In a world of rapid change and complex challenges, governments are increasingly recognizing the need to think ahead, plan better, and work together. The Ministry of Finance, National Planning and Trade of Seychelles realized the potential of strategic foresight and systems thinking for adopting a more integrated approach to strategic planning. What started as a collaboration between the government of Seychelles, the Resident Coordinator Office (RCO) for Mauritius and Seychelles in 2022, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), and UNITAR, is gradually evolving into a way of working for the Ministry.

8 July 2025, Geneva, Switzerland - On 12 June 2025, UNITAR took part in UN 2.0 week, hosting an online side event entitled, “Towards foresight and system-based approaches in UN country work”. The side event provided an opportunity for UN Country Teams (UNCTs) in Seychelles and Cameroon to share their recent experiences, having embraced these innovative methods either in building capacities of governments or in developing UN Country Analysis as a foundation for UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks (UNSDCFs). Among the speakers who gave their insights were Ms. Elizabeth Agathine, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Seychelles, Ms. Lisa Simrique Singh, UN Resident Coordinator for Mauritius and Seychelles, and Mr. Issa Sanogo, UN Resident Coordinator for Cameroon.

30 May 2025, Geneva, Switzerland — As the world faces unprecedented ecological and societal challenges, higher education institutions are called upon to lead systemic transformations that advance sustainability and equity at scale. Educators and sustainability experts from around the world convened in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on 27 April - 1 May 2025 for a five-day co-creation workshop organized as part of the first edition of the Leaders in Higher Education Alliance and Programme – For Accelerating Sustainability Transformations (LEAP-FAST) Certificate Programme.

5 May 2025, Geneva, Switzerland - We're pleased to announce that UNITAR has officially joined the Villars Institute and the Global Learning Council as a co-founder of the Global Learning Conference — a powerful partnership united by a shared mission to shape the future of education and lifelong learning.

9 May 2025, Geneva, Switzerland. On 17-21 March 2025, a workshop was organized by the UN Country Team in Cameroon with support from UNITAR to build the capacities of UNCT members on systems thinking and strategic foresight. The training aimed to enable UNCT to undertake the work on UN Country Analysis in an innovative manner providing an approach that is more forward-looking, system-based, and people-centered.

25 April 2025, Geneva, Switzerland - A side event “New approaches to ensure needs based and sustainable statistical training” held before the opening of the 56th session of the UN Statistical Commission has been an opportunity to discuss the work of the Global Network of Institutions for Statistical Training (GIST) in supporting National Statistical Offices to adopt country-owned, innovative and sustainable approaches to capacity-building. Four countries have shared their experiences, including Kenya, Morocco, Seychelles that used the STAT tool developed by GIST in 2024, and Ghana that was among the first pilot countries of the STAT process together with Colombia in 2023. This exchange has demonstrated the usefulness of the methodology developed by GIST that empowers NSOs to adopt more strategic approaches to developing their capacities.

25 April 2025, Geneva, Switzerland - UNITAR and UNESCO, in collaboration with a group of universities, have launched a new initiative “Leaders in Higher Education Alliance and Programme – For Accelerating Sustainability Transformations” (LEAP-FAST) aimed at creating a movement of committed sustainability leaders in higher education to advance deep transformations and enable HEIs to fulfil their potential with regards to contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). One of the key components of the initiative is the LEAP-FAST Certificate Programme, which officially launched on 23 March 2025 in academic partnership with Majmaah University in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

24 March 2025, New York, USA – On March 24, 2025, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research office in New York, in collaboration with the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS) of the UN Office of Legal Affairs, hosted a briefing for delegates on Oceans and the Law of the Sea. The session provided an overview of the legal frameworks governing ocean governance, with a focus on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and its related agreements. A total of 85 participants attended the event in person, underscoring the continued interest and importance of ocean governance in multilateral diplomacy.

8 March 2025, Geneva, Switzerland - On this International Women’s Day, I am pleased to announce that I joined the International Gender Champions. Today, we must all answer the call to action to achieve a future where the rights, equality, and empowerment of all women and girls are fully realized. The theme, For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment., serves as a powerful reminder that gender equality is not just a goal—it is a necessity.

22 February 2025, Geneva, Switzerland – The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) is pleased to announce that Michelle Gyles-McDonnough has officially assumed office as its new Executive Director. She succeeds Nikhil Seth of India, whose mandate concluded on 31 January 2025.