During the 50th Financial Action Task Force of Latin America (GAFILAT) Working Groups and Plenary Meetings, UNITAR and UIAF presented the AML/CFT/CFP initiative to more than 100 delegates from 18 GAFILAT member states and observers. This innovative project holds the potential to serve as a model for other countries.

11 December 2024 – The 2024 Youth Ambassador Asia-Pacific Programme concluded on 30 November 2024 with participants showcasing their creative proposals for projects that address local issues and create global impact. Guided by UNITAR and partner ITS Education Asia, 26 young changemakers from Afghanistan, Hong Kong, India, Japan and the Philippines completed the 8-week training programme.

11 December 2024, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – On 7 December 2024, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) hosted a high-level side event to the sixteenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) , focusing on transformative agricultural partnerships and innovative financial solutions.

6 December 2024, Hiroshima, Japan – On 27 November 2024, the online phase of the UNITAR “Women’s Leadership in Tsunami-based Disaster Risk Reduction” training programme was brought to a successful close. Over three months, participants from the Pacific Islands and Asia learned about climate and disaster resilience, risks management and challenges in the Asian and Pacific regions. Around 130 participants joined the closing webinar of the online training phase.

5 December 2024, Geneva, Switzerland – The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) will hold a side event during UNCCD 16th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) Global Advocacy Dialogue Series: “Cultivating Prosperity: Agriculture Partnerships for Sustainable Development”, on 7 December 2024 (6-7:30 p.m.) in Riyadh. The high-stakes dialogue will bring together key stakeholders to chart the course for transformative agricultural partnerships and innovative financial solutions that will shape the future of sustainable farming.

29 November 2024 Geneva, Switzerland - On 13 November 2024, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the University of Wolverhampton signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through programmes, research and innovation centers. This partnership will foster innovative education models, cutting-edge research, and meaningful international cooperation to advance SDG progress across sectors.

28 November 2024, Geneva, Switzerland - Responsible AI governance is essential to maximize the benefits of digital technologies and leave no one behind – this was the message highlighted at the UNITAR AI Strategy Master Class “Leading the AI Revolution – Strategy, Innovation, and Global Impact”, held for diplomatic representatives in Geneva on 24-25 October 2024 at the Palais des Nations.

27 November 2024, Hiroshima, Japan - Emmanuel Mutabazi is a Rwandan innovator who offers inclusive training programmes, especially for women and youth in communities that lack access to digital resources. A UNITAR digital skills training programme expanded his capacity to work towards his goal to make sure technology empowers everyone.

27 November 2024, Hiroshima, Japan - Luisa Taunga is Assistant Secretary at the National Disaster Risk Management Office in Tonga, where she heads the Research and Training Division, focusing on disaster preparedness, training and response strategies to ensure that communities are well-equipped to handle emergencies. She was a participant in one of the earliest cohorts of the UNITAR disaster risk reduction training programme, in 2017. Having since established herself as a leader in building community-level preparedness and resilience to disasters, Luisa returned as a facilitator for the 2023 UNITAR disaster risk reduction programme.

27 November 2024, Hiroshima, Japan - In October 2010, as ash and smoke darkened the skies over Java, Fega Ayu Pangestika found herself in an unfamiliar place. Mount Merapi, located on the border of Central Java and Yogyakarta in Indonesia, had violently erupted. The eruptions continued into November, displacing more than 360,000 people and killing nearly 400.