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7 August 2025, Hiroshima, Japan – On 6 August 2025, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the Japanese professional basketball team, Hiroshima Dragonflies Corporation (Hiroshima Dragonflies), signed a renewed memorandum of understanding to strengthen further collaboration in the implementation of projects and awareness activities for sustainable development and peace through sports activities., On 6 August 2025, Michelle Gyles-McDonnough, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UNITAR, and Mr. ...
The Board of Trustees is the Institute’s governing body. The Board formulates principles and policies to govern the Institute’s activities and operations, approves the work programme, adopts the budget, reviews the structure and composition of staffing and performs other statutory functions, including considering the methods of financing the Institute with a view to ensuring the effectiveness of its future operations and the Institute’s autonomous character within the framework of the United Nations., The Board meets in regular session at least once a year. Sessions are tra...
Jewel's passion for disaster risk management stems from personal experiences during disasters, particularly the 2009 tsunami, which highlighted the importance of community preparedness.As the Manager of the National Disaster Management Unit in Tokelau, Jewel focuses on community capacity building, emergency management planning, and training for first responders.The geographical isolation of Tokelau complicates immediate disaster responses, while the community faces vulnerabilities due to climate change and limited resources.Jewel discovered the UNITAR DRR training program t...
When Lu’isa Uai Taunga, an officer with the National Emergency Management Office in the Kingdom of Tonga, participated in the UNITAR Disaster Risk Reduction Training which wrapped up in November 2017, she left with renewed energy and ideas for new initiatives to prepare her community in the island group of Ha’apai in the event of a disaster. “This year I changed my approach, and this is something I learned from UNITAR during my school visit where the bottom to top approach was used.” she shared with UNITAR disaster risk reduction training associate, Junko Shimazu.
She wor...
Mele Moimoi is a disaster risk reduction trainer at Tonga National Council of Churches (TNCC).
Her preparedness habits and knowledge about disaster risk reduction helped her in the 2022 Tonga disaster.
Mele learned about gender leadership in disasters at the 2021 UNITAR Hiroshima Women’s Leadership in Tsunami-based Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Training Programme.
Tongan women take care of the family while men work far from home. Women need to know how to respond to disasters and lead in crises.
, April 2022 - The volcanic eruption and subsequent tsunami that hit Tong...
We excel in finding creative solutions to transfer knowledge, develop skills and transform attitudes that are needed to solve the challenges of our complex world.
The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) provides innovative learning solutions to individuals, organizations and institutions to enhance global decision-making and support country-level action for shaping a better future.
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EXPERIENTIAL
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UNITAR was created in 1963 to train and eq...
Name: Nafissa Dia
Organization: Senegal Ministry of Economy, Finance, and Planning
Functional Title: Head of the Environmental Affairs Division
Country: Senegal
Course participated in: Private Sector Development course with PFTP
Nafissa Dia is Head of the Environmental Affairs Division at the Senegal Ministry of Economy, Finance, and Planning. She took a course on Private Sector Development organized by the Public Finance and Trade Programme (PFTP) at UNITAR.
Nafissa’s background is in International Commerce. She went to the International School o...
The Shimanami Collective comprises of three distinct yet interrelated training programmes to be implemented in more than 30 countries. These programmes will build capacity among government officials, public- and private-sector employees and individuals through specialized trainings in sea and human safety, early warning systems, and women’s leadership in disaster risk reduction. The UNITAR programme on Sea and Human Security offered invaluable insights into integrating maritime and human security strategies. It enhanced my understanding of how to address the complex in...
8 April 2024 - It is with a heavy heart that we learned of the passing of Mr. Marcel André Boisard, former United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and former Executive Director of UNITAR from 1992 to 2007. The news of his departure has deeply saddened us all.
Mr. Boisard was not only a respected leader but also a distinguished figure in the academic, diplomatic and humanitarian realms. He brought wisdom, guidance, and a compassionate spirit to every aspect of his work. His dedication and commitment have left an indelible mark on our Institute and all who had the pr...
Nikki Antonette De Vera, an advocate for disaster risk reduction (DRR) from the Philippines, emerges as a beacon of change in the field. Nikki’s exposure to emergency response efforts early in life inspired her commitment to sustainable livelihoods and equitable DRR.
As an alum of the UNITAR Hiroshima Women’s Leadership in Tsunami-based Disaster Risk Reduction Training Programme, her journey underscores the symbiotic relationship between culture and learning in building resilient communities.
The UNITAR training programme provides a women's lea...