2008), in particular the subject of regional cooperation, is the office’s current focus.

Priorities Globally and in Iran

Activities of UNAMA are strictly limited to Afghanistan and include:

• Strengthening the cooperation with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF);

• Providing political outreach through a strengthened and expanded presence throughout the country;

• Providing good offices in support of Afghan-led reconciliation programmes;

• Supporting efforts to improve governance and the rule of law and to combat corruption;

• Playing a central coordinating role to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid;

• Monitoring the human rights situation of civilians and coordinating human rights protection;

• Supporting the electoral process through the Afghan Independent Electoral Commission;

• Supporting regional cooperation in working for a more stable and prosperous Afghanistan.

Main projects/activities in Iran

• Ensuring regular dialogue with the Islamic Republic of Iran (especially the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) concerning the ongoing peace process in Afghanistan and regional cooperation;

• Acting as a conduit for information between UNAMA HQ and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and

• Serving in an advisory and liaison capacity to the diplomatic community and to the UN Agencies in Tehran with Afghan-related programmes.

Address: United Nations Building No. 8, Shahrzad Blvd., Darrous, Tehran, Iran,

P.O. Box 15875/4557

Tel: (98-21) 2286 7967 E-mail: unama-iran@un.org

Facsimile: (98-21) 2286 9187 website: www.unama-afg.org

United Nations

Children’s Fund

History of Agency in the World and Iran

UNICEF is the world’s leading agency for children, working in 190 countries to help children realize their rights to survival, development and protection. It was created as the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund in 1946 to provide emergency help to children suffering from the aftermath of World War II. In the 1950s, UNICEF’s mission grew from a post-war emergency fund to a development agency for children.

UNICEF is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and strives to establish children’s rights as enduring ethical principles and international standards of behaviour towards children. UNICEF is committed to ensuring special protection for the most disadvantaged children: victims of war, disasters, extreme poverty and all forms of discrimination, violence and exploitation.

UNICEF’s history in Iran goes back to 1950, when Iran’s Government turned to WHO and UNICEF to fight tuberculosis. Opening an office in the country, UNICEF focused its programmes on child health and nutrition in the early years of its activities in Iran. Later on, education and juvenile justice were added as fields of cooperation. UNICEF is also active in providing humanitarian assistance after earthquakes in this country.

Priorities Globally and in Iran

In association with other UN agencies, UNICEF is committed to working in line with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Six out of eight MDGs are directly related to children and women. At the international level, UNICEF has outlined five focus areas in relation to key elements of the MDGs in its Mid-Term Strategy Plan, on which UNICEF focuses its work during 2005-2009.

The priorities are: 1) Young child survival and development, 2) Basic education and gender equality; 3) HIV/AIDS and children; 4) Child protection from violence, exploitation and abuse; and 5) Policy advocacy and partnerships for children’s rights.

Based on these activities globally, and considering the country situation, UNICEF’s Commitments for Iranian Children highlights nine main areas on which UNICEF will focuses its activities until 2015.

These focus areas are: 1) Reducing child poverty; 2) Increasing the rate of child survival; 3) Decreasing the rate of child malnutrition; 4) Investing in education as an effective motor for social development; 5) Strengthening family support through education, social work and psycho-social counseling; 6) Advocacy for juvenile justice; 7) Investing in youth as the best way to investing in the future; 8) Promoting women’s participation and women’s rights; and 9) Attention to children during emergencies.

Main projects/activities in Iran

UNICEF’s role is not one of a service provider, nor does the organization make large cash transfers to the Government. The prime role of UNICEF in Iran is as a provider of technical assistance and as a bridge between Iranian policy makers and practitioners and their peers abroad, ensuring knowledge on social development and child rights becomes available in Iran and part of national policies. Currently, UNICEF works in Iran under a Basic Cooperation Agreement, operationalised by an agreed five-year programme of cooperation (2005-2009). This programme focuses on reducing regional disparities in child health, nutrition and education, girls’ education and women’s empowerment, child protection, HIV/AIDS and adolescent-friendly services, and monitoring the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). UNICEF Iran implements projects in these areas in three Iranian provinces: Sistan and Baluchistan, Hormozgan and West Azerbaijan. These projects include:

Child health and nutrition: UNICEF promotes the rights of children under the age of six through birth registration, health, nutrition and early childhood care, and supports the development of a national Early Childhood Policy. Part of this work is to facilitate the expansion of rural kindergartens and birth registration centres, of which there are now some 4,000 throughout Iran.

Girls’ education and women empowerment: Improving teaching and learning in Iran’s education system. UNICEF aims to ensure quality basic education for disadvantaged girls by reducing disparities and to increase the effectiveness of the network of district gender advisors. It also advocates for the ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) by Iran.

HIV/AIDS prevention: In line with the Global Campaign on Children and AIDS, UNICEF aims to raise awareness and expand access to youth-friendly, gender-sensitive health and social services. UNICEF supported HIV-information and peer support reach thousands of youth and create capacities among Iranian partners to expand these activities to include all youth.

Child protection: UNICEF protects children from exploitation and abuse by supporting legal reform and policy development and preventing abuse through behaviour change communication. Much has been achieved through training of Iranian judges by international family and youth court judges, and restorative sentences for minor offences are increasing in Iran. UNICEF also contributed to the development of new legislation on juvenile justice, which is currently under Parliament’s review. UNICEF is supporting Government efforts to prevent violence against children and child abuse, and support counseling and assist services for victims of child abuse.

Emergency preparation: UNICEF remains prepared to respond to any possible disaster. Documenting the lessons learned from the 2003 Bam earth quake and the experience of its staff in that emergency are key elements in an effective disaster response strategy.

Corporate partnerships: UNICEF works closely with multinational corporations, national companies and small- to medium-sized businesses to identify, design and implement alliances that leverage the strengths of the corporate sector on behalf of children. An increasing sense of corporate social responsibility in the private sector has allowed UNICEF to initiate many successful corporate partnerships, leading to substantial support by businesses, philanthropic and marketing initiatives as well as employee-driven programmes, for UNICEF’s social goals.

In Iran, UNICEF has so far linked up with several major corporations. They have given their valuable support to UNICEF projects in improving health and nutrition of young children in Iran’s disparity provinces. UNICEF also works closely with Islamic universities, clergy and religious communities to promote children’s rights. This work is of great importance for Iran.

Address: No. 216, Nezami St., Ghoba St., Shariati Ave., Tehran 19449, Iran

P.O. Box 19395/1176

Tel: (98-21) 2259 4994 E-mail: tehran@unicef.org

Facsimile: (98-21) 2259 4948 website: www.unicef.org/iran

www.unicef.org/iran/fa

United Nations

Development Programme

History of Agency in the World and Iran

UNDP is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP is on the ground in 166 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and its wide range of partners. UNDP was founded in 1965 and its Headquarters is located in New York.

UNDP has had a representative office in Iran since 1966 and has worked closely with its major development partners – the Government, local councils, civil society, academic institutions, and the private sector – to promote sustainable human development in the country.

In each country office, the UNDP Resident Representative normally also serves as the Resident Coordinator of development activities for the United Nations system as a whole. Through such coordination, UNDP seeks to ensure the most effective use of UN and international aid resources.

Priorities Globally and in Iran

World leaders have pledged to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), including the overarching goal of cutting poverty in half by 2015. UNDP’s network links and coordinates global and national efforts to reach these Goals. UNDP’s focus is to help countries build and share solutions to the challenges of democratic governance, poverty alleviation, crisis prevention and recovery, energy and environment, and HIV/AIDS.

UNDP helps developing countries attract and use aid effectively. In all our activities, we encourage the protection of human rights and the empowerment of women.

The annual Human Development Report, commissioned by UNDP, focuses the global debate on key development issues, providing new measurement tools, innovative analysis and often controversial policy proposals. The global Report’s analytical framework and inclusive approach carry over into regional, national and local Human Development Reports, also supported by UNDP.

Main projects/activities in Iran

The UNDP Country Programme for Iran (2005-2009) focuses primarily on strengthening capacities and capabilities for achieving the MDGs; enhancing good governance; improving economic performance and employment generation, as well as sustainable development, disaster management and energy efficiency.

UNDP has undertaken a broad MDGs initiative in Iran to mainstream the goals in the country’s national plans, to localize successful community-based techniques, and to institutionalize the MDGs reporting process to help the country to achieve the goals. Work on the MDGs in Iran has resulted in, most notably, the inception of the MDGs National Action Plan; the establishment of a National MDGs Steering Committee (composed of the Government, the civil society, the private sector and the UN agencies); the initiation of an extensive advocacy campaign, and the preparation of two national progress reports on the MDGs in 2004 and 2007.

UNDP has piloted a poverty alleviation initiative in Sistan-Baluchistan, the poorest province in Iran, and is introducing the results of this experience into future community empowerment activities at the provincial level.

The organization’s mandate also includes promoting good governance and human rights in Iran. Under a five-year project, UNDP draws on a broad range of government and non-government partners for capacity development of human rights centres; promotion of equity with emphasis on negating all forms of violence and injustice; promotion of freedom of thought, conscience, and expression; and alignment and compatibility with international human rights standards and systems. UNDP has also worked with the judiciary on greater access to justice, and with the Majlis on parliamentary strengthening and capacity building.

UNDP helps Iran address its environmental challenges and meet its commitments to international environmental conventions on combating desertification, protecting biodiversity, reducing green house gases, reducing Persistent Organic Pollutants and eliminating ozone depleting substances. The UNDP Global Environment Facility/Small Grants Programme (GEF/SGP) works to conserve the global environment through local action and local participation.

UNDP is also working closely with the government on reducing the impact of natural disasters on economic and social development. It strives to strengthen national capacities for disaster risk management and coordination and has actively contributed to the reconstruction programmes in the earthquake-affected areas in Bam and Lorestan.

Working in close partnership with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM), UNDP helps place HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria at the centre of national development dialogue in Iran and build partnerships between government, civil society and the private sector to coordinate an effective response to these diseases which represent developmental challenges in this country.

Address: United Nations Building No. 8, Shahrzad Blvd., Darrous, Tehran, Iran,

P.O. Box 15875/4557

Tel: (98-21) 2286 0691-4/2286 0925 - 8 E-mail: registry.ir@undp.org

Facsimile :(98-21) 2286 9547 website: www.undp.org.ir

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

History of Agency in the World and Iran

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was founded on 16 November 1945. It was conceived as a laboratory of ideas and a standard-setter with the hope “To Build Peace in the Minds of Men”. UNESCO places emphasis on policy enhancement, capacity building and technical assistance in the fields of education, natural sciences, culture, communication & information and social & human sciences. The UNESCO Tehran cluster Office was established in Tehran in January 2003, servicing four countries: Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and Turkmenistan. The Islamic Republic of Iran celebrated its 60th anniversary of membership of UNESCO in 2008.

Priorities Globally and in Iran

Education:

- Education for All, literacy, education for sustainable development, inclusive education, science & technology, technical & vocational education, higher education, school health and physical education.

Science:

- Water management and eco-systems, bio-diversity, ecology, oceans, earth sciences, basic sciences, engineering sciences, science policy, natural disaster reduction and renewable sources of energy.

Culture:

- Cultural diversity, world heritage, tangible and intangible heritage, inter-cultural and inter-faith dialogues and cultural industries, arts & creativity, copyright, museums and cultural tourism.

Communication/Information:

- Access to information, content development, freedom of expression, media development, international programmes for development of communication and information for all.

Social and human sciences:

- Ethics, human rights, philosophy, poverty eradication and social transformation.

Specialized themes:

- Gender, youth, culture of peace, dialogue among civilizations, ethics of science & technology, bio-ethics, HIV/AIDS, and sustainable development.

Main projects/activities in Iran

Education:

First National Education for All (EFA) policy document prepared and EFA Bureau established; Two EFA Tehran Cluster Ministerial Meetings in Islamabad 2003 and Isfahan 2006; National and Provincial Education Planning Model (ANPRO-Iran) elaborated; Secretariat of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in the Ministry of Education; Initiating and equipping Bam Teachers’ Research Centre (BTRC); Establishment of Bam Model School Complex (BMSC) through national and international partnership; Drugs & HIV/AIDS Prevention Education, Life Skills and Physical Education; Education in after-crisis situation management; EFA Mid-Decade Assessment; Inclusive education integrated in the Bam Model School Complex (BMSC) projects; Publication of Global Monitoring Report in Persian; Establishment of Creative Music Training Center (CMTC) in Tehran; Support to Afghan education system reconstruction in cooperation with Iran’s Ministry of Education; Iran UNESCO National Education Support Strategy (UNESS) document prepared; Organization of Regional Meeting on Education for Sustainable Development; Support to policy enhancement and continuous capacity building for Education for Sustainable Development.

Science:

Enhanced management of water resources with the Ministry of Energy; Support to the two Centers established under the auspices of UNESCO; the Regional Centre on Urban Water Management Tehran and the International Centre on Qanats and Historic Hydraulic Structures Yazd; Reports on Qanat systems in Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan; Technical assistance and capacity building for science parks; Capacity building and publications related to enhanced disaster preparedness; Support to nine biosphere reserves and new nominations; Advocacy of the Global Network on Water and Development Information for Arid Lands (G-WADI) and support to two pilot basins in Iran; Advocacy for Natural World Heritage protection; Collection of data and information on Qanats and other historic hydraulic systems.

Culture:

Support to the nine UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites in Iran; Comprehensive Management Plan and pilot conservation projects for Bam and its Cultural Landscape World Heritage Property; capacity building for national consultants, professionals and policy makers for cultural heritage management; capacity building for safeguarding tangible, intangible, cultural and world heritage; choghaZanbil conservation activities; training for strengthened museum management; promotion of inter-cultural and inter-faith dialogue in the region; support for craft development, marketing and design protection; advocacy and training for integrated approach to heritage conservation, disaster management, and sustainable urban development.

Communication & Information:

The use of media for addressing development issues and supporting the UNESCO mandates; Regional links for supporting and sustaining relationships developed with national partners;

Activities on “Memory of the World”; Training and workshops on emerging issues such as HIV/AIDS, refugees, disabled access, earthquake awareness and science journalism.

Address: Bahman Building, Sa’adabad Cultural Complex, Darband Square, Tajrish Square, Tehran,

P.O. Box: 19894

Tel: (98-21) 2275 1315-7 E-mail: tehran@unesco.org

Facsimile: (98-21) 2275 1318 website: www.unesco.org

United Nations

High Commissioner for Refugees

History of Agency in the World and Iran

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was established in 1950 by the UN General Assembly. It is mandated to lead and coordinate international action for the worldwide protection of refugees and the resolution of the refugee problem. The work of UNHCR is entirely non-political, humanitarian and social.

The legal status of refugees is defined in two international instruments: the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol. These two tools together with the UN General Assembly Resolution 428 (V) that established the UNHCR Office and its Statute have been the foundation of both the international refugee law and UNHCR’s mandate to help and protect refugees. Since its inception the agency has assisted an estimated 50 million refugees to successfully restart their lives. In 2009, a total of 147 States are parties to one or both of the above mentioned international instruments. The Islamic Republic of Iran acceded to both the 1951 Convention and its 1967 Protocol in 1975, with a series of reservations. UNHCR first opened an office in Iran in 1984. It expanded its presence and scope of activities in Iran with the massive influx of Iraqi refugees following the Gulf War in 1991 and the start of mass voluntary return movement to Afghanistan in 1992. Today, UNHCR has its country office in Tehran and three sub-offices in Mashad, Kerman and Ahwaz. It has two field offices in Orumieh and Dogharoun, one border crossing station in Dogharoun and one transit center in Shalamcheh. Four Voluntary Repatriation Centres are operating in Isfahan, Shiraz, Mashad, and Soleimankhani. Refugee camps/settlements in Iran are: seven for Iraqi Kurds (in Zanjan, West Azarbaijan (three), Kermanshah (two) and Kurdestan); three Iraqi Arab camps (in Lorestan, Fars and Khuzestan provinces) and six Afghan refugee camps/settlements (in Semnan, Bushehr, Kerman (two), Markazi and Khorasan Razavi provinces.)

Priorities Globally and in Iran

UNHCR’s responsibilities within its mandate are: Assisting asylum countries’ governments on refugee issues and asylum/migration nexus related issues in an advisory capacity; Protecting refugees by ensuring that their basic rights are respected in the host country; Ensuring that governments respect the rule of non-refoulement (not returning refugees to a country where they may be persecuted) and finding durable solutions for the problems of refugees through voluntary repatriation, local integration and resettlement. Main Objectives of UNHCR Iran: Facilitate voluntary and sustainable repatriation of Afghan and Iraqi registered refugees from Iran in safety and dignity; Ensure respect for the voluntary character of repatriation; Find durable solutions for vulnerable Afghan and Iraqi registered refugees and assist them via their families and/or their community to access various services, assistance and legal protection; Promote refugee rights in Iran; Further enhance protection environment of refugees in Iran in accordance with the refugee Convention and the relevant Iranian legislation; Ensure assistance interventions in Iran are reconfigured to emphasize more developmental approaches to enable return and social protection for the most vulnerable groups; Enhance the well being of refugee women, children and men through the improved Age, Gender, Diversity Mainstreaming (AGDM) strategy, by means of an annual Participatory Assessment (PA) to identify the pressing protection risks in livelihood, health, education etc of refugees/persons of concern (POC) and to address their prioritized needs and enhance the active participation of refugees at all levels of the programme cycle through the community and rights based approach; Ensure protection of refugee women, girls and boys through application of the “Sex and Gender Based Violence” Protocol and HIV/AIDS awareness raising programmes and Enhanced emergency preparedness.

Main projects/activities in Iran

Based on the results of the latest registration exercise for Afghan refugees (Amayesh III) carried out by BAFIA, there are 935,512 registered Afghan refugees. BAFIA’s 2007 registration exercise for Iraqi refugees showed 43,916 Iraqi registered refugees residing in Iran. The first Tripartite Agreement for the joint programme of voluntary repatriation of Afghan registered refugees between UNHCR, the Governments of Iran and Afghanistan was signed in 2002. This agreement was last extended on 27 February 2007 for one year, but not renewed in March 2008 by BAFIA.

Despite this, UNHCR still continues granting a cash grant of US$100 to each member of a returning refugee family up to a ceiling of US$500 for families of five or above, to facilitate their reintegration. The Iranian government continues to issue six-month extendable residence permits to registered refugees and is in the process of issuing temporary work permits.

Since the start of the voluntary repatriation programme until February 2009, around 1.8 million Afghan refugees returned to their country from Iran (both assisted and spontaneous). 859,476 of the Afghan returnees were assisted by UNHCR. Between November 2003 and end January 2009, 21,216 Iraqi refugees returned to their homeland with assistance from UNHCR. The return process to Iraq was halted in 2006 due to the volatile security situation there and was resumed in February 2007. Ever since, UNHCR has been extending its assistance for voluntary repatriation of registered Iraqi refugees within the framework of the “individual case management scheme”. Also since the year 2000, UNHCR has helped resettle in third countries an average of around 1000 refugees (mainly Afghans) every year.

One important component of UNHCR’s 2008 assistance programme was health care of vulnerable refugees. Limited financial assistance was provided to over 11,000 refugees suffering from life threatening diseases on a case by case basis including medical insurance for those suffering chronic/special diseases. A number of health awareness projects were carried out in different locations. UNHCR through an NGO named MAHAK, provided full assistance for treatment of 214 refugee children suffering from cancer. The planning figure and scope of activities in the health sector for 2009 remains more or less the same.

Two community based rehabilitation projects were commissioned targeting 800 persons living with disabilities. Health kits were distributed to refugees above five years of age and sanitary items to refugee girls and women of reproductive age. Other projects to improve the situation of refugees in refugee settlements and some semi-urban locations, such as improvement of water and sanitation systems, provision of additional classrooms and infrastructure rehabilitation were also carried out.

UNHCR also organizes and funds vocational trainings such as sewing, hairdressing, carpentery, etc. It also supports health and midwifery trainings. Provision of classroom supplies for identified schools in refugee concentrated areas, clothing and school kits for vulnerable refugee children are incentives to reduce school dropout rates. In order to encourage refugee girls to go to school, UNHCR has programmes to build additional classrooms for girls in refugee settlements and fund transport to and from schools.

UNHCR’s annual programme budget for the year 2009 is around US$6,600,000.

In addition, based on the specific needs of vulnerable refugees, UNHCR provides them with One Time Assistance. This amount is determined through need assessment and Community Integrated Social and Medical Assistance Programme guidelines.

Address: No. 3, East Emdad St., North Shiraz Ave., Vanak Sq., Tehran, 19917

Tel: (98-21) 8805 7201-11 E-mail: irnte@unhcr.org

Facsimile: (98-21) 8805 7212 website: www.unhcr.org

United Nations

Industrial Development Organization

History of Agency in the World and Iran

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) was established in 1966 and became a specialized agency of the United Nations in 1985. As part of the United Nations, UNIDO is responsible for promoting industrial development throughout the developing world, in cooperation with its 172 member states. Its headquarters are located in Vienna, Austria.

The UNIDO Country Office in I.R. of Iran was established in 1999 to support the Government in its industrialization priorities with a view to establishing close ties with various ministries, Governmental bodies, civil and research institutes as well as the private sector.

Priorities Globally and in Iran

UNIDO is the specialized agency of the United Nations that focuses its efforts on relieving poverty by fostering productivity growth. It helps developing countries and countries with economies in transition in their fight against marginalization in today’s globalizing world. It mobilizes knowledge, skills, information and technology to promote productive employment, competitive economy and a sound environment.

With a number of country and regional offices, investment and technology promotion offices related to specific aspects of its work, UNIDO maintains an active presence in the field, in order to promote growth in industrial products and encourage and improve industrial and technological skills.

Main projects/activities in Iran

UNIDO’s new Integrated Program/Country Program (IP/CP) for Iran maintains its focus on reducing poverty by creating employment opportunities and generating income through fostering sustainable development and promoting industrial development of non-oil sectors and thus contributing to the alleviation of social hardship.

The new (IP/CP) is oriented around six strategic cooperation areas:

• Globalization;

• Regional development through strengthening small and medium enterprises and local industries;

• Business environment improvement and private sector development;

• Modernization of agro-based industries;

• Energy-related subjects, and

• Environmental and climate-change related issues.

UNIDO is also in charge of the implementation of a number of environment-related programs in Iran, including the Montreal Protocol Program, which is designed to reduce the use of ozone depleting substances (financed by the Montreal Protocol Program). Negotiations are under way with the Government of Iran to also develop a program on reduction of Persistent Organic Pollution (POP’s), under the Stockholm Convention, and with financial support from the Global Environmental Facility (GEF).

Some of the UNIDO projects implemented in Iran are:

• Industrial clustering project;

• Modernization of dates processing and packaging;

• Capacity building and technology management at enterprise level;

• National strategy for energy efficiency and conservation, and

• Montreal Protocol Projects, relevant to the reduction of ozone depleting substances and reduction of methyl bromide, used in agriculture.

It is worth mentioning that one of the unique tools developed by UNIDO is the Computer Model for Feasibility Analysis and Reporting (COMFAR). COMFAR III is a valuable aid for the analysis of investment projects. COMFAR III packages can be easily ordered in Iran through the UNIDO Field Office in Tehran.

Address: United Nations Building No. 8, Shahrzad Blvd., Darrous, Tehran, Iran,

P.O.Box 15875/4557

Tel: (98-21) 2286 691-4/2286 8044/ 2286 7693 E-mail: office.iran@unido.org

Facsimile: (98-21) 2286 7362 website: www.unido.org

United Nations

Information Centre

History of Agency in the World and Iran

In 1946 the first UN General Assembly established the Department of Public Information (DPI) and set out the general guidelines for its activities. One of these guidelines called upon DPI to establish “branch offices…in order to ensure that peoples in all parts of the world receive as full information as possible about the United Nations”. Iran, as a founding member of the United Nations, was among the first countries to have a United Nations Information Centre (UNIC),which began its operations within a few months of its establishment in May 1950. However, the Centre’s operations were suspended in 1980. It was revived in 1991.

Priorities Globally and in Iran

UNIC is the principal local source of public information about the United Nations system in Iran and around the world. As an active link between the UN and the local media, educational institutions, government organizations and the civil society, the Centre provides up-to-date public information on the aims and activities of the United Nations in political, economic, social and humanitarian fields. The Centre’s priority themes recently have been advocacy on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), UN reforms, human rights, particularly the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and peacekeeping.

Main projects/activities in Iran

UNIC assists in meeting the Secretary-General’s requirements, especially during visits to the country, as well as providing professional, logistical and administrative assistance in the field of information dissemination to UN offices and operations in Iran, depending on their needs and circumstances.

As Chair of the UN Communications Group (UNCG)-Iran and the focal point for UN’s public information activities, UNIC projects a unified approach and image of the UN Country Team in Iran.

UNIC is linked to UN Headquarters and receives a daily roundup of news on UN activities at its Headquarters and around the world as well as news on UN agencies’ activities in Iran. Items that are of the most interest to the Iranian people are selected and translated into Persian and dispatched to all the major print and electronic media. UNIC Director also gives interviews on important UN issues. UNIC also organizes press conferences for UN officials.

In order to reach a larger audience, UNIC translates major UN documents, books, brochures and publications into Persian and distributes them free of cost to the media, universities, government organizations, ministries, NGOs etc.

UNIC staff members respond to requests from NGOs and educational institutions on the work of the United Nations. UNIC organizes special events to mark UN observances such as the UN Day, the International Day of Peace and so on. UNIC also assists NGOs when they organize their own activities on issues of concern to the UN or want accreditation with the DPI/NGO section.

UNIC promotes teaching about the UN through direct contact with teachers and students in schools and universities by speaking to them and answering their questions, in organizing Model UN sessions and in making available documents, publications and videos geared to young audiences.

UNIC helps and organise workshops on issues such as MDGs, disaster risk reduction and other relevant topics, for journalists, teachers and any other group interested in such workshops.

UNIC’s bilingual web site features key UN documents in Persian and English.

UNIC answers all public inquiries on the UN, including requests for UN documents or any relevant information.

A well-stocked library is one of the main features of UNIC. It contains United Nations official documents and books, including on peacekeeping and peacemaking, human rights, economic and other social developments, disaster relief, environment and other reference materials such as reports, debates and resolutions from the General Assembly and the Security Council. A collection of UN photographs, videos in VHS format, DVDs and posters are also available.

Address: United Nations Building No. 8, Shahrzad Blvd., Darrous, Tehran, Iran,

P.O. Box 15875/4557

Tel: (98-21) 2287 3837 (Direct)/2286 069-4/2286 0925-8 E-mail: unic.tehran@unic.org

Facsimile: (98-21) 2287 3395 website: www.unic-ir.org

United Nations Office for the

Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

History of Agency in the World and Iran

• 1991: Following the failure of the international community to respond to the 1991 Kurdish crisis in Iraq, the General Assembly adopted resolution 46/182 designed to strengthen the United Nations response to both complex emergencies and natural disasters. In addition it aimed at improving the overall effectiveness of the United Nations’ humanitarian operation in the field and creation of a high level position of Emergency Response Coordinator (ERC). Soon after, the Secretary-General established the Department of Humanitarian Affairs (DHA) and assigned the ERC the status of on Under Secretary-General (USG) for Humanitarian Affairs with offices in New York and Geneva to provide institutional support.

• 1998: DHA was reorganized into the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

(UNOCHA).

• 2000: The first temporary UNOCHA Country Office was established in the Islamic Republic of Iran to coordinate the response to humanitarian needs for the war affected people of Iraq and Afghanistan.

• 2003: Permanent UNOCHA Office in Iran was established and has operated since the 2003 Bam earthquake.

Priorities Globally and in Iran

Policy development and coordination functions in support of the Secretary-General by ensuring that all humanitarian issues are duly addressed, including those which fall between gaps in existing mandates of agencies such as protection and assistance for internally displaced persons (IDPs); Advocacy of humanitarian issues with political organs, notably the Security Council, communicating with belligerent parties in a conflict when there is a need to reach out to civilians who are in need of humanitarian aid; Coordination of humanitarian emergency response, by ensuring that an appropriate response mechanism is established on the ground, through the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (ISAC) consultations; Resource mobilization and needs consolidation by the “Consolidated Appeal Process (CAP)” system; Drawing global attention to forgotten emergencies; Promoting the culture of humanitarian assistance; Making sure that smooth and sufficient humanitarian assistance is provided to the population affected by natural disasters; Improving the information management system for adequate decision making in the shortest time possible during a disaster; Promoting international, cultural and humanitarian charter cooperation; Integrating environment management and climate change policies into disaster management activities, considering the high impact of climate change on the occurrence of natural disasters and the emphasis of the UN Secretary-General on this issue; Emphasizing on CBDRM as a priority; Drawing attention of authorities and humanitarian actors on different needs of women, girls, men and boys during emergencies and conflicts.

Main projects/activities in Iran

• Supporting the UN Resident Coordinator and the UN Country Team’s response to disasters;

• Increasing the capacity and efficiency of the UN Country Team in Iran to respond to natural disasters;

• Channeling international humanitarian assistance and allocating cash grants, in cases such as the earthquake affected people in Bam, Mazanderan and Lorestan;

• Coordinating needs assessment missions and emergency response during natural disasters; Cooperating with government authorities, Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) and NGOs on disaster preparedness, mitigation and hazard reduction;

• Coordinating with the UN agencies and international NGO’s on humanitarian aid;

• Facilitating exchange of knowledge, best practices, lessons learnt and other experiences among stakeholders;

• Strengthening the capacity of relevant government organs, IRCS and NGOs to respond in a timely and adequate manner to disasters through workshops and seminars at different levels;

• Advocating international humanitarian concepts and principles, promoting familiarity with the challenges to these concepts and principles at national and regional level;

• Following up the establishment of a Regional Disaster Management Center in Iran;

• Acting as secretariat of the UN Disaster Management Plan (UNDMP);

• Organizing training and professional workshops on CBDRM, gender in emergencies, climate change, environment management and their impact on disaster management;

• on Flood Management and Legal Framework of Humanitarian Assistance in Iranian universities and different provinces;

• Enhancing incorporation of risk reduction approaches in humanitarian response;

• Promoting preparedness and prevention efforts to render international assistance effective, timely and appropriate.

Address: United Nations Building No. 8, Shahrzad Blvd., Darrous, Tehran, Iran,

P.O. Box 15875/4557

Tel: (98-21) 2286 0691-4/2286 0925-8/2286 8193, E-mail: ochatehran@un.org

Facsimile: (98-21) 22886675 website: www.unochaonline.un.org

United Nations

Office on Drugs and Crime

History of Agency in the World and Iran

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) was established by the United Nations Secretary-General with the aim of promoting drug control capacities, crime prevention and campaign against terrorism in all its manifestations. The UNODC Iran was established in 1999 with the purpose of minimizing drug-related crimes through implementing a multi-sectoral programme which included drug supply reduction, drug demand reduction and legal assistance with a US$ 13 million budget.

Priorities Globally and in Iran

The main priorities of UNODC are: a) to find solutions to counter challenges caused by international organized crime groups in the field of drugs and crime, and b) promotion of governments’ capacities in dealing with challenges related to drug control and crime prevention according to international and regional structural activities.

UNODC objectives in Iran are as follows:

Approval and implementation of a new amendment to Anti-Narcotic Law; Implementation of integrated border control measures; Observing effective control on internal drug trafficking routes; Utilizing intelligence-led investigations capacities including controlled delivery; Promotion of regional and international cooperation in drug control; Approval of a national harmonized drug control programme, especially in the field of drug demand reduction; Training and utilizing human resources specialized in the field of drug demand reduction and HIV/AIDS in government and other relevant organizations; Cooperation between government organizations and non-government organizations and civil society active in the field of drug demand reduction; Control the increase of psychotropic drug abuse patterns; Ratification of the United Nations Convention against Corruption; Ratification of the United Nations Convention against Trans-national Organized Crimes and its Protocols; Ratification of the United Nations conventions and other international treaties against terrorism; Ratification of anti-money laundering legislation and establishing special anti-money laundering financial intelligence units; Promoting South-South cooperation in controlling drag trafficking and crime.

Main projects/activities in Iran

In 2005, the UNODC Iran compiled the Strategic Programme Framework (2005-2007) with a US$ 23 million budget aimed at promoting cooperation among all national stakeholders and international donors in line with guaranteeing participation and financial support to drug control and crime prevention projects. UNODC Iran projects are as follows:

• Drug Supply Reduction

- Integrated border control in the Islamic Republic of Iran;

- Strengthening control in selected internal check points, sea ports, airports and railway stations;

- Promotion and strengthening of intelligence-led investigations capacities, and

- Promotion of regional and international cooperation in drug control.

• Drug Demand Reduction

- Nationwide drug prevention measures;

- Drug abuse treatment;

- Addiction rehabilitation and HIV/AIDS prevention;

- Advocacy and regional cooperation in drug demand reduction, and

- Improvement of drug demand reduction measures in the city of Bam.

• Rule of Law

- Strengthening judicial capacity and anti-corruption measures;

- Assistance in the promotion of the reform process of the judiciary and the prison system;

- Improvement of Iranian legislative and judicial capacity to tackle organized crime and money laundering and promotion of Mutual Legal Assistance, and

- Measures to prevent and combat trafficking in human beings.

Address: No. 22, Behesht Dead-end, Eram Alley, Vanak St., Vanak Square, Tehran

Tel: (98-21) 8887 8377-81 E-mail: fo.iran@unodc.org

Facsimile: (98-21) 8879 6700 website: www.unodc.org/iran

United Nations

Population Fund

History of Agency in the World and Iran

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is an international development agency that promotes the right of every woman, man and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity.

UNFPA supports countries in using population data for policies and programmes to reduce poverty and to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe, every young person is free of HIV/AIDS, and every girl and woman is treated with dignity and respect.

UNFPA began operations in 1969. UNFPA is a founding member of the United Nations Development Group (UNDG) and a founding co-sponsor of UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. UNFPA supports programmes in over 159 countries, areas and territories. In 2007, UNFPA received voluntary contributions to its core resources from some 181 countries, achieving the highest record in its history and among all UN agencies in terms of number of contributing donors.

UNFPA’s collaboration with Iran began in 1970 on a project basis. The collaboration on the basis of five-year country programmes began in 1990. The current country programme, the fourth since 1990, was launched in 2005 in the context of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF). UNFPA’s support has yielded tangible results which are well manifested in population and reproductive health indicators. Since 1990, maternal mortality ratio and infant mortality rate have been cut by half; contraceptive prevalence rate has increased from 64% to 79% for all methods; and pre-natal care and attended deliveries at hospitals and maternity centres is now almost universal. Such achievements would not have been possible without Government commitment, decisive national population policies, support of religious leaders and the strong partnership between UNFPA, government and civil society.

Priorities Globally and in Iran

UNFPA helps governments, at their request, to formulate policies and strategies to reduce poverty and support sustainable development. UNFPA is guided in its work by Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) held in Cairo in 1994. At the conference, 179 countries, including the Islamic Republic of Iran, agreed that meeting needs for education and health, including reproductive health, is a prerequisite for sustainable development over the longer term. They also agreed on a roadmap for progress to achieve a number of goals by 2015, such as universal access to reproductive health services, universal primary education, reducing maternal and infant mortality, increasing life expectancy and reducing HIV/AIDS.

Reaching the goals of the ICPD Programme of Action is also essential for achieving the Millennium Development Goals. These eight goals have the overarching aim of reducing extreme poverty by half by 2015. UNFPA brings its special expertise in reproductive health and population issues to the worldwide collaborative effort of meeting the MDGs. In light of Iran’s significant achievements in the area of population and reproductive health, UNFPA’s assistance attaches priority to: sustaining the achievements of the past two decades, bridging regional disparities in reproductive health indicators, improving quality of RH care, addressing areas of ICPD Programme of Action, such as adolescent reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, emerging population issues (aging, environment, urbanization, etc) and gender, and promoting knowledge sharing between Iran and other countries. All of the above priority interventions are addressed in a culturally sensitive manner ensuring national ownership and leadership of development programmes.

Main projects/activities in Iran

The fourth UNFPA Country Programme for Iran builds on previous achievements and contributes to enhancing the quality of life of the Iranian people through eight outputs and a number of interventions including:

• Increasing availability of quality reproductive health services and commodities through production of protocols and guidelines on safe motherhood and family planning; promoting the concept of mother-friendly hospitals; training of midwives and gynecologists on natural birth; and developing integrated monitoring and evaluation systems of reproductive health services;

• Improving youth friendly reproductive health information and services through: development of national strategy and plan of action on adolescent reproductive health; developing and piloting youth friendly reproductive health services and supporting parent-student association;

• Improving sexually transmitted infections (STI) HIV/AIDS information and services through: development of guidelines on STI prevalence assessment, management and reporting and promoting prevention of STI/HIV among high risk groups;

• Increased awareness and capacity relating to reproductive health, reproductive rights and gender issues;

• Strengthening national capacity and preparedness to address reproductive health concerns in emergency and post conflict situations through: development of a national plan of action and protocols on RH in emergencies, establishment of rapid response teams and stockpiling of emergency reproductive health commodities and supplies;

• Increasing capacity to monitor ICPD goals and MDGs through generating gender-sensitive data, harmonizing data systems and improving coverage and quality of vital statistics;

• Research and training in population and development through development of research agenda in reproductive health, population and gender and addressing emerging population issues and population dynamics and their linkages with sustainable development, and

• Evidence-based advocacy for legislation that protects against gender-based violence.

The aforementioned interventions are implemented at the national level with a few pilots in selected geographical areas. The responsibility of implementing the programme rests with a number of Government institutions and civil society, such as the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Statistical Centre of Iran, Civil Registration Organization, Tehran University and Shiraz University and the Organization on Defending Victims of Violence.

UNFPA attaches priority to documenting Iran’s experience in the population field and promoting sharing of knowledge between Iran and other countries through south/south cooperation modalities, including regional networks.

Address: United Nations Building No. 8, Shahrzad Blvd., Darrous, Tehran, Iran

P.O. Box 15875/4557

Tel: (98-21) 2286 0691 - 4 /2286 0925-8/ 2285 2583 (Programme)/2285 7110 (Adm./Fin)

Facsimile: (98-21) 2285 7485 E-mail: registry@unfpa.un.org.ir

website: www.unfpa-iran.org

United Nations

International Strategy for Disaster Reduction

History of Agency in the World and Iran

The United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) is the focal point in the UN system aimed at building disaster resilient communities by promoting increased awareness of the importance of disaster reduction as an integral component of sustainable development. Its goal is to reduce human, social, economic and environmental losses due to natural hazards and related technological and environmental disasters. UNISDR is an international data center that collects information on disaster reduction, develops campaigns on raising public awareness and publishes articles, booklets and other materials on disaster risk reduction. UNISDR Secretariat is based in Geneva.

UNISDR Liaison Office for the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) region was established in February 2007 in Tehran and works to facilitate the promotion of disaster risk reduction and support the implementation of Hyogo Framework for Action among ECO region countries to strengthen coordination both at the regional and national levels.

Priorities Globally and in Iran

Support the implementation of Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) and promotion of disaster risk reduction for the period of 2005-2015. HFA was approved and adopted in 2005 in Kobe (Japan) by 168 states. Its main goal is "Building the resilience of nations and communities to disasters". Participants of the Second World Conference on Disaster Reduction reached the unanimous opinion that disaster risk reduction is the most effective approach to resolving disaster-related problems.

Seismic Safety: Within the framework of this component, a regional center on seismic risk reduction called the “Asian Seismic Risk Reduction Center” was launched in Tehran on 9th May 2007. A conference on “Seismic Risk Reduction for Urban Areas” was also held on July 19-20, 2007, by ISDR office in Tajikistan in which leading seismologists and other scientists of Tajikistan and other Central Asian states participated.

Knowledge network: It is aimed at the reactivation of old and the establishment of new linkages in the sphere of disaster risk reduction, in particular SRR (Seismic Risk Reduction) between scientific institutions, institutes of the Academy of Sciences and universities. A number of conferences and training workshops are under consideration on this issue.

Education and Advocacy: Integrating disaster risk reduction in schools and universities curricula. UNISDR considers the support of national governments in the implementation of national strategies for disaster reduction to be one of their primary tasks and is ready to assist in the organization of forums, conferences and other activities aimed at the achievement of this goal.

Main projects/activities in Iran

After numerous efforts by the Working Group for the Establishment of the Asian Seismic Risk Reduction Center (ASRC), several documents including the plan for the Center, concept note, and MOU were developed. Mr. Salvano Briceno, the Director of UNISDR visited Iran in May 2007 and signed a joint Memorandum of Understanding with Mr. Mehdi Hashemi, Deputy Interior Minister of Iran. The Center was launched on the same day. Since then, UNISDR has cooperated with the Iranian authorities to develop a partnership between ASRC, ECO and other institutions.

In May 2007, a MOU was signed between UNISDR and ECO secretariat. The main objective of this MOU was promoting disaster risk reduction within the ECO region. UNISDR and ECO are jointly developing a partnership for promotion of disaster risk reduction in this region. Among the activities, the global campaign on hospital safety was launched in the ECO region on 29 January 2008 and the ISDR-ECO workshop on Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction was held in 1-2 July 2008.

UNISDR also supports the Iranian government on the promotion of disaster risk reduction at the national level, including through supporting the Iranian National Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction (INPDRR).

Address: United Nations Building No. 8, Shahrzad Blvd., Darrous, Tehran, Iran,

P.O. Box 5875/4557

Tel: (98-21) 2286 4916/2286 0691-4 E-mail: tehran@unisdr-wana.org

Facsimile: (98-21) 2286 6983 website: www.unisdr-wana.org

World Food Programme

History of Agency in the World and Iran

In November/December 1961, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the UN General Assembly adopted parallel resolutions establishing the World Food Programme (WFP). The three-year experimental programme was not due to enter into operation until January 1963. In reality it was up and running several months early, as an earthquake hit Iran, a hurricane swept through Thailand and newly independent Algeria was overwhelmed by five million returning refugees. Food aid was needed urgently and WFP was tasked to supply it.

Ever since its foundation in 1963, WFP headquarters has been based in Rome, Italy. WFP fights hunger in least-developed and low-income countries where victims of natural disasters, refugees, displaced people and the hungry poor face severe food shortages. The frontline stretches from sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East to Latin America and Asia Pacific.

In 2009, WFP aims to feed around 100 million people in 77 countries.

The first ever WFP assisted emergency operation in Iran was directed to the victims of the earthquake which killed more than 12,000 people in the area of Boein Zahra, Iran in September 1962. WFP first opened an office in Iran in 1971 and was active in several projects concerning food assistance until 1979. Upon the request of the Government, WFP resumed activities in 1987 by providing food assistance to Afghan refugees and later to Iraqi refugees.

Priorities Globally and in Iran

WFP is the food aid arm of the United Nations system. Food aid is one of the many instruments that can help to promote food security, which is defined as access of all people at all times to the food needed for an active and healthy life. The policies governing the use of World Food Programme food aid must be oriented towards the objective of eradicating hunger and poverty. The ultimate objective of food aid should be the elimination of the need for food aid.

WFP strategic objectives are:

• Save lives and protect livelihoods in emergencies;

• Prevent acute hunger and invest in disaster preparedness and mitigation measures;

• Restore and rebuild lives and livelihoods in post conflict, post-disaster or transition;

• Reduce chronic hunger and undernutrition; and

• Strengthen the capacities of countries to reduce hunger, including through hand-over strategies and local purchase.

Main projects/activities in Iran

WFP is providing food assistance and education incentive for Afghan and Iraqi refugees in the Islamic Republic of Iran through a Protracted Relief and Recovery Programme (PRRO).

The food basket currently provided consists of wheat flour, rice, sugar, oil and pulses and is distributed on a monthly basis to up to 38,000 Afghan and Iraqi refugees living in 16 settlements.

Under this programme, approximately 2,500 refugee schoolgirls attending primary and secondary schools and 190 female teachers will receive 4 kg of vegetable oil per month as an education incentive.

WFP has assisted in emergency operations (EMOP) in Iran, the last of which was in December 2003 when a massive earthquake measuring 6.3 on the scale of Richter struck the historic city of Bam in Kerman province, in the Southeast of Iran. WFP provided emergency food assistance to up to 100,000 needy people who were living in Bam and its surrounding villages within a radius of 16 km. The assistance was planned for a period of three months, during which time the beneficiaries were able to gradually re-establish their livelihoods or find other sources of support.

Address: United Nations Building No.8, Shahrzad Blvd., Darrous, Tehran, Iran,

P.O. Box 15875/4557

Tel: (98-21) 2286 7640/ 2286 7480 / 2286 3499

Facsimile: (98-21) 2286 3211 E-mail: wfp.tehran@wfp.org

website: www.wfp.org

World

Health Organization

History of Agency in the World and Iran

The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations. Founded in 1948, it works for the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. Its constitution came into force on 7 April 1948, which is celebrated every year as the World Health Day. The collaboration between WHO and I. R. Iran started in 1955 through an agreement of cooperation. However, the country office has been operational since 1984. Its main counterpart in Iran is the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, and the primary objective of this partnership is to provide technical support to the country, within the overall scope of WHO’s global, regional and country priorities.

According to the WHO definition: ”Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. WHO recognizes that the health of all peoples is fundamental to the attainment of peace and security and is dependent upon fullest cooperation of individuals and states. The constitution of WHO states that “the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition”.

Priorities Globally and in Iran

WHO has six core functions built into its mandate:

1)Providing leadership on matters critical to health and engaging in partnerships where joint action is needed; 2) Shaping the research agenda and stimulating the generation, translation and dissemination of valuable knowledge; 3) Setting norms and standards and promoting and monitoring their implementation; 4) Articulating ethical and evidence-based policy options; 5) Providing technical support, catalyzing change, and building sustainable institutional capacity; and 6) Monitoring the health situation and assessing health needs.

Global Priorities:

1) Promoting development; 2) Fostering health security; 3) Strengthening health systems; 4) Harnessing research, information and evidence; 5) Enhancing partnerships; and 6) Improving performance.

The strategic directions of WHO’s work in Iran are:

1. Promoting health as central to sustainable human and economic development.

2. Enhancing leadership capacities for reforming the health system.

3. Applying risk management approaches to effectively deal with behaviour related disorders and conditions.

4. Addressing the unfinished agenda for communicable diseases.

5. Promoting a culture of research and technological development.

6. Strengthening institutional mechanism for effective emergency and humanitarian action for health.

Main projects/activities in Iran

The strategic agenda is implemented as follows:

1. Facilitate the government’s role and participation in the Social Determinants of Health by developing a national strategy for reducing health inequities.

2. Enhance leadership capacities for improving the health system, strengthening capacity of Ministry of Health in various functions of the health system, including policy analysis, health planning, health financing, and information system.

3. Promote life course approach on control of risk factors of chronic disorders and communicable diseases.

4. Promote risk reduction approach in emergency preparedness and response by increasing national capacities of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education.

5. Support and advocate the community-based initiatives to promote a better quality of life particularly for vulnerable groups.

6. Support research and innovative programmes for sustainable development and monitoring health sector performance.

7. Building proactive partnership between different public and private sectors, academic institutes, NGOs, and UN agencies.

Address: 12th Floor, West wing, Building of Ministry of Health & Medical Education (next to Abou -Rayhan High School), Simaye Iran St., Phase 5, Sannat Square, Shahrake Qods, Tehran, Iran, P.O. Box 14665/1565

Tel: (98-21) 8836 3979–80/8836 3718 E-mail: whoteh@ira.emro.who.int

Facsimile: (98-21) 8836 4100 website: www.who.int,

www.emro.who.int/iran

www.whoiran.org

International

Organization for Migration

History of Agency in the World and Iran

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is an intergovernmental organization established in 1951 with its mandate to manage migration and migration related issues throughout the world. International Organization for Migration 125 member and 94 observers including 18 states and 76 global and regional IGOs and NGOs, more than 430 field locations around the world. The most important activities of the organization are focused in two sectors, services and program and policy development, within the framework of five principal areas. These are migration and development, facilitating migration, regulating migration, forced migration and its cross-cutting areas (technical cooperation, research, international migration law, decision making and policy development issues, migrants rights, health and migration and migration and gender).

IOM started its activities in Iran in July 1990 by focusing on evacuation of third country nationals caught in the Iraq-Kuwait conflict. By the end of 2000, IOM, jointly with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), repatriated approximately 370,000 Afghan nationals voluntarily to Afghanistan.

The Islamic Republic of Iran had joined IOM as an observer in 1995. Iran was accepted as a full member in IOM Governors Council in 2001. Since 2004, IOM has changed its refugee-oriented approach and adopted a guiding program/policy-oriented approach with the purpose of assisting Iran in migration management issues and tackling the new challenges the country is exposed to.

Priorities Globally and in Iran

IOM’s mandate is based on the belief that orderly human migration benefits all, including governments and societies. The activity areas of the organization include:

• Technical cooperation in migration management;

• Counter trafficking/smuggling;

• Labor migration;

• Health and migration;

• Voluntary return and reintegration, and

• Facilitated movement services.

Main projects/activities in Iran

In order for the Islamic Republic of Iran to benefit from international experiences in the area of migration management, IOM emphasizes the promotion of quality management potential and the perpetuation of broad-based strategies. To this end, the following activities have been undertaken:

• Technical cooperation with the government entities of the I.R. Iran in the area of migration management and policy development;

• Combating irregular migration, including human trafficking and smuggling;

• Labor migration;

• Voluntary return and reintegration;

• Cooperation in border management, and

• Development of national and regional migration policies and strategies.

*Note: While not part of the United Nations at the headquarters level, the International Organization for Migration operates as a member of the UN Country Team in its member states.

Address: No. 3, Ladan Alley, Khorsand St. Vali- e- Asr Ave., Tehran, IR Iran, 1966733111

Tel: (98-21) 22054244/22045364/22048886-7 E-mail: iomtehran@iom.int

Facsimile: (98-21) 22044929 website: www.iom.int

UN/Iran Theme Groups & Teams in Iran

-Theme Group on HIV/AIDS

• Joint UN Team on AIDS

-Theme Group on Gender

-Theme Group on Capacity Strengthening on MDGs

-Theme Group on Strengthening Good Governance and Human Rights

-Theme Group on Sustainable Development, Disaster Management and

Energy Efficiency

-Theme Group on Facilitating the Transfer of Science and Technology

-Theme Group on Improving Economic Performance &

Generating Employment

-Theme Group on Food Security

-UN Disaster Management Team (UNDMT)

-UN Energy Working Group

-UN Communications Group

Addresses of Agencies

1-United Nations Resident Coordinator Office (UNRC)

Address: No. 8, Shahrzad Blvd., Darrous,Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran

P.O. Box 15874-4557, Tehran, Iran

Tel: (98-21) 2286 0691-4 E-mail: rc.office.iran@undp.org

Facsimile: (98-21) 2286 9547 website: www.un.org.ir

2-Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

Address: Room 1701,17th Floor, Ministry of Jihad-e-Agriculture,Keshavarz Boulevard,Tehran, Iran

P.O. Box 15875/4557

Tel: (98-21) 8136 3701-2/8896 0731 E-mail: FAO-IR@fao.org

Facsimile: (98-21) 8896 4104 website: www.fao.org

3-Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS

Address: United Nations Building No. 8, Shahrzad Blvd., Darrous, Tehran, Iran

P.O.Box: 15875/4557

Tel: (98-21) 2286 0691-4/2286 0925 - 8/2285 8950/22858950 E-mail: iran@unaids.org

Facsimile: (98-21) 2285 8951 website: www.unaids.ir

4-United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) Liaison Office

Address: United Nations Building No. 8, Shahrzad Blvd., Darrous, Tehran, Iran,

P.O. Box 15875/4557

Tel: (98-21) 2286 7967 E-mail: unama-iran@un.org

Facsimile: (98-21) 2286 9187 website: www.unama-afg.org

5-United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

Address: No. 216, Nezami St., Ghoba St., Shariati Ave., Tehran 19449, Iran

P.O. Box 19395/1176

Tel: (98-21) 2259 4994 E-mail: tehran@unicef.org

Facsimile: (98-21) 2259 4948 website: www.unicef.org/iran

www.unicef.org/iran/fa

6-United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Address: United Nations Building No. 8, Shahrzad Blvd., Darrous, Tehran, Iran,

P.O. Box 15875/4557

Tel: (98-21) 2286 0691-4/2286 0925 - 8 E-mail: registry.ir@undp.org

Facsimile :(98-21) 2286 9547 website: www.undp.org.ir

7-United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

Address: Bahman Building, Sa’adabad Cultural Complex, Darband Square, Tajrish Square, Tehran,

P.O. Box: 19894

Tel: (98-21) 2275 1315-7 E-mail: tehran@unesco.org

Facsimile: (98-21) 2275 1318 website: www.unesco.org

8-United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Address: No. 3, East Emdad St., North Shiraz Ave., Vanak Sq., Tehran, 19917

Tel: (98-21) 8805 7201-11 E-mail: irnte@unhcr.org

Facsimile: (98-21) 8805 7212 website: www.unhcr.org

9-United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

Address: United Nations Building No. 8, Shahrzad Blvd., Darrous, Tehran, Iran,

P.O.Box 15875/4557

Tel: (98-21) 2286 691-4/2286 8044/ 2286 7693 E-mail: office.iran@unido.org

Facsimile: (98-21) 2286 7362 website: www.unido.org

10-United Nations Information Center (UNIC)

Address: United Nations Building No. 8, Shahrzad Blvd., Darrous, Tehran, Iran,

P.O. Box 15875/4557

Tel: (98-21) 2287 3837 (Direct)/2286 069-4/2286 0925-8 E-mail: unic.tehran@unic.org

Facsimile: (98-21) 2287 3395 website: www.unic-ir.org

11-United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humantarian Affairs (UNOCHA)

Address: United Nations Building No. 8, Shahrzad Blvd., Darrous, Tehran, Iran,

P.O. Box 15875/4557

Tel: (98-21) 2286 0691-4/2286 0925-8/2286 8193, E-mail: ochatehran@un.org

Facsimile: (98-21) 22886675 website: www.unochaonline.un.org

12-United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

Address: No. 22, Behesht Dead-end, Eram Alley, Vanak St., Vanak Square, Tehran

Tel: (98-21) 8887 8377-81 E-mail: fo.iran@unodc.org

Facsimile: (98-21) 8879 6700 website: www.unodc.org/iran

13-United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

Address: United Nations Building No. 8, Shahrzad Blvd., Darrous, Tehran, Iran

P.O. Box 15875/4557

Tel: (98-21) 2286 0691 - 4 /2286 0925-8/ 2285 2583 (Programme)/2285 7110 (Adm./Fin)

Facsimile: (98-21) 2285 7485 E-mail: registry@unfpa.un.org.ir

website: www.unfpa-iran.org

14-United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR)

Address: United Nations Building No. 8, Shahrzad Blvd., Darrous, Tehran, Iran,

P.O. Box 5875/4557

Tel: (98-21) 2286 4916/2286 0691-4 E-mail: tehran@unisdr-wana.org

Facsimile: (98-21) 2286 6983 website: www.unisdr-wana.org

15-World Food Programme (WFP)

Address: United Nations Building No.8, Shahrzad Blvd., Darrous, Tehran, Iran,

P.O. Box 15875/4557

Tel: (98-21) 2286 7640/ 2286 7480 / 2286 3499

Facsimile: (98-21) 2286 3211 E-mail: wfp.tehran@wfp.org

website: www.wfp.org

16-World Health Organization (WHO)

Tel: (98-21) 8836 3979–80/8836 3718 E-mail: whoteh@ira.emro.who.int

Facsimile: (98-21) 8836 4100 website: www.who.int,

www.emro.who.int/iran

www.whoiran.org

17-International Organization for Migration (IOM)

Address: No. 3, Ladan Alley, Khorsand St. Vali- e- Asr Ave., Tehran, IR Iran, 1966733111

Tel: (98-21) 22054244/22045364/22048886-7 E-mail: iomtehran@iom.int

Facsimile: (98-21) 22044929 website: www.iom.int

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