19 March 2026, Geneva, Switzerland –The International Training Centre for Authorities and Leaders (CIFAL), hosted by the University of the Philippines CIFAL Philippines and part of the CIFAL Global Network (CGN) managed by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) closed 2025 with a record of meaningful engagement, reaching 1,460 beneficiaries through 20 capacity-building activities, professional courses, collaborative research, and youth empowerment programmes. Rooted in the mandate of the CIFAL Global Network and guided by the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Centre once again demonstrated that the pursuit of sustainability is not a destination but a continuous, institution-wide commitment.

18 March 2026, Brussels, Belgium - CIFAL Brussels, previously called CIFAL Flanders, convened its annual Kick-Off gathering in Brussels, marking the start of a milestone year for the organization and its growing network of partners, practitioners, and changemakers. Under the theme "From Challenges Today to Resilience Tomorrow," the event brought together stakeholders from the private sector, public institutions, civil society, and the UN system for a day of forward-looking exchange, and to formally launch what the organization is calling CIFAL 2.0.

17 March 2026, Brussels, Belgium - Applications are open for the Maritime Cyber Lab 2026, an international expert forum convened by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). The Lab is supported by the German Federal Foreign Office and is designed as a focused, practitioner-oriented exchange. It will bring together senior representatives from across the maritime sector, including ports, shipping companies, international organizations, maritime insurance companies, financial institutions, and technology actors. The objective is to facilitate a structured dialogue on practical approaches to strengthening maritime cyber resilience, with particular attention to operational experiences, governance frameworks, and capacity-building needs across the maritime ecosystem. The event will take place on 27–28 May 2026 at the UN House in Brussels and can be attended in person or online and is free of charge.

13 March 2025, Geneva, Switzerland – The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) is pleased to announce a call for applications for the “Pathway to Prosperity: Upskilling Selangor’s Professionals for a Digital Future” course. This free training programme is designed to equip participants with job-ready skills in data centre management and artificial intelligence (AI), supporting employability and career advancement in a rapidly growing digital economy, particularly in Selangor.

20 March 2026, Geneva, Switzerland – The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the University of Surrey have established a new collaboration to offer traineeship opportunities for Surrey students at UNITAR headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The programme will be formally launched on 20 March 2026, marking the United Nations International Day of Happiness, when applications will open to students from the University's Centre for Environment and Sustainability (CES).

12 March 2026, Geneva, Switzerland – The Safe Mobility 4 All & 4 Life (SM4A4L) Initiative is a joint effort of UNITAR, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) and FIA Foundation aimed at advancing road safety globally. The 1st edition of SM4A4L has been successfully implemented in Latin America and the 2nd edition for the Asia-Pacific region is currently being delivered with participants from Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, Uzbekistan.

13 March 2026, Markham, Canada - York Region, York Regional Police and York University hosted the Gateways to Pathways: Talent and Industry Forum at York University’s Markham Campus, in collaboration with UNITAR and CIFAL York. The event brought together job seekers, employers, industry leaders and community partners for a full day of learning, dialogue and collaboration aimed at strengthening inclusive economic development and workforce readiness across the region.

The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), in partnership with the University of Gloucestershire, has launched a new online part-time MSc in Sustainable Global Futures aimed at strengthening professionals’ capacities to address complex global sustainability challenges.

The programme focuses on developing interdisciplinary skills aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including policy analysis, strategic foresight, data-informed decision-making and multi-stakeholder collaboration. It combines academic research with practical insights from United Nations practitioners in areas such as climate action, global health, gender equality and energy policy.

Designed for working professionals, the course offers flexible learning and culminates in an applied final project addressing sustainability priorities at local, national or global levels. The initiative reflects UNITAR’s broader commitment to capacity-building and multilateral cooperation in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

12 March 2026, Hiroshima, Japan - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) invites gender practitioners and professionals working in civil society organizations across the Middle East and North Africa region to apply to join the sixth cycle of the Gender Empowerment Now! programme. Through training of trainers and implementation of community-level workshops, programme participants with gain practical skills to design and facilitate participatory trainings, promote gender mainstreaming and cascade knowledge within their organizations and communities.

11 March 2026, Apia, Samoa – On 9 March, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) welcomed 12 emerging leaders from six countries across the Pacific Islands to a regional workshop in Apia for the “Women’s Leadership in Tsunami-based Disaster Risk Reduction for World Tsunami Awareness Day 2025” training programme. Running from 9 to 12 March, this four-day workshop is the final phase of the training programme.