19-21 November 2018, Brussels, Belgium – UNITAR hosted the Annual Meeting of its Network of Affiliated International Training Centres for Authorities and Leaders (CIFAL) in Brussels and in Antwerp, Belgium. The Directors of 15 CIFAL Centres gathered for three days to review its performance in 2018, discuss opportunities for collaboration, exchange knowledge and expertise, and to develop the training calendar for 2019.

17 December, Geneva, Switzerland – A landmark report providing the first detailed account of the devastating damage to the World Heritage Property of the Ancient City of Aleppo in the wake of years of armed conflict has been published by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and UNESCO.

On 13-15 November 2018, the Togolese Public Administration School (ENA), UNITAR and UNDP held a national workshop aimed at strengthening the capacities of senior civil servants to lead the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and SDGs. This was the first national-level pilot of UNITAR’s toolkit “Policy cycle, integrated approaches and SDGs” targeted towards African Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

6 June 2018, Geneva, Switzerland - New digital technologies have had, and will continue to have, a profound impact on both the practice and content matter of diplomacy. The digital ecosystem in which diplomats operate offers new opportunities, especially for smaller states, but also challenges traditional activities and organisational structures. At the same time, cyberspace itself is throwing up a series of issues, range ranging from Internet governance to cyber security, which require diplomacy. This on line course focuses on both digital diplomacy (the use of digital tools to promote broader diplomatic strategies) and cyber diplomacy (the use of diplomacy to tackle the issues arising in cyberspace).

16 October 2018, Geneva, Switzerland – The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) is kicking off its first ever bottom-up crowdfunding campaign, UNITAR Peace Funder, which enables selected professionals from all regions of the world to enhance their applicable knowledge and technical skills, further consolidating their ability to act as peacebuilders and changemakers. UNITAR Master’s programmes in Conflictology, Electoral Policy and Administration, Humanitarian Action and Peacebuilding, and United Nations and the Art of Peace are tailored for professionals working within the framework of international and regional organizations, as well as governmental and non-governmental organizations.

Ambassadors and representatives of Permanent Missions in Geneva were invited to join our 5th Friends of UNITAR Meeting, to learn more about UNITAR, its activities and our new Strategic Framework 2018 - 2021.

11 July 2018 - The 2018 High-Level Political Forum has provided space for representatives of the Higher Education Institutes to share best practices, innovative approaches and discuss challenges as Universities embrace the 2030 Agenda and start mainstreaming the SDGs in their curricular, research activities and programmes. The last panel of the HESI Global Day was chaired by UNITAR Executive Director Nikhil Seth and included Secretary-General of the Association of the Commonwealth Universities, and representatives of the University of Geneva, Tecnologico de Monterrey, University of Pennsylvania, University of Papua New Guinea, and SDSN.

UNITAR and UNSD launched their new data tool StaTact during an official side event of the HLPF2018 on 11 July 2018 in New York. The side event featured experiences of the three pilot countries and was opened by UNITAR Executive Director Mr. Nikhil Seth and Director of UN Statistics Division Mr. Stefan Schweinfest.

As the training arm of the United Nations, UNITAR is committed to spearheading dynamic and creative educational methods, channeling technological advancements and pedagogical innovations into effective adult learning solutions. On 2 April 2018, UNITAR is kicking off its first ever bottom-up crowdfunding campaign, UNITAR Peace Funder, which enables selected professionals from all regions of the world to enhance their applicable knowledge and technical skills, further consolidating their ability to act as peacebuilders and changemakers.

9 February 2017, Geneva. Switzerland - UNITAR hosted the second edition of the Dialogue on Faith, Peacebuilding & Development, to discuss how to leverage faith as an instrument of international harmony. The event was a unique dialogue that comprised two panels with six ambassadors and several scholars and faith leaders. Held at the Emirates Room of the Palais des Nations, it was attended by United Nations staff and diplomats, as well as by media, observers, students and activists from civil society organizations.