We saw a need for a change of attitude so we began to identify local opportunities to strengthen social cohesion and to build capacity in our own communities.

I was a middle-class family child and during my upbringing, I saw many young people in my community whose parents struggled with paying their school fees, especially those for high education. I used to ask myself ‘what can I do to help people achieve their dreams?’

The UNITAR training took place just one week after his first session as a UN mandate holder — the youngest person ever appointed to a UN indigenous-specific mechanism and with the least amount of international experience. “There was no accommodation time, as the work of mandate holders is very responsible and challenging, and indigenous peoples around the world expect results and efficiency from experts.”

16-17 December 2019, Nairobi, Kenya – A group of 26 officials from various ministries engaged in a two-day UNITAR training workshop with the aim of improving their skills and knowledge in the field of maritime law and international dispute settlement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

13 December 2019, New York, USA - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) New York Office concluded training for December 12th-13th, 2019, titled “Practical Preparations for Membership in The United Nations Security Council” for the Permanent Mission of St. Vincent and the Grenadines as well as the Permanent Mission of Vietnam. The training which was made possible through the support from the Swedish International Development Agency’s (Sida) towards the UNITAR Strategic Framework Fund (SFF), included sessions titled “Formal and Informal Council meetings, and relations between the Council and the Assembly”, and “Charter Considerations, Subsidiary Organs, Council Documentation, and the Presidency”.

9 – 11 December 2019, Kigali, Rwanda – UNITAR collaborated with the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Centre (ROLACC) to host a Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop on Anticorruption and Sustainable Development in Kigali, Rwanda from 9-11 December 2019. In the framework of this event, UNITAR also signed a partnership agreement with the State of Qatar and the Government of Rwanda, aimed at future joint anti-corruption training activities.

9 December 2019, Geneva, Switzerland - UNITAR’s Division for Multilateral Diplomacy delivered a two-day workshop entitled Business and Human Rights: Key to Achieving the SDGs on the 5th and 6th of December at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, with some 60 participants from governments, business, civil society and other stakeholders. The overall objective of the workshop was to help participants gain a thorough understanding of the Business and Human Rights agenda and provide leadership perspectives on the potential and challenges to implement the UN Guiding Principles as an essential means to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Strengthening national capacities to develop integrated policies for the SDGs in the African region

Strengthening the capacities of the Caribbean SIDS for system-based approaches and integrated policy design in the context of the SDGs

14 November 2019, Geneva, Switzerland – A delegation of Algeria’s Business Leaders Forum (FCE) visited the headquarter of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) in Geneva to discuss the organizations’ partnership and identify concrete activities in the near future. The FCE delegation consisted of Mr. Mohamed Sami Agli, President, and Mr. Mehdi Bendimerad, Vice-President. UNITAR was represented by Mr. Nikhil Seth, Executive Director, Mr. Alex Mejia, Division Director, and Mr. Mohand Cherifi, Senior Adviser.