When Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced his acceptance of the momentous position on 3 October 2006, he declared the reform of the Unite Nations as one of his key priorities towards making the Organization more effective and responsive to the challenges of the 21st Century. Noting the “abiding relevance” of the Organization and the many expectations that peoples of the world place upon its shoulders, the Secretary-General urged, “Let us remember that we reform not to please others, but because we value what this Organization stands for.  We reform because we believe in its future.  To revitalize our common endeavor is to renew our faith not only in the UN's programs and purposes but also in each other”.   While the principles of the UN Charter are as relevant today as in 1945, the political and socioeconomic environment in which the Organization operates has evolved drastically over the past six decades. Previously unforeseen challenges such as environmental degradation, terrorism and HIV/AIDS pandemics have come to the fore of policy agenda, and the UN has been diligently reforming itself to remain a reliable promoter of global peace, security and progress. It would be no exaggeration to say that “reform” has been a deeply embedded part of the UN’s institutional history.    In its quest to provide the most relevant information to the diplomatic community on this important topic and strengthen effective multilateral diplomacy, UNITAR in collaboration with the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the UN, will organize its annual Course on UN Reform. Building upon the success and lessons of the last year’s course, in which some 130 diplomats, UN staff, and researchers benefited, this year’s course will take place from 8 to 11 September 2009 at the UN Headquarters.    With a view to offering delegates with a comprehensive and impartial knowledge base on the UN reform, the course will cover: management and secretariat reform, improving the budgetary process, integrated approaches in conflict and post-conflict situations, system-wide coherence, and innovation of various organs within the UN system, including the General Assembly and the Security Council.    More than 50 speakers, ranging from UN senior managers and Permanent Representatives to experts from civil society and academia, will offer a broad overview of the history, milestones, and current status of the UN reform from multiple perspectives. The understanding and insights gained from the course are expected to enable delegates to partake more constructively in the ongoing informal consultations and, ultimately, contribute to effecting meaningful change in the Organization on which hinge the peace, development and good governance of many a country. (For more information and registration, please visit the reform course website.)   Further encouraging for the UN reform process is the annual Secretary-General Retreat that UNITAR organizes jointly with the UN Department of Management and the UN System Staff College (UNSSC). The Retreat serves as the only high-level forum in which the Secretary-General and senior managers speak informally, identify key issues of concern in the management of the UN system and discuss concrete strategies to enhance its effectiveness, accountability, and delivery of results. This year’s Retreat convenes simultaneously on 7 September 2009 in Geneva and on the outskirts of New York City.