The Executive Director of UNIFEM, Dr. Ines Alberdi visited Sydney and Canberra during August this year. This was Dr. Alberdi’s first visit to Australia as Executive Director of UNIFEM and included meetings with the Australian government, the corporate sector and members and supporters of UNIFEM Australia. The United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Canberra assisted with the visit by providing logistical and media support. Dr. Alberdi was accompanied by Elizabeth Cox, Regional Director of UNIFEM Pacific, Rita Taporn, Pacific Regional Program Manager and Hazel Gooding, External Relations Officer, from UNIFEM head office. 
A key part of the schedule was meeting with senior members of the Australian government – Mr. Bob McMullan, Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance, Ms. Tanya Plibersek, Minister for Housing and for the Status of Women, and Mr. Duncan Kerr, Parliamentary Secretary for the Pacific Island Affairs. As a result of these meetings a partnership agreement between the Australian Government and UNIFEM was signed– representing a significant increase in core funding for UNIFEM as well as a commitment to a closer working relationship. Speaking at the agreement signing event, Dr. Alberdi warmly welcomed the support of the Australian Government and looked forward to an ongoing productive partnership. Dr. Alberdi was also the guest of honour at a Gala Dinner in Canberra, hosted by Minister Tanya Plibersek, which celebrated the 20th Anniversary of UNIFEM Australia.  As part of the night’s formal proceedings UNIFEM Australia announced a contribution to UNIFEM of $630,000. 
The following day Dr. Alberdi addressed the Australian Government’s UN Parliamentary Group and launched the Progress of the World’s Women 2008/2009 report which provides examples of how women are demanding accountability for action on commitments to promote gender equality and women’s rights from national governments, justice and law enforcement systems, employers and service providers as well as international institutions. 
Prior to her Australian visit, Dr. Alberdi was in Singapore to address the Women’s Leaders Network of APEC and the annual meeting of UNIFEM National Committees.

On 24 July 2009 Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan received UN Resident Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia Consuelo Vidal. Heads of UN Agencies and Programmes in Armenia were also present at the meeting.
Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, on behalf of the Government of Armenia, and Consuelo Vidal, on behalf of the United Nations, signed a programme of cooperation, which presents the strategic directions of the UN activities in Armenia during the upcoming 6 years.

The 2010-2015 programme of cooperation has been developed in line with the main national development priorities outlined in the Sustainable Development Programme, taking also into consideration the impact of current financial and economic crisis.

With a budget of around 72 million USD, the 2010-2015 programme of cooperation, also known as the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), will address issues in the areas of poverty reduction, democratic governance, basic social services, environmental management and disaster risk reduction.

After the signing ceremony, a joint press conference of Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan and UN RC/UNDP RR Consuelo Vidal took place. PM Tigran Sargsyan, highly appreciating the activities of the United Nations in Armenia, noted that implemented projects are in line with the logic and content of government programmes. The first direction focuses on inclusive and sustainable growth, and part of the resources will be directed for the implementation of sustainable development projects.

The next priority is equitable access to basic social services, being followed by development of democratic institutions in Armenia, and environment and disaster risk reduction.
“It is very important that UN programmes focus on reduction of disparities in the regions and communities of Armenia, and community development projects have their important place in the 2010-2015 cooperation framework. These are the main priorities, which are included in this programme, and we are convinced that this cooperation will have an essential impact on sustainable economic development of Armenia,” said the Head of the Government of Armenia, thanking for long-term and fruitful cooperation.

UN Resident Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia Consuelo Vidal, thanking for the government’s excellent cooperation with the UN in Armenia, noted that the new programme of cooperation is a result of productive consultations with the Government of Armenia and the civil society and aims to bring to Armenia international standards, best practices, technical and financial resources to promote and develop national capacities.

The programme implementation to be overseen jointly by the Government of Armenia and the UN system.

Ms. Inés Alberdi, the Executive Director of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), made a three day visit to Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi, from 6 to 9 May 2009. The United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Bujumbura provided assistance with media coverage and communications for the visit.

Prior to the Executive Director's arrival, the National Information Officer of UNIC Bujumbura organized a press briefing at UNIC premises on 5 May to brief journalists about the upcoming visit and about the work of UNIFEM in Burundi and worldwide. Approximately 35 journalists representing local and international media attended the briefing and received press kits.

On 7 May, UNIC Bujumbura organized a media event to launch UNIFEM's flagship report "Progress of the World's Women 2008/2009", which was attended by the First Vice-President of the Republic and on 8 May a press conference was held at UNIC Bujumbura, during which Ms. Alberdi expressed her satisfaction with the steps taken by the Burundian Government towards empowering women and fighting against gender based violence. While Ms. Alberdi lauded this progress, she also highlighted the shortcomings of these efforts and emphasized there was still much work to be done before gender equality can be achieved. The Minister of Human Rights and Gender also participated in the press conference.

On 13 April 2009, Kiyo Akasaka, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, addressed the opening session of the Model UN Conference at Moscow State Institute of International Relations, MGIMO University. 

Mr. Akasaka was in Moscow from 12-15 April 2009 where he met with officials of the Foreign Ministry and the Chairman of the Council of Federation (upper house of Parliament) Committee for Foreign Affairs, the United Nations Country Team and the staff of the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Moscow. He also held several media interviews, including for the TV channel "Russia Today".  Mr. Akasaka also participated in the launch of a UN-commissioned report on the situation of persons with disabilities in Russia and met with representatives of several non-governmental organizations.

Upon his departure from Moscow on 15 April 2009, Mr. Akasaka traveled to Brussels, where he met with representatives of the European Union, officials of the Foreign Ministry of Belgium, the United Nations Communications Group and the staff of the UN Regional Information Centre (UNRIC) Brussels.

The visit to Moscow was coordinated by the UN Information Centre Moscow and in Brussels by UNRIC.