17 September 2026, Geneva, Switzerland – UNITAR, in collaboration with York University in Canada, released the study, “Assessing Attitudinal Change Towards Drinking and Driving: A Systematic Review of Intervention Tools, from Classical Theory to Generative AI. Understanding why many interventions produce only short-lived results, while providing a practical and evidence-based toolkit that governments, NGOs, and road-safety practitioners can use to measure and, ultimately, increase attitudinal and behavioural change are the key objectives of this study.

9 September 2026, Curitiba, Brazil – CIFAL Curitiba delivered 156 initiatives reaching 1,872 participants in 2025, according to its newly published Annual Report of Activities. The report highlights the Centre’s work across economic and social development, sustainability and governance, including programmes promoting migrant inclusion, advancing women’s entrepreneurship and fostering responsible business practices.

28 August 2026, Geneva, Switzerland - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and Empower School of Health celebrated the graduation of the 2026 cohort of their joint programmes in a ceremony held at the Palais des Nations. The event brought together graduates from every region of the world alongside senior United Nations officials, as well as faculty and industry partners, marking one of the most internationally representative graduating classes in the partnership's history.

UNITAR has become a Networking Partner of the Building Bridges Conference, which will bring together more than 2’000 participants under the theme “Investable Solutions to Global Challenges” on 6-8 October 2026 at the CICG in Geneva.

UNITAR and Empower School of Health delivered the inaugural Youth Career Accelerator in Health at the Palais des Nations, bringing students and early-career professionals from 16 countries into direct contact with the institutions, industries and ideas that shape global health from Geneva.

27 August 2026, Geneva, Switzerland – The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), through the CIFAL Global Network, participated in the 2026 Worldwide Educators Conference (WWEC), held from 20 to 22 August at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC) in Shanghai, China. CIFAL Shanghai served as one of the key organizers of the 12th edition of the conference.

The conference brought together scholars, industry leaders, business leaders, academicians and scientific researchers to exchange perspectives on the future of education, sustainable development and cross-sector collaboration. Against this backdrop, UNITAR and representatives from CIFAL Centres contributed to international dialogue on the role of education in advancing the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The conference was framed around the broader objective of implementing a talent strategy, accelerating efforts towards becoming a powerful educational nation, and aligning educational development with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It also provided a platform for policy dialogue, industry exchange and education-industry-academia cooperation, bringing together stakeholders from across sectors towards the goal of becoming a powerful educational nation by 2035.

26 August 2026, Geneva – More than 7,000 applications were received from young people and women across sub-Saharan Africa for a new United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) programme supported by the Government and People of Japan.

28 August 2026, Geneva – The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) is collaborating with HP Inc. to strengthen practical learning on artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies for young professionals and women participating in a Japan-funded capacity development programme for sub-Saharan Africa.

25 August 2026, Hiroshima, Japan – On the 81st anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, 6 August 2026, the 2026 Hiroshima Youth Ambassadors engaged with experts to explore the concept of nuclear deterrence and actions towards the abolition of nuclear weapons at the public event “From Hiroshima’s Youth to the World: Nuclear Deterrence and Peace”. The event, organized by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) in collaboration with Hiroshima Prefecture and Hiroshima Organization for Global Peace (HOPe), brought together the Youth Ambassadors and experts in disarmament, international affairs and peacebuilding. It was attended by more than 100 people and livestreamed for audiences beyond Hiroshima.

9 August 2026, Geneva, Switzerland – The International Community gathers to observe the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples. Spanning over 90 countries and representing more than 476 million individuals, Indigenous communities embody rich cultural heritage, ancestral languages, and profound ecological wisdom. Yet, despite representing invaluable stewardship over the majority of the world’s remaining biodiversity, Indigenous Peoples continue to face marginalization, land rights infringements, and disproportionate climate vulnerabilities.
As the United Nations reiterates its commitment to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, localising international frameworks into transformative action remains paramount. At the forefront of this effort is the CIFAL Global Network, specifically CIFAL Victoria, which serves as a benchmark for integrating Indigenous knowledge and UNDRIP into sustainable development agendas.