24 April 2020, New York, the United States – The first module of the “Realizing the Future We Want: Training series in preparation for the General Assembly’s 2020 quadrennial comprehensive policy review (QCPR) of operational activities for development of the United Nations system” successfully took place virtually with more than 225 participants. This series is a collaboration between UNITAR, the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) that aims to equip Member States with the most relevant information as they prepare for the 2020 QCPR.

14-15 July 2020, New York, USA - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research's (UNITAR) New York Office organized a two-day virtual event, “The Structure, Drafting, and Adoption of the United Nations Resolutions” on 14-15 July 2020. This training was supported with funding allocated from the Swedish International Development Agency’s (SIDA) contribution to the UNITAR Strategic Framework Fund, under the programme ‘Leveling The Playing Field’ which focuses on the development of skills and knowledge of Least Developing Countries. The workshop was attended by approximately 120 delegates from Permanent Missions to the UN who joined virtually from around the world. Mr. Marco A. Suazo, representing UNITAR’s New York Office, opened the seminar and briefed the event’s topic of UN resolutions and introduced panelists.

7 July 2020, New York, USA, Zoom Workshop - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Office in New York, in collaboration with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), hosted the first workshop “Learning and Training for SDG implementation in the COVID-19 era” of the High-level Political Forum (HLPF).

2 July 2020, New York, United States – On 2 July 2020, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) office in New York, in collaboration with the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), hosted the third module of the ‘Realizing the Future we Want’, a training series in preparation for the General Assembly’s 2020 Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QCPR) of operational activities for development of the United Nations system. The focus of the third module was on funding UN operational activities for development and financing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The module was held online, and attracted more than 150 participants from numerous Member States.

18 May 2020, New York, USA, Zoom Workshop - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), in collaboration with Emerging Ag, hosted a workshop entitled Defining Transformation: A Global Food System. This is the first event of six in the Food Systems Series leading up to the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit. This activity is supported with funding allocated from the Swedish International Development Agency’s (SIDA) contribution to the UNITAR Strategic Framework Fund, under the programme Leveling The Playing Field which focuses on the development of skills and knowledge of Least Developing Countries. The course was attended by 115 participants from around the world that joined remotely through Zoom. The course is aligned and in preparation for the UN Secretary-General Food Systems Summit which will aim of maximizing the co-benefits of a food systems approach across the entire 2030 Agenda and meet the challenges of climate change. The Summit will seek to inspire global public mobilization and actionable commitments to invest in diverse ways to make food systems inclusive, climate adapted and resilient, and supportive of sustainable peace.

5 May 2020, New York, USA (Zoom Workshop) - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) in collaboration with Columbia Law School, hosted the last workshop in the Columbia Law School series. This series was is supported with funding allocated from the Swedish International Development Agency’s (SIDA) contribution to the UNITAR Strategic Framework Fund and hosted at the United Nations Headquarters. The course was attended by 150 participants that joined remotely through zoom.

May 5th, 2020, New York, USA, Zoom Workshop - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), in collaboration with the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Science, hosted a workshop entitled “A Better Planet: Pathways to a Sustainable Future.”

22 April 2020, New York, USA Zoom Workshop - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) in collaboration with Columbia Law School, hosted a workshop focused on Gender Equality in Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, emphasizing the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals 5 &10, pertaining to Gender Equality and Reducing Inequalities through efforts on increasing gender parity. This activity is supported with funding allocated from the Swedish International Development Agency’s (SIDA) contribution to the UNITAR Strategic Framework Fund and hosted at the United Nations Headquarters. The course was attended by 150 participants that joined remotely through zoom.

18 April 2020, New York, USA - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) New York Office concluded the Spring Session 2020 Global Diplomacy Initiative (GDI) programme with the last zoom conference lecture and closing ceremony on April 17, 2020. In compliance with the ongoing COVID-19 health and safety measures, this remarkable training which would normally have taken place at the United Nations Headquarters in New York was accomplished remotely.

3 April 2020, New York, USA - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) New York Office transferred the classroom training component of UNITAR in the Headquarters to online and video conference. UNITAR has adapted its Columbia Law School Training , its first module for "Realizing the Future We Want: Training Series in preparation for the General Assembly’s 2020 quadrennial comprehensive policy review of operational activities, and our regular Global Diplomacy Initiative (UGDI) Programme for the Spring Session to classes following the 11 March 2020 assessment by the World Health Organization (WHO) that COVID-19 was a pandemic.