UNITAR Sea and Human Security 2024 Participants Poised to Drive Global Change after Completing the Training Programme

On 21 February, 50 changemakers from 18 Asia-Pacific countries completed the UNITAR “Leaders for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific: Sea and Human Security” training in Japan. The participants engaged in interactive expert-led lectures, workshops, and study tours on Awaji Island, Hiroshima, Chiba, and Tokyo. The programme culminated in a hybrid public event “Ways Forward for Ocean Action in the Indo-Pacific”, which showcased training programme outcomes and actionable solutions to sea and human security challenges through a keynote lecture, panel discussion and policy brief presentations from training participants.

UNITAR Works with Civil Society Network to Drive Dialogue and Action for a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Future

UNITAR and the Japan Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons hosted a public event in Tokyo on 9 February. The session brought together global experts on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation to discuss multilateral security challenges, diplomacy, trends and efforts to advance nuclear disarmament. In-person participants experienced the realities of the atomic bombing through a virtual reality system, developed by UNITAR in collaboration with Fujita Corporation and Tabimachi-gate Hiroshima Co., Ltd.

Diplomats from 14 Countries Strengthen Their Understanding of Nuclear Disarmament and Diplomatic Skills: UNITAR Training in Hiroshima and Tokyo

From 3 to 8 February, UNITAR conducted the 10th Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation training in Hiroshima and Tokyo, bringing together 15 diplomats from 14 Asia-Pacific countries. The six-day programme, jointly implemented with the UNITAR Association, featured a youth session, expert-led lectures, negotiation simulation exercises and interaction with an atomic bombing survivor. It concluded with attendance at a public event in Tokyo, “International Civil Society Forum to Abolish Nuclear Weapons”. The training programme, which is financially supported by the Hiroshima Prefectural Government and the City of Hiroshima, has trained 180 diplomats since 2015.

Egyptian, Iraqi and Lebanese Entrepreneurs Showcase Business Initiatives to Address Food and Job Insecurity: UNITAR Workshop in Japan 

From 4 to 11 February, 17 entrepreneurs from Egypt, Iraq, and Lebanon participated in the programme, “Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Promoting Food Security and Economic Development in Egypt, Iraq, and Lebanon”. During the workshop in Tokyo and Hiroshima, participants learned about agricultural innovations and sustainable practices and showcased their refined business models. The programme, supported by the Government and People of Japan, helps contribute to sustainable and resilient food systems and economic development in the Middle East and North Africa region. 

Over 250 Women and Youth Completed Phase One of the Livelihood Development Programme in Sudan 

The Japan-funded online training programme “Rapid Assistance for Sudan: Promoting Socioeconomic Stability through Institutional Capacity and Livelihood Development” has been a lifeline for the Sudanese participants forced to flee conflict. From August to December 2024, over 250 women and youth participated in 24 webinars on entrepreneurship, innovation, resilient growth for prosperous futures, and lessons from Hiroshima’s reconstruction. The next phase began in February with 40 top performers, who will complete a 1-month online bootcamp and two-day virtual hackathon. In the final phase, 20 outstanding participants will present their pitches to a global audience and stakeholders.

First Phase of Shimanami Collective Women’s Leadership in Disaster Risk Reduction Training Concludes 

The first phase of the UNITAR “Women’s Leadership in Tsunami-based Disaster Risk Reduction” programme, supported by the Government and People of Japan, came to a close on 27 November 2024. During this online phase, around 130 participants from Asia and the Pacific Islands learned about gender equality, disability inclusion and empowerment of vulnerable groups in disaster risk reduction. Top performers will be invited to the next phase, a workshop in Fiji in March 2025.

UNITAR Completes the 2024 Hiroshima Youth Ambassadors Programme

The 2024 UNITAR Hiroshima Youth Ambassador Programme concluded on 22 December 2024 with final presentations by the young people. The Youth Ambassador Programme aims to build peacebuilding skills among local students – future leaders in international peace and development. Eight high school students presented their action plans for peace, and guests of honour shared words of encouragement. The 2024 programme was supported by the Hiroshima Prefectural Government and Soroptimist International Hiroshima Chuo. Since 2010, the programme has supported over 160 Hiroshima students and youth.

Youth Ambassador Asia-Pacific 2024 Wraps Up: Pioneering Local Solutions for Global Impact 

The 8-week Youth Ambassador Asia-Pacific Programme concluded on 30 November 2024. In the programme, hosted by UNITAR and ITS Education Asia, youth participants learned about Sustainable Development Goals, system thinking and team-building. At the final session, 26 changemakers from Afghanistan, Hong Kong, India, Japan and the Philippines presented their proposals to address local solutions for global challenges. The best proposals were awarded prizes for impact, presentation, inclusion and innovation.

UNITAR-Islamic Development Bank Side Event at COP16: Global Advocacy Dialogue Series “Cultivating Prosperity: Agriculture Partnerships for Sustainable Development”  

On 7 December 2024, UNITAR and the Islamic Development Bank held a side event to the 16th Session of the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. The Global Advocacy Dialogue Series session “Cultivating Prosperity: Agriculture Partnerships for Sustainable Development”, held in person in Riyadh, brought together policymakers, institutions, development practitioners and experts in sustainable agriculture and food systems transformation for panel discussions, networking opportunities, interactive dialogues and sharing of success stories.

Programme for Global Human Resource Development for Peacebuilding and Development: Mid-Career and Junior Professionals Prepared to Thrive in International Organizations 

Twenty mid-career professionals from 11 countries around the world completed the Mid-Career Course of the “Programme for Global Human Resource Development for Peacebuilding and Development”. Held from 6 to 12 January 2025, participants learned about UN priorities and built essential working skills in communication, management and leadership. The course also gave participants moments for self-reflection and an opportunity to revisit their career visions.

From 26 January to 22 February 2025, the Primary Course welcomed 23 junior professionals from 11 countries and regions. Through the 4-week training, learners gained new perspectives on UN priorities, the Pact for the Future and global issues, developed their visions for careers in international organizations and built essential skills.

The programme is commissioned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and implemented by Hiroshima University in cooperation with UNITAR and the United Nations Volunteers programme.

Pioneering Cancer Patient Support in Lebanon through Innovation and Compassion 

Sara El Koussa, an entrepreneur from Lebanon, is an alumna of the “Great Ideas Space 2023: Entrepreneurship and Innovation Promoting Health Security and Economic Development in Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon” programme. Sara immediately used the new strategies she learned to enhance her online platform that connects cancer patients and caregivers. The platform offers free services such as consultations, support groups and awareness webinars, strengthening health security in Lebanon.

Harnessing Digital Skills for Inclusion, Nutrition and Entrepreneurship 

Lucretia Dreyer (left) and Destina Mensah (right) participated in the 2023 UNITAR Developing Essential Digital Skills for Women and Youth in Africa training programme. Lucretia, a South African advocate for disability inclusion, aims to create an inclusive coding and robotics programme where children with and without disabilities can learn together. Destina, a Ghanaian entrepreneur, launched a healthy cereal business inspired by traditional cuisine to promote nutrition and cultural heritage. Both are eager to apply their skills in project management, pitching and digital literacy, to scale their initiatives.

Driving Positive Change in Kenya Through Digital Skills 

Lilian Olivia (left) and Betty Mwende (right) both completed the 2023 UNITAR Developing Essential Digital Skills for Women and Youth in Africa training programme, funded by Japan. Lilian, a gender and technology lawyer from Kenya, is the founder of a non-profit that combats tech-facilitated gender-based violence. She is applying her new skills in project management, cybersecurity and mindfulness directly to her work. Betty, a student of applied computer technology and communications coordinator from Kenya, teaches basic computer skills to children in her community. What she learned from the UNITAR programme helps ensure that her initiative is sustainable and well-structured.

UNITAR Youth Ambassadors: Young Leaders in Action 

John Isidore Laure (left) and Seungjae Lee (right) were among 26 young changemakers who graduated from the 2024 UNITAR Youth Ambassador Programme. John is a youth advocate from the Philippines who works with local youth councils to foster good governance and community development. The UNITAR programme helped him refine his project to empower young public officials. Seungjae Lee is a student in Hong Kong who is passionate about social issues. He established a project to help refugees in Hong Kong who face language barriers. The UNITAR programme helped him ground himself to run and scale his project.

Harvesting Hope: Transforming South Sudan’s Agricultural Future 

John Ladu Simon Jacob is a South Sudanese alumnus of the UNITAR “Great Ideas Space for South Sudan 2023: Entrepreneurship and Innovation Training for Food Security” programme. John manages an inexpensive tractor rental service that allows local farmers to cultivate more land and farm more effectively. The UNITAR programme gave him the tools and confidence to develop practical solutions to tackle food insecurity in South Sudan.

Navigating the Digital Age: Ukrainian Women Shaping Their Careers with Digital Skills 

Iryna Markina, Natalia, and Mariia Markina completed the 2023 “Bolstering Livelihoods: Digital Reskilling for Ukrainian Women Evacuees in Poland” programme. Iryna, a sales director, enhanced her efficiency and confidence in tackling complex problems and decision-making using data, thanks to the data analytics and GIS courses. Natalia, a psychologist, deepened her understanding of statistical principles, which she uses to create insightful reports, and strengthened her leadership skills. Mariia, a chartering broker, applied her cybersecurity training directly to her work by implementing stricter data and communication security protocols, which helped prevent operational downtime and increased trust from clients and partners.