A/RES/55/208 1. Reaffirms the importance of a coordinated, United Nations system-wide approach to research and training based on an effective coherent strategy and an effective division of labour among the relevant institutions and bodies; 2. Also reaffirms the relevance of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research in view of the growing importance of training within the United Nations and the training requirements of States and the relevance of training-related research activities undertaken by the Institute within its mandate; 3. Stresses the need for the Institute to strengthen further its cooperation with other United Nations institutes and relevant national, regional and international institutes; 4. Welcomes the progress made in building partnerships between the Institute and other agencies and bodies of the United Nations system with respect to their training programmes, and, in this context, underlines the need to develop further and to expand the scope of these partnerships, in particular at the country level; 5. Welcomes also the decisions taken so far by the Secretary-General to ensure continuity in the management of the Institute and to consider the proper grade for the post of Executive Director; 6. Requests the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research to intensify its efforts to attract experts from developing countries and countries with economies in transition for the preparation of relevant training materials for the programmes and activities of the Institute, and stresses that the courses of the Institute should focus primarily on development issues; 7. countries, otherwise urges the resuming Institute; Renews its appeal to all Governments, in particular those of developed and to private institutions that have not yet contributed financially or to the Institute, to give it their generous financial and other support, and States that have interrupted their voluntary contributions to consider them in view of the successful restructuring and revitalization of the 8. Calls upon developed countries, which are increasingly participating in the training programmes conducted in New York and Geneva, to make contributions or consider increasing their contributions to the General Fund; 9. Encourages the Board of Trustees of the Institute to continue its efforts to resolve the critical financial situation of the Institute, in particular with a view to broadening its donor base and increasing the contributions made to the General Fund; 10. Also encourages the Board of Trustees to consider diversifying further the venues of the events organized by the Institute and to include the cities hosting regional commissions, in order to promote greater participation and reduce costs; 11. Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with the Institute and United Nations funds and programmes, to continue to explore ways and means of systematically utilizing the Institute in the execution of training and capacitybuilding programmes for the economic and social development of developing countries; 12. Notes with appreciation the services rendered by the Executive Director of the Institute in the light of the challenges emanating from the increased responsibilities encountered by his office; 2