The role of the UN specialized agencies in the information work

Abstract

The speciaiized agencies ofthe UN play an important role in the provision of information needed in their field of competence. At one hand they promote the development of national, sectoral and regional information systems in the Member States, at the other hand they provide directly information services. In the fields of scientific, technological and industrial information UNESCO and UNIDO play the most important role. The organized and coordinated development of information systems is supported by UNESCO and UNIDO by the means of the assistance provided towards the elaboration of national and industrial information policies respectively. Cooperation and exchange of information is promoted through the creation of the necessary conditions by the means of standardization, elaboration and use of common methods. Institutions are developed and appropriate technology is introduced in the framework of projects aiming at the development of information infrastructure, using Regular Program funds of the specialized agencies and funds provided by the United Nations Development Program. The training of information/library specialists and users is supported by providing assistance towards the training of trainers and the elaboration of teaching materials and through the awarding of fellowships and the organization of courses in the field of competence ofthe specialized agencies. Ali UN agencies provide library services and the number of UN databases, complementing efficiently the commercial databases, is growing steadily.