UNITAR
19 December 2024, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – UNITAR successfully concluded the XXI Annual Steering Committee of the CIFAL Global Network, which took place from 10th to 12th December 2024 in Al Majmaah and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Co organized by CIFAL Saudi Arabia and Majmaah University, the event brought together representatives from over 30 countries to review the network’s achievements in 2024 and outline priorities for 2025.
The three-day meeting, held primarily at Majmaah University, provided a collaborative platform to discuss governance, knowledge sharing, strategic goals, and capacity-building initiatives toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The CIFAL Global Network, comprising training centres across all continents, achieved significant milestones in 2024, reaching over 103,000 beneficiaries through more than 700 events, with a notable focus on women and youth as priority groups.
The opening session featured welcoming remarks by Prof. Saleh Almezel, Rector of Majmaah University and Chair of CIFAL Saudi Arabia. This was followed by addresses from Mr. Nikhil Seth, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director of UNITAR, and H.E. Ambassador Luis Gallegos, President of UNITAR’s Board of Trustees. Their speeches underscored the network’s vital role in advancing capacity building and sustainability on a global scale.
Throughout the event, participants engaged in insightful and reflective sessions that examined the CIFAL Global Network’s performance, governance, and future priorities. These discussions underscored the introduction of new thematic areas designed to address emerging global challenges, including sustainability learning, public policy and governance, peace and security, environment and climate change, infrastructure development, and technology and innovation.
The “Inspiring One Another” session chaired by Mr. Alex Mejia, the Head of the CIFAL Global Network gathered the Directors of CIFAL Centres across different regions. The Directors shared their CIFAL Centres’ accomplishments, innovative approaches, and objectives for the year ahead. This session not only fostered an atmosphere of collaboration but also facilitated the exchange of best practices, promoting greater synergy within the network.
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UNITAR
A key milestone of the event was the launch of the CGN-SDGs Dashboard, a dynamic tool showcasing the network’s measurable contributions toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and promoting the network outreach. The dashboard highlighted critical achievements such as outreach to priority groups, including women, youth, and other important communities, while reinforcing the network’s commitment to advancing inclusive and impactful capacity-building initiatives.
The event concluded with focused working groups composed and led by representatives from various CIFAL Centres. These groups engaged in in-depth discussions on targeted themes and future collaborations, specifically Youth, Women, and Future Generations. The collaborative work underscored the CIFAL Network’s dedication to empowering these critical groups, ensuring their voices and needs remain at the forefront of global development strategies.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Nikhil Seth, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director of UNITAR, emphasized the need for adaptability, innovation, and youth engagement as critical pillars for the network’s future. He urged participants to align their strategies with emerging global frameworks such as the Pact for the Future, the Declaration on Youth, and the Digital Compact, which are central to advancing the SDGs.
The overarching framework for our work is the Sustainable Development Goals and sustainability,” Mr. Seth noted. “Since 2015, the SDGs have faced unexpected shocks, but key guidance is now being drawn from the Pact for the Future, the Declaration on Youth, and the Digital Compact. These documents provide the direction for addressing the evolving global agenda.”
The Steering Committee concluded with a renewed sense of purpose and a forward-looking agenda for 2025, reaffirming the CIFAL Global Network’s commitment to capacity building, sustainability, and addressing the needs of the world’s most vulnerable populations.
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UNITAR