18 February 2025, Geneva, Switzerland — On 11 February 2025, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the Africa Pastoralist Empowerment Organization (APEO) based in Kenya signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote sustainable agriculture, food and nutrition security, and climate resilience across Africa’s dryland regions. This collaboration aims to empower women and youth, strengthen agricultural value chains, and enhance environmental sustainability.

17 February 2025, Hiroshima, Japan – a gender and technology lawyer from Nairobi, is creating safer digital spaces for women and girls. Currently pursuing her master’s degree in law, innovation, and technology in the UK, Lilian is the founder of a non-profit organization in Kenya that is committed to raising awareness and providing solutions to combat online harassment and cyberbullying.

17 February 2025, Geneva Switzerland — On 14 February 2025, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the Geneva School of Diplomacy (GSD) signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on advancing global leadership, diplomacy and sustainable development education. This strategic partnership aims to strengthen international cooperation, foster knowledge-sharing and equip future leaders with the skills needed to address pressing global challenges.

14 February 2025, Geneva – On 12 February 2025, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance cooperation in combating money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing. This landmark agreement aims to bolster Nigeria’s anti-money-laundering, counter-terrorist financing, and counter-proliferation financing framework through strategic capacity-building initiatives, research collaborations and policy advisory support.

12 February 2025, Geneva, Switzerland - UNITAR and RES4CITY Micro-credentials and micro-programmes are available free now: (https://res4city.boostmyskills.eu/), this groundbreaking platform equips individuals with the knowledge and skills to drive sustainable urban transformations. Developed with EU and Swiss Confederation support, by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research, with 18 pan-European universities and industry partners, RES4CITY provides micro-credentials on key topics, including renewable energy, sustainable finance, and smart urban solutions, tailored for students, professionals, and policymakers.

12 February 2025, Hyogo, Japan – The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and Pasona Group Inc. have jointly implemented training sessions in Awaji Island (Awaji-shima), Hyogo, Japan, for 50 leaders from 18 Asia-Pacific countries. The training sessions, held from 10 to 12 February 2025, provided them with first-hand experiences and practical skills to effectively address sea and human security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. This collaboration marks a significant strengthening of the partnership between Pasona Group Inc. and UNITAR, which was formalized through a memorandum of understanding in 2023.

12 February 2025, Geneva, Switzerland – The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and Saudi Arabian technology company Quality Support Solutions (QSS) AI and Robotics have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on advancing artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics initiatives that support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) globally. The signing of the agreement, during the LEAP conference in Riyadh on 11 February 2025, marks the beginning of a strategic partnership aimed at leveraging cutting-edge technology to foster inclusive growth, capacity-building and digital transformation.

10 February 2025, Hyogo, Japan – Fifty leaders from 18 countries across Asia and the Pacific have gathered in Awaji Island, Japan, today to join a workshop on sea and human security, organized by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).

11 February 2025, Hiroshima, Japan – Seventeen entrepreneurs and innovators from Egypt, Iraq, and Lebanon showcased their business initiatives and models they refined through the Japan workshop of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) “Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Promoting Food Security and Economic Development in Egypt, Iraq, and Lebanon” training programme. The in-person workshop, which ran from 4 to 11 February 2025, concluded with a Hackathon, where participants applied the lessons learnt through the entire programme to improve and pitch their final business initiatives.

9 February 2025, Tokyo, Japan – On 9 February 2025, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Hiroshima Office, in collaboration with the Japan Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, hosted a public event in Tokyo as part of the two-day International Civil Society Forum to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (8-9 February 2025). This year marks 80 years since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the event brought together experts, activists and people from various sectors of society to reflect on today’s heightened risk of the use of nuclear weapons. The session underscored the urgency of passing on the lessons from Hiroshima and Nagasaki and continuing broad-based dialogue and multilateral diplomatic efforts to prevent such tragedies from happening again.