16 July 2021, Hiroshima, Japan – Dai Tamesue, two-time World Championships bronze medallist in the 400m hurdles, was appointed UNITAR Goodwill Ambassador in July 2021. “I am committed to training Asian athletes and fostering friendship among them, so I resonate with UNITAR’s activities. I look forward to promoting its missions,” said Mr. Tamesue at the online press conference held on 14 July 2021.

15 July 2021, Geneva, Switzerland - The digital world has become an everyday part of our lives: at the office, at home, in government, in entertainment and the news. Almost anyone on the planet can now learn about, and do things, that were impossible but a few years ago.

The Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND) and UNITAR launched the Global Learning Platform on Financial Inclusion in October 2019. The initiative aims to enhance capacities on financial management and financial inclusion. It is oriented towards finance practitioners, particularly in micro-credit financial institutions and in government entities fostering financial inclusion of women and young entrepreneurs, as well as officers in governments, NGOs and other civil society organizations. Since its launch, AGFUND and UNITAR have delivered eight online courses and two e-workshops on the platform, all free of charge, targeting participants from least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island development states; especially from Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and North Africa. To increase the likelihood of reaching the intended beneficiaries, a selection process was carried out for each learning event and the platform was made available in desktop version and through a mobile app.

UNITAR launched a training programme for Iraqi youth entrepreneurs and is seeking applications from enthusiastic and motivated candidates.

This 4-week online course will be Expert-facilitated and free of charge, but limited slots are available. Successful participants receive a Certificate of Completion from UNITAR and FAO. Registration is available at: www.unitar.org/tfs21arabic

2 July 2021, Hiroshima, Japan – UNITAR’s Division for Prosperity is launching a revised programme to mobilize women entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs in Afghanistan to address food insecurity, public health, and unemployment in the country.

Lavinia Latu shares her experience and Preparedness Tips as a leader in Disaster Planning in Tonga, an area prone to annual cyclones, storm surges, and flooding – made worse with rising sea levels – and droughts induced by El Niño.

10 June 2021, Hiroshima, Japan – Nikhil Seth, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director of UNITAR recently spoke on the SDGs at an Online Symposium to university students in Tokyo, Japan.

18 June, 2021, Hiroshima, Japan - UNITAR continues to equip women with the capacity to mainstream gender equality, recently completing a programme in Jordan and Lebanon.

The Cook Islands have had long-standing self-reliant communities in the face of natural disasters. An alumna of UNITARPs Disaster Risk Reduction Training Programme, Sonath Abdul Sattar shares her story and preparedness tips and options.