24 September 2020, Geneva, Switzerland - On 24 September 2020, 50 participants took part in a four-hour webinar on the topic “Sustainable Development Goals in the Private Sector”, organized and implemented by UNITAR and the Global Institute of Excellence in Hong Kong.  In a short introduction, UNITAR’s executive director Nikil Seth explained how the Sustainable Development Goals and the private sector are ultimately connected and how the business sector has an immense influence on the impact of climate change and the ecological footprint. Especially now, in the midst of a global pandemic, Mr. Seth highlighted the urgent need to take action against the climate crisis and focus on water and energy efficiency, the protection of biodiversity, gender equality, sustainable infrastructures and much more.

18 September, 2020, New York, USA, Zoom Conference – The United Nations Institute for Training and Research New York office (UNITAR NYO), the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations, and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), hosted the final module of the 2020 training series on the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QCPR), entitled “Realizing the Future We Want” training series on 17 September 2020. As with the previous modules, the “finale” took place in an online format, attracting over 170 delegates that participated from all over the world.

18 September 2020, Geneva, Switzerland - On 21 September 2020, the University Global Coalition, in partnership with the United Nations, through UNITAR’s support and guidance, will host its first virtual gathering, after its successful launch in 2019. In light of the challenges brought by the recent crisis to implement and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this year’s gathering will focus on the following topic: The Role of Universities in Achieving the SDGs in the New Context: Building Back; Building Bridges.

1- 2 September, New York USA, virtual seminar – The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Office in New York successfully launched the Joint Swiss-UNITAR Briefing on United Nations Budgetary Matters training series on Tuesday, 1 September 2020. The four-day virtual training programme caters for the needs of the incoming delegates of the United Nations General Assembly Fifth Committee. The first two sessions have directly benefited more than 120 delegates each session from numerous Member States.

27-28 July, New York, USA, online workshop - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research's (UNITAR) office in New York organized a two-day virtual workshop, “Drafting Skills: Reporting and Communications” held on 27-28 July 2020. The workshop was attended by approximately 70 delegates from around the world via video conference.

The session began with welcome remarks delivered by Mr. Marco Suazo, the head of office of the UNITAR New York office.

24 April 2020, New York, the United States – The first module of the “Realizing the Future We Want: Training series in preparation for the General Assembly’s 2020 quadrennial comprehensive policy review (QCPR) of operational activities for development of the United Nations system” successfully took place virtually with more than 225 participants. This series is a collaboration between UNITAR, the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) that aims to equip Member States with the most relevant information as they prepare for the 2020 QCPR.

During the course, we talked often amongst the other participants of the ELPE. Before the ELPE, I didn’t think about SDG evaluation. Gradually, with my colleagues in the class we exchanged our knowledge and opinions. It was very effective to talk with the other colleagues from all over [the world]. We shared knowledge, and I was inspired, so I decided to start the SDG evaluation in Japan. They are also working on the SDG evaluation in their [respective] countries.

On 14 July 2020, UNICEF, UNECA and UNITAR organized an online side event “Strengthening National Capacities for the World We Want – Embedding Evaluation in Voluntary National Reviews” during the virtual 2020 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF). The event aimed to explore and promote the use of evaluative thinking and evidence within Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs). Representatives from UNICEF, UNECA and UNITAR were joined by panelists from several African countries to share their experiences and the challenges and opportunities they have faced in their VNR and evaluation processes.

7 July 2020, New York, USA, Zoom Workshop - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Office in New York, in collaboration with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), hosted the first workshop “Learning and Training for SDG implementation in the COVID-19 era” of the High-level Political Forum (HLPF).