The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the Academy for Cultural Diplomacy (ICD) successfully concluded their first cohort of the joint Executive Diploma Programme in Cultural Diplomacy, International Relations & Global Governance.

Micky Welin's journey in disaster risk management (DRM) showcases the power of education and collaboration in enhancing disaster preparedness and response. Working as the Planning and Logistics Support Officer at Vanuatu's National Disaster Management Office (NDMO), Micky recognised the crucial need for advanced skills in Geospatial Information Technology (GIT) for effective disaster management.

Stepping up as a co-facilitator at COP28 negotiations on gender

Angela, or Angèle as she is called in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), is a National Gender and Climate Change Focal Point (NGCCFP) at the UNFCCC for the DRC and works as a course guide for the night school for new negotiators organized by the Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO). Initially, Angela was educated in the area of health (tracheostomy). Her journey related to climate change started at COP22 in 2016 in Marrakech, where she met the DRC Delegation, which led to her appointment as Gender and Climate Change focal point.

19 August 2024, Hiroshima, Japan – Tanzanian entrepreneur and assistant lecturer Angela Baltazary is passionate about conservation. Through the UNITAR programme on green livelihoods, she developed and embarked on a project to convert the methane in organic waste to protein, which would then be used in her venture that breeds, raises and harvests fish for food. Using organic waste in this way reduces greenhouse gases while contributing to public health and food security in Tanzania.

The increase in disaster occurrences and the high numbers of victims resulting from conflicts are urgent issues that require effective and rapid action. Satellite imagery analysis is a vital tool essential in this response, as it can cover large areas and provide accurate information in near real-time.
UNOSAT’s Emergency Mapping Service (EMS), funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NMFA), provides satellite image analysis during humanitarian emergencies related to disasters, complex emergencies and conflict situations. With a 24/7 year-round availability to process requests, the team of experienced analysts ensure timely and tailored delivery of satellite imagery-derived maps (both web and static maps), reports and data ready for direct inclusion in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for evidence-based decision-making and operational planning.

14 August 2024, Hiroshima, Japan – Motivated Sudanese nationals, especially those who are internally displaced, are invited to apply to join the UNITAR training programme “Promoting Socioeconomic Stability through Institutional Capacity and Livelihood Development in Sudan.” The programme aims to equip participants with skills in agribusiness, entrepreneurship, innovation, finance and trade and digital literacy to “build back better”, irrespective of where they are. The application deadline is 25 August 2024.

Prashanthi Krishnamoorthy is the deputy director of the South Asia Division at the Sri Lanka Foreign Service, where she manages bilateral relations with India, Maldives and Pakistan. Prashanthi took part in the FY2023 UNITAR Hiroshima Training Programme on Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation to enhance her ability to support and advance global disarmament and non-proliferation efforts.

The increase in disaster occurrences and the high numbers of victims resulting from conflicts are urgent issues that require effective and rapid action. Satellite imagery analysis is a vital tool essential in this response, as it can cover large areas and provide accurate information in near real time.



UNOSAT’s Emergency Mapping Service (EMS), funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NMFA), provides satellite image analysis during humanitarian emergencies related to disasters, complex emergencies and conflict situations. With a 24/7 year-round availability to process requests, the team of experienced analysts ensure timely and tailored delivery of satellite imagery derived maps (both web and static maps), reports and data ready for direct inclusion in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for evidence based decision making and operational planning.

2 August 2024, Hiroshima, Japan – UNITAR is accepting applications to its training programme on women’s leadership in disaster risk reduction, from learners over 18 years of age, living in or from Pacific small island developing states and Asia. Women are highly encouraged to apply. This programme, “Women’s Leadership in Tsunami-Based Disaster Risk Reduction for World Tsunami Awareness Day 2024”, aims to equip learners with lifelong skills to develop inclusive disaster risk reduction plans that reflect the needs of their communities and countries. Application deadline is 23 August 2024 at 11:59 p.m. JST (UTC+9).

1 August 2024, Geneva, Switzerland,– The recent conflict in the Gaza Strip has produced a volume of debris that is 14 times greater than the combined total from all conflicts over the past 16 years. This finding comes from a comprehensive assessment conducted by UN-HABITAT and UNEP. The analysis, using satellite imagery analysis provided by UNOSAT, offers a detailed view of the extensive destruction and its implications for debris management.