UNITAR
July 14, 2025, New York, USA - UNITAR launched the tenth annual 2025 SDGs Learning Training and Practice (SDGs in Practice) series, in partnership with the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), with the Opening Segment event hosted in Conference Room 11. SDGs in Practice, held as a special event on the margins of the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) aimed to highlight sustainable development practitioners, whose work aligned with the HLPF theme: “Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for leaving no one behind.”
UNITAR
The event opened with welcome remarks by Ms. Bjørg Sandkjær, Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination at UN DESA, and Mr. Marco A. Suazo, Head of Office at UNITAR New York, who underscored the role of evidence-based learning and capacity development in achieving the SDGs.
This was followed by a keynote address by Dr. Yasar Jarrar, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of the International Advisory Group. Dr. Jarrar presented highlights from two recent landmark publications: The Arab Public Administration Report: Productivity in the Digital Age and the newly launched Arab Government Modernization Agenda. Drawing from insights gathered from more than 10,000 civil servants across the Arab region, the keynote focused on how technology, digital governance, and AI are shaping the future of public service and productivity in the region.
UNITAR
Following the keynote, Mr. Suazo moderated a dynamic panel discussion titled Strengthening Capacities for Sustainable, Inclusive, and Evidence-Based Solutions, which brought together voices from across sectors—ranging from civil society and academia to the private sector and UN entities. The panelists included Ms. Cori Zarek (Apolitical), Dr. Amaj Midani (Poseidon-AI), Ms. Natalia Urzola (GNHRE), Ms. Josefin Pasanen (UNDP Human Development Report Office), and Mr. Dino Corell (ILO). Each panelist shared practical insights and approaches for advancing inclusive and sustainable solutions in their respective fields.
The two-hour opening session set the tone for the broader SDGs in Practice series, reaffirming UNITAR’s commitment to equipping global changemakers with the tools and knowledge needed to accelerate progress on the 2030 Agenda. A very engaged group of nearly 100 participants joined in person, ranging from youth delegates to NGO workers to representatives from Permanent Missions. Online viewership during the live event peaked at 524, with an additional 401 tuning in to the recording over the week.
For more information or to attend future sessions in the 2025 series, please visit: