25 April 2025, Geneva, Switzerland - UNITAR and UNESCO, in collaboration with a group of universities, have launched a new initiative “Leaders in Higher Education Alliance and Programme – For Accelerating Sustainability Transformations” (LEAP-FAST) aimed at creating a movement of committed sustainability leaders in higher education to advance deep transformations and enable HEIs to fulfil their potential with regards to contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). One of the key components of the initiative is the LEAP-FAST Certificate Programme, which officially launched on 23 March 2025 in academic partnership with Majmaah University in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

22 April 2025, Malaga, Spain – The International Training Centre for Authorities and Leaders in Malaga, Spain (CIFAL Malaga), announces the release of its 2024 Annual Report (Memoria Anual CIFAL Málaga).

21 April 2025, Geneva, Switzerland – The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) is pleased to launch the Global Youth Scholars Development Programme, inviting youth aged 18 to 24 worldwide to explore their role as SDG evaluators. Participants will gain the tools, mentorship, and global exposure needed to assess the real-world impact of sustainability efforts within their communities and connect local experiences to global goals.

22 April 2025, Geneva, Switzerland - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research is joining forces with the International Canoe Federation (ICF) to support the growing demand for global emergency response capabilities and promote sustainable development.

16 March 2025, Victoria, Canada – The International Training Centre for Authorities and Leaders (CIFAL) in Victoria, Canada (CIFAL Victoria), is pleased to announce the publication of its 2024 Annual Report. This report provides an overview of CIFAL Victoria’s growth and impact during its third year of operations.

16 March 2025, Victoria, Canada - CIFAL Victoria, a member of the CIFAL Global Network, is excited to announce the launch of its new Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Climate Science. This programme, grounded in the principles of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS), is designed to equip students with the critical knowledge and skills necessary to address the pressing challenges of climate change. This is the first programme on North America's West Coast to receive UNITAR-CIFAL accreditation for delivering the UN sustainable development goals (SDGS).

15 April 2025, Victoria, Canada - UNITAR, in partnership with the University of Victoria (UVic), Canada, successfully concluded its third year of the Co-operative Education Programme (Co-op), a professional development learning pathway. The Co-op continues to lead nationally in experiential learning, with this initiative launched in partnership with CIFAL Victoria—a UNITAR-affiliated centre. This international programme serves as a vehicle through which UVic students can acquire valuable work experience. Through this partnership, students can also participate in initiatives that are aligned with and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS).

14 April 2025, Kabul, Afghanistan - The third phase of UNITAR’s “Food and Economic Security through Entrepreneurship Training for Women and Youth in Afghanistan” was held in Kabul from February 22 to 26, 2025, bringing together 80 promising young entrepreneurs from diverse sectors, including the private sector, local NGOs and civil society, UN agencies, international organizations, and academia.

11 April 2025, Geneva, Switzerland — The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the Financial Analysis and Supervision Unit (FASU) of the Bank of Papua New Guinea (BPNG) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 02 April 2025 to enhance anti-money laundering (AML), countering the financing of terrorism (CFT), and countering proliferation financing (CPF) efforts in Papua New Guinea.

10 April 2025, Geneva, Switzerland - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the Sovereign Order of Malta successfully hosted a Human Rights Council side event titled, "After 25 Years of the Palermo Protocol – The Need for Real Action".

Focusing on strengthening global efforts to combat human trafficking through capacity-building and training, the event brought together a plethora of experts in the field, encouraging rich dialogue and raising awareness of the remaining pitfalls in current methods following the General Assembly Resolution 55/25 in 2000. Featuring keynote addresses and panel discussions with leading policymakers, diplomats, and experts, the event emphasised the imperative need for innovative solutions and multi-stakeholder cooperation.