The United Nations Institute for Training and Research New York Office (UNITAR NYO) once again partnered with the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations for the 8th annual Joint Swiss-UNITAR Briefing on Budgetary Matters. The 3-day briefing was held on 03-05 September 2024 at the United Nations Correspondents Association (UNCA) Room, located at the United Nations Secretariat.

13 September 2024, Geneva, Switzerland - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in collaboration and support from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and CIFAL Global Network are organizing an official side event held during the Action Days titled "LEAP-FAST: Accelerating Sustainable Transformations through Higher Education Networks”. The side event will take place in a hybrid mode on Saturday, 21 September 2024, from 1:15 pm to 2:30 pm in Room GA-3B-760-1, UNHQ GA Conference Building.

We know that, globally, women hold over one-third of seats in local decision-making bodies.xxvii However, there is a lack of data on the participation of indigenous women in local decision-making. Merlyn, a research and data analyst at the Learning Planet Institute (University of Paris Cité), knows this issue first-hand. In Colombia, there are around two million indigenous peoples, according to the 2018 Census (IWGIA). However, their inclusion in decision-making processes remains limited, especially for women. 

Solomon is pursuing a Bachelor’s in Psychology at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and nurturing his tech savviness by exploring different projects outside his field of studies. He has always been interested in learning more about the interaction between humans and the environment, including how humans experience climate change. This made him keen to join the Donate Water team during the GEAR Cycle II of the Crowd4SDG project that focused on Gender Equality (SDG 5) and Climate Change (SDG 13). With support from coaches and the project’s partner organizations, the Donate Water team has moved their project forward to advance information on access to clean water in the South of Nigeria. 

8 April 2024, Geneva, Switzerland - Together with several SIDS countries, UN and regional organizations, UNITAR will welcome SIDS4 conference participants on the occasion of a multi-stakeholder side event highlighting the role of evidence, data and satellite technology for resilient futures in SIDS.

The event will take place on 27 May 2024 from 12:00 to 13:30 AST in Room 6 of the Conference Venue and will provide space for sharing country experiences around one of the five main themes of the Conference: "Leveraging Data and Digital Technologies and Building Effective Institutions for a Resilient Future in SIDS."

8 April 2024 - It is with a heavy heart that we learned of the passing of Mr. Marcel André Boisard, former United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and former Executive Director of UNITAR from 1992 to 2007. The news of his departure has deeply saddened us all.

8 February 2024, Geneva, Switzerland - Meet Leba Gaunavinaka, a dedicated advocate for environment preservation, whose entire career has been a testament to her commitment. Serving as UNOSAT's embedded technical expert within the Government of Fiji's climate change adaptation team, Leba has greatly contributed to shaping climate discussions. Her skills and unique perspective, derived from hands-on experience in the field, provide invaluable insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by the Pacific Islands. As we delve into her experiences at COP28, discover the story of a passionate individual actively contributing to the global effort for climate resilience and adaptation.

January 2024 - In a collaborative endeavour spanning from December 2020 to February 2023, the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) joined forces with the Directorate-General for Growth within the Ministry of Finance in Cyprus and the DG Reform of the European Commission to execute a project generously funded by the European Commission, aptly titled "Implementation and Mainstreaming of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the National Policy Framework" in Cyprus.

11 January 2024, New York, USA - UNITAR New York office conducted an Orientation course focused on the works of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The comprehensive course comprised 10 sessions, each culminating in an open dialogue and Q&A.

On the 20th of December 2022, UNITAR launched its latest initiative, the "Data analysis to inform SDG formulation and evaluation" programme. Tailored for public officials overseeing planning and evaluation, researchers seeking to delve into public policy evaluation, evaluators aiming to enhance their quantitative skills, and professionals requiring strengthened statistical and causal inference abilities, the programme stands as a comprehensive online training opportunity.