1 June 2026, New York, USA - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), in collaboration with Columbia Law School, concluded the 2026 Comprehensive Mediation Training Certificate Programme, an intensive professional development course held from 26 February to 15 April 2026 and designed to strengthen mediation and conflict resolution capacities among diplomats and international affairs professionals.

The programme brought together 10 participants from diverse professional backgrounds. The programme reflects UNITAR’s continued commitment to advancing peaceful dialogue, multilateral cooperation, and sustainable conflict prevention through capacity-building and practical skills training.

2 June 2026, New York, USA - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), in partnership with the Permanent Mission of Portugal to the United Nations, delivered the Election Officers Workshop on the UN Organs on 6 May 2026. The workshop brought together more than 60 diplomats and election officers from Permanent Missions to strengthen knowledge of United Nations electoral procedures and support effective participation in multilateral processes.

28 May 2026, New York, USA - The World Cup Diplomacy Summit 2026 will bring together diplomats, policymakers, sports stakeholders and experts at United Nations Headquarters in New York to explore the role of sport in advancing diplomacy, sustainable development and international cooperation ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026™.

UNITAR and Gulf Colleges have launched a new hybrid Master’s Degree in Strategic Leadership and Artificial Intelligence to equip future leaders with strategic, ethical and practical AI capabilities in global governance and decision-making.

8 May 2026, Geneva, Switzerland - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) issued the 2025 Results Report. The report highlights the progress, partnerships and impact achieved throughout the year. Amid rising expectations for a more agile and impactful United Nations, UNITAR continued to strengthen capacities across Member States and among diverse stakeholders worldwide while advancing important institutional milestones, including the adoption of UNITAR’s new four-year Strategic Framework.

22 May 2026, New York, USA - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), in partnership with the University of Kansas School of Law and the University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, delivered a two-part online series titled Strengthening Pathways for Indigenous Peoples’ Representation at the UN on 9 and 16 April 2026.

6 April 2026, New York, USA - On 30 March 2026, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, in collaboration with the Permanent Mission of Singapore to the United Nations, convened a timely hybrid briefing for delegates on Multilateralism in Practice. Held in person at UN Headquarters and livestreamed via UN WebTV, the session brought together approximately 480 participants across both in-person and virtual audiences.

The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), in partnership with the University of Gloucestershire, has launched a new online part-time MSc in Sustainable Global Futures aimed at strengthening professionals’ capacities to address complex global sustainability challenges.

The programme focuses on developing interdisciplinary skills aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including policy analysis, strategic foresight, data-informed decision-making and multi-stakeholder collaboration. It combines academic research with practical insights from United Nations practitioners in areas such as climate action, global health, gender equality and energy policy.

Designed for working professionals, the course offers flexible learning and culminates in an applied final project addressing sustainability priorities at local, national or global levels. The initiative reflects UNITAR’s broader commitment to capacity-building and multilateral cooperation in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The strengthened collaboration underscores a shared commitment to equipping young leaders with the competencies required to engage effectively in multilateral processes.

24 February 2026, Geneva, Switzerland - UNITAR, in partnership with the United Nations Offices at Geneva, Vienna and Nairobi, successfully delivered the online course “Working in a Multilingual Environment” in all six official UN languages. The self-paced course, held in March and September 2025, recorded 2,650 enrolments and over 800 certified participants, strengthening effective multilingual communication across the UN system.