UNITAR
2 July 2026, Geneva, Switzerland - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) has launched the Green Helmets Programme in Lima, Peru, through a partnership with Lima Pedagogical School (EPL Holding) and Santander University, advancing efforts to promote environmental leadership, climate action, and sustainable development.
This new collaboration aims to empower a new generation of leaders with the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to address today’s environmental challenges and advance nature-positive solutions.
The partnership was marked at an official signing ceremony attended by Alex Mejia, Director of UNITAR’s Division for People and Social Development, Hernan Ocampo, General Director and Founder of EPL Holding, and Juan Carlos Viña, Vice-Rector for Internationalization at Santander University.
The event was also attended by Ambassador Luis Gallegos, a member of the Advisory Board of UNITAR’s Division for People and Social Development. Ambassador Gallegos is a distinguished Ecuadorian diplomat who played a role in the early development of the Green Helmets initiative during its first phase in Malaga, Spain. The ceremony also brought together Andrea Rios, Green Helmets Programme Coordinator at UNITAR, and Lorena Mora, the newly appointed Director of Green Helmets Peru.
This partnership represents a new milestone as the first UNITAR programme established in Lima, Peru, marking an important step in expanding access to capacity building and climate action initiatives in the region. This collaboration constitutes a strategic opportunity to initiate UNITAR’s engagement in the country and to lay the foundations for sustained cooperation with national institutions, local actors, and communities in advancing environmental sustainability and climate resilience.
About the Green Helmets Programme
Green Helmets is a global outreach programme developed by the Government of Andalusia, Spain, and managed by the Foundation for International Sustainable Development (Fundación IDS). UNITAR serves as the implementing partner of this initiative, which focuses on environmental education, climate action, and the promotion of sustainable leadership.
Inspired by the concept of the United Nations Blue Helmets and their contribution to the protection of peace and security, Green Helmets was established with the vision of building a global community of environmental leaders committed to addressing climate change, safeguarding ecosystems, and advancing sustainable development. Within this global framework, the programme is adapted to respond to the specific environmental priorities and capacity-building needs of each country.
Peru faces significant environmental challenges, particularly in urban and peri-urban areas, including limited green spaces, poor air quality, and increasing vulnerability to climate change. Against this backdrop, the Green Helmets Peru Programme addresses the need to strengthen environmental capacities by empowering people and nurturing a new generation of leaders committed to environmental stewardship, climate action, and sustainable development.
About Lima Pedagogical School (Escuela Pedagógica de Lima, EPL Holding)
UNITAR
EPL Holding is a Peruvian institution founded on an educational legacy that has evolved into a global platform integrating higher education, professional training, pedagogical development, research, innovation, and social impact. Committed to promoting human talent and educational innovation, EPL Holding empowers individuals and strengthens the capacities of communities to drive sustainable social transformation.
About Santander University
Universidad Santander is an internationally recognized higher education institution committed to academic excellence, professional development, and social progress. Through a network of dedicated professionals, it identifies educational opportunities across diverse regions and provides the expertise and resources needed to develop and strengthen educational, social, and cultural initiatives.