16 December 2024, New York, USA - United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the appointment of Michelle Gyles-McDonnough of Jamaica as the new Executive Director of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). She will officially assume her duties on 22 February 2025, succeeding Nikhil Seth of India, to whom the Secretary-General expressed profound gratitude for his dedication and contributions to the United Nations.

11 December 2024, Geneva, Switwerland - The Global Surgery Foundation and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) are pleased to announce the launch of "Navigating the Global Surgery Ecosystem", an educational series hosted on SURGhub. This series is designed to equip healthcare professionals with the essential skills and knowledge to engage effectively in the complex and evolving global surgery landscape. By addressing the unique challenges of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), the series empowers participants to drive meaningful, lasting change in their local and global communities.

26 November 2024, Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom – In partnership with the University of Surrey, UNITAR has launched CIFAL Surrey, the newest addition to the CIFAL Global Network. Hosted by the University of Surrey's Institute for Sustainability, CIFAL Surrey will focus on key areas such as Urban Governance and Planning, Economic Development, Social Inclusion, and Environmental Sustainability. The official launch event took place in Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom.

4 December 2024, Geneva, Switzerland – Jointly with the International Training Centre for Authorities and Leaders in York (CIFAL York), UNITAR succesfully conclude the learning webinar series “Supporting Breastfeeding in the Community, offering a rich platform for learning, discussion, and collaboration among global breastfeeding advocates and practitioners. This free, online series brought together leading experts to address critical topics such as interpreting feeding cues, managing mastitis, understanding challenges faced by vulnerable populations, and exploring the United Nations' work to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through breastfeeding promotion.

3 December 2024, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic - President of the Dominican Republic, H.E. Mr. Luis Abinader, signed Decree 656-24, formally declaring road safety a national priority and initiating the development of the National Road Safety Plan 2025–2030.

3 December 2024, Mpumalanga, South Africa – Following the successful kick-off in Eswatini, the “Management Practices for Safer Roads” workshop series continued with sessions in the cities of Gqbertha, Rustenburg and Mpumalanga in South Africa.

25 November 2024, Manzini, Eswatini –In close collaboration with CIFAL Durban, the eThekwini Municipal Academy (EMA) and its Municipal Institute of Learning (MILE), UNITAR officially inaugurated its workshop training series on “Management Practices for Safer Roads”. The inaugural workshop took place in Manzini, Eswatini, and will be followed by sessions in South Africa across Gqebertha (25 November), Rustenburg (27 November), and Mpumalanga (28 November).

15 November 2024, Panama City, Panama – UNITAR in collaboration with the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), FIA Foundation and its International Training Centre for Authorities CIFAL Madrid, launched the Safe Mobility 4 All and 4 Life Programme to strengthen FIA Members Clubs through cutting-edge knowledge and evidence-based interventions that promote safe mobility.

14 November 2024, Gdańsk, Poland – In anticipation of the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims and to commemorate this day, the International Training Centre for Authorities and Leaders (CIFAL) in Plock joined the 19th International Conference "Contemporary Road Safety Aspects” held on 8 November 2024 at the Conference Center of the Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk.

6 Novembre 2024, Genève, Suisse - La Cité de la Solidarité Internationale (CSI) organise, en collaboration avec UNITAR, la Food Sovereignty Platform (FGC) et le Geneva Health Forum, la 7ème édition de son Atelier Doctoral. Cet événement, qui se tiendra le jeudi 7 novembre 2024, de 15h30 à 18h30, réaffirme l'engagement de la CSI à favoriser le dialogue entre la recherche et l'action. Lancé en 2018, cet atelier unique offre aux doctorants une plateforme pour présenter leurs travaux en cours devant un public composé d'experts et de professionnels de terrain, tout en explorant les synergies entre la recherche académique et la solidarité internationale. UNITAR, dont la formation renforce les capacités dans des domaines variés comme le multilatéralisme, la durabilité environnementale et la mise en œuvre de l'Agenda 2030 des ODD, met ici un accent particulier sur l'engagement des jeunes dans les discussions autour de l'alimentation (ODD 2), considérée comme une ressource équitable, du changement climatique et de la durabilité. Promouvoir cette implication des jeunes est essentiel pour sensibiliser aux enjeux actuels et bâtir un avenir meilleur.