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3 March 2021, Geneva, Switzerland - Over the past year the corona pandemic has not only fundamentally altered individual lives, but also shaped global politics by shifting countries’ priorities. The consequences have been felt throughout the global and local economies with the effects reverberating in society. And while the countries often combined efforts to find a vaccine have taken centre stage, other important issues such as climate change and the sustainable development goals (SDGs) have been largely side-lined. Moreover, with funding largely diverted to finding t...
10 June 2021, Hiroshima, Japan – The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly undermined progress across all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In fact, it remains difficult to get a complete picture of the damage wrought so far, and existing rough estimations are likely to be underestimates. However, the crisis has also served as a wake-up call for us to take action to create the world we want by 2030.
This was the central message from Nikhil Seth, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director of UNITAR, at an online symposium on “COVID-19’s Impa...
"Peace is our most precious value and the essence of our work. All that we strive for as a human family depends on peace. But peace depends on us.”
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6 April 2021, Bangkok, Thailand – UNOSAT delivered an advanced training on the Operational Application of Geospatial Information Technology (GIT) for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) for Fiji, Vanuatu, and the Solomon Islands using blended learning formats to ensure maximum engagement of participants despite the challenges of COVID-19 pandemic. This training was offered as part of the capacity development activities of the CommonSensing* project that aims to improve climate resilience in the Pacific small island states.
The GIT4DRR course was designed to respond to the proje...
In 2014, heavy rains flooded the Leitchour refugee camp, in the Gambella region of Ethiopia. In advance of the rainy season, UNHCR called upon the support of UNOSAT to access satellite imagery and support with flood analysis in order to assess the damages. Since then, satellite imagery-derived disaster risk analysis was systematically included in the site assessment process for all emerging crises. John Wain, Senior Emergency Shelter Officer at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), recalled the evolution of their work and how UNOSAT supported them ...
1 July 2021, Geneva, Switzerland – UNITAR jointly with the International Training Centre for Authorities and Leaders in York (CIFAL York, Canada), the International Social Marketing Association and AB InBev hosted a dialogue with 83 experts, officials, and representatives from the public and private sectors about lessons learned and challenges regarding COVID-19 vaccine deployment, as well as to present a new tool developed by UNITAR that offers practical examples of actions companies can make to contribute to help reduce the impact of this virus on the population by workin...
It’s been 20 years since the Taliban government fell in Afghanistan. Many young women are now growing up knowing they have the right to opportunities and hoping to shape their own lives. But conservative attitudes persist. Madina Walizada, a UNITAR alumna from Afghanistan, says:
I thought ‘I’m a girl, I don’t have equal rights that my brothers have.’
“People don’t believe women can take over tough work”, says Mariam Ghaznavi, another UNITAR Afghan alumna.
Some [colleagues] believe that my good manners and soft behaviour make me incapable of dealing with the harsh re...
September 2021 – The COVID-19 pandemic continues to exacerbate pre-existing problems such as food insecurity, economic inequality, and the digital divide, disrupting economies on a global scale with no end in sight.
In response to these pressing global challenges, UNITAR is working with its growing number of development partners to enhance the capacities of national officials to address the pandemic’s impact., UNITAR and the Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND) are offering accredited and affordable education on financial inclusion through a new global learning pla...
UNITAR’s High Visibility Enforcement (HVE) Training Programme aims to strengthen the capacities of law enforcement officers in countries around the world to implement innovative interventions that reduce the number of road traffic injuries and fatalities related to drivers using alcohol.The online component of the HVE Training Programme brings the expertise and experiences gathered in the field to be used widely amongst government officials responsible for road safety and law enforcement, serving as a tool to adapt and apply the HVE approach in their respective contexts.&nb...
On 5 May 2020, UN CC:Learn held its 10th annual Steering Group Meeting. The event took place online and served as an opportunity to bring together global members to discuss the programme and its implementation given the current COVID-19 crisis. Representatives from ILO, ITU, UNDP, UNECA, UN Environment, UNESCO, UN Climate Change, UN-HABITAT, UNITAR, WMO as well as World Bank, WFP and the Swiss Development and Cooperation Agency (SDC) attended.
The meeting started off with welcoming remarks given by Mr. Angus Mackay, Director of the Division for Planet and Head of the UN CC...