Geneva/Turin, 3 September 2026 — The United Nations General Assembly today adopted a resolution (resolution A/80/L.112 (adopted 3 Sept 2026)) endorsing the merger of the United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC) into the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and establishing the new United Nations Institute for Capability and Learning Innovation (UNICLI), targeted for 1 January 2027. The decision forms part of the broader UN80 Initiative, which seeks to strengthen coherence, effectiveness, and performance of the United Nations system. 

UNICLI will bring together the complementary strengths of UNITAR’s leadership in training and capacity-development for Member States, diplomats and institutions, and UNSSC’s expertise in learning, leadership development, and knowledge management for United Nations personnel. Together, these strengths will create a more coherent and impactful platform to support national implementation, strengthen public sector capabilities, and improve UN system performance.  

“This is an important step in strengthening how the United Nations supports Member States in delivering the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals,” said Michelle Gyles-McDonnough, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director of UNITAR. “Member States and the United Nations system are facing increasingly complex and interconnected challenges. The UN must continue to evolve, building stronger capabilities, fostering innovation, and enhancing institutional effectiveness to turn global commitments into tangible results.”

Miguel Panadero, Acting Director of UNSSCsaid, “By integrating UNSSC’s and UNITAR’s expertise in providing training for the UN system and Member States respectively, the new entity will be better positioned to provide a stronger, more coherent capability development function, providing end-to-end solutions for United Nations system personnel, Member States, government institutions, donors and partners.”

The transition will be implemented through a phased approach to ensure operational continuity and effective programme delivery, financial stability, legal certainty, and stakeholder confidence. The process will be carried out in accordance with applicable legal, administrative, contractual, and staff-related requirements. 

Geneva, Switzerland, will remain the Headquarters of the new Institute, continuing to benefit from proximity to the Geneva-based United Nations and multilateral ecosystem. Turin, Italy, will continue to function as a learning campus and convening space, preserving its established role in United Nations system learning and leadership development. Bonn, Hiroshima, New York, and Madrid will continue serving their present functions.

About UNITAR

Established in 1965, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) is the dedicated training and capacity development arm of the United Nations. Its mission is to bridge the knowledge and skills gaps through high-quality training, research and innovative learning solutions across peace, diplomacy, sustainable development, and effective governance.

About UNSSC

The United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC) is the UN's trusted interagency learning partner, delivering innovative, scalable, and cost-efficient solutions that support transformative change. Established in 2002 and headquartered in Turin, Italy, with offices in Bonn, Germany and Madrid, Spain, UNSSC delivers cutting-edge learning solutions, advisory support, and change facilitation to foster a shared organizational culture across the UN system. 

Media contact (Geneva, Switzerland)

Akiko Perona, Strategic Communications Adviser, Office of the Executive Director, UNITAR

E-mail: akiko.perona@unitar.org | Mobile: + 41 (0) 79 279 93 92

Media contact (Turin, Italy)

Peter Serenyi, Team Lead, Communications and Outreach, UNSSC

E-mail: p.serenyi@unssc.org |Mobile: + 39 348 305 0910