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UNITAR marked the 20th Anniversary of the CIFAL Global Network (CGN) with a vibrant gathering of thirty training centres at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. Two decades of empowering local sustainable development and building capacities were joyously commemorated, setting the stage for a roadmap ahead.
CIFAL centres are training institutions located across Asia, Oceania, Africa, Europe, the Americas, and the Caribbean. Each centre provides innovative training and serves as a hub for the exchange of knowledge amongst government officials, the private sector, and civil society.
Between November 13 and 15, 2023, UNITAR hosted the annual Steering Committee Meeting to reflect on past achievements, outline priorities for 2024, and underscore the pivotal role of CIFAL Centres in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the grassroots level.
CIFAL Centres, acting as knowledge hubs, facilitated exchanges among government officials, the private sector, academia, and civil society. By the end of 2023, the CGN aims to deliver 422 activities, impacting nearly 90,000 beneficiaries, with a remarkable 444,875 beneficiaries reached globally between 2013 and 2023.
The Steering Committee Meeting commenced with Mr Nikhil Seth, UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNITAR Executive Director, emphasizing the instrumental role of CIFAL Centres in sharing good practices and building capacities in critical areas. Mr Seth stressed during his remarks:
The CGN continues to serve as an instrumental platform to build capacities and share good practices in critical areas.
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H.E. Ambassador Luis Gallegos, Chair of the Board of Trustees, urged CIFAL Centres to focus on "peace and security, and conflict prevention," lauding their impactful work and encouraging continued collaboration for greater impact.
Three special events enriched the celebration during those three days. Starting on 13 November, the “Mentoring Programme: Accelerating Impact” was formally launched by UNITAR with four members who will serve as Mentors to share experiences and lessons learned in managing a CIFAL Centre.
On 14 November, the event “PCA2030 Trajectory: Pitch Presentation of Company Best Practices and the First SDG Ambassadors” took place to share impact stories of companies championing the SDGs and their sustainability trajectory. Bringing together a delegation of 25 participants including board members, stakeholders, partners and the team of CIFAL Flanders.
On 15 November, a dialogue on "Harnessing Science and Academia for SDG Action, brought together 14 universities hosting CIFAL centres to pinpoint high-impact areas for implementing the SDGs and strengthen collaborative efforts amongst universities in support of vulnerable groups.
Also, on the same day, the event “Localizing the SDGs – Initiatives of the CIFAL Global Network” took place. During this exploration of initiatives localizing the SDGs, directors of CIFAL Centres presented examples of activities that support local governments and key stakeholders to help advance the Goals at the local level. As stated by Prof. Mpilo Ngubane, Director of CIFAL Durban in South Africa:
Localization refers to how municipalities can implement the SDGs by integrating them into their planning, budgeting, governance and service delivery processes.
In promoting the goals locally, youth play a critical role. In this line, CIFAL Victoria shared student-led initiatives to mobilize communities, enhance awareness and promote actions in support of climate change.
The celebration concluded with a renewed commitment to promoting knowledge exchange, building capacities, and fostering multi-stakeholder partnerships at the local level, solidifying the CIFAL Global Network's dedication to sustainable development. Cheers to two decades of impactful strides and many more to come!
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