1 July 2024, Hiroshima, Japan - UNITAR and ITS Education Asia invite motivated Asia Pacific youth to apply for the “2024 Youth Ambassador Asia Pacific Programme.” The programme will run for 8 weeks and focus on the theme “Local Solutions for Global Challenges: Youth Empowerment and Community Impact''. This training programme aims to deepen the youth’s understanding of the SDGs, strengthen their entrepreneurship skills, and assist them in developing ideas to combat community problems. The training programme will end with final presentations from the youth of their self-directed capstone projects to implement these projects in their local communities to drive positive change. The application deadline is 21 September 2024 at 6 pm HKT. The programme is open to a maximum of 5 youth per country who are located in the Asia Pacific region for the duration of the training. It will occur online for 8 consecutive Saturdays, culminating in a final virtual graduation event.

1 July 2024, Geneva, Switzerland - On 24-25 October 2024, UNITAR will host a pivotal workshop on Artificial Intelligence (AI) titled "The State of AI in 2024: Developing an AI Strategy and Leveraging AI-driven Innovation for Sustainable Transformation." This event aims to bring together key government officials, diplomats, corporate representatives, and experts from various sectors to explore AI's transformative impact on governance, commerce, and jobs.

We know that, globally, women hold over one-third of seats in local decision-making bodies.xxvii However, there is a lack of data on the participation of indigenous women in local decision-making. Merlyn, a research and data analyst at the Learning Planet Institute (University of Paris Cité), knows this issue first-hand. In Colombia, there are around two million indigenous peoples, according to the 2018 Census (IWGIA). However, their inclusion in decision-making processes remains limited, especially for women. 

The commitment of the General Secretariat of the Andean Community (SGCAN in Spanish) to the well-being of its 115 million inhabitants is more than just a mission - it's a driving force for positive change. 

Dr Eoin Langan’s background is in accounting, finance and IT consulting, prior to transitioning to a career in Higher Education. He joined TU Dublin in 2019 as Head of School Accounting and Finance, City Campus, and became Dean of the faculty of Business, in September 2021. He brings extensive executive management experience in both industry and academia to the role of Dean. He encourages an inclusive approach with an open leadership style that promotes collaboration, incorporating opportunities for staff development with an emphasis on collegiality and partnership. Dr Eoin has a strong interest in innovation, technology, entrepreneurship and sustainability within Higher Education. His research interests include transition into Higher Education and innovation in Teaching, Learning, Assessment and Feedback. He is a former chair of the Irish Accounting and Finance Association (IAFA). Aligned with his interest on sustainability, Dr. Eoin was a keynote speaker in the International Research Climate Security Conference. 

Solomon is pursuing a Bachelor’s in Psychology at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and nurturing his tech savviness by exploring different projects outside his field of studies. He has always been interested in learning more about the interaction between humans and the environment, including how humans experience climate change. This made him keen to join the Donate Water team during the GEAR Cycle II of the Crowd4SDG project that focused on Gender Equality (SDG 5) and Climate Change (SDG 13). With support from coaches and the project’s partner organizations, the Donate Water team has moved their project forward to advance information on access to clean water in the South of Nigeria. 

28 June 2024, Hiroshima, Japan – In partnership with Indonesia Youth Diplomacy (IYD), UNITAR Division for Prosperity initiated “EmpowerASEAN: Youth Leadership Programme in the ASEAN Region.” The purposes of the programme are to foster youth capacity building through education on SDGs, social entrepreneurship, and related topics and to provide a platform for youth to articulate their ideas and visions relevant to SDGs.

27-28 June 2024, San Salvador, El Salvador – UNITAR New York Office successfully holds the Regional Workshop on Treaty Law and Practice for members of El Sistema de la Integración Centroamericana (SICA), or the Central American Integration System. The workshop was conducted in partnership with the Permanent Mission of El Salvador to the United Nations and the Foreign Ministry of El Salvador, with the assistance of Dr. Jose Gustavo Guerrero's Diplomatic Institute. The workshop was facilitated by Mr. David Nanopoulos, Chief of the Treaty Section of the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs, and Ms. Evelyn Campos Sanchez, Legal Officer at the Treaty Section of the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs.

Jelena is an adjunct lecturer at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York, and a senior consultant on topics related to Women, Peace and Security (WPS). As part of her consultancy services, she acts as an expert for UNITAR’s Global Diplomacy Initiative (GDI). Her relationship with UNITAR started in 1996, when she participated in a UNITAR training as a young diplomat from her home country, Andorra. Her journey through the intricate corridors of global governance and her transformative career pathway paints a vivid picture of resilience, dedication and continuous learning.

Salma, a food scientist, had dedicated over eight years to the role of Product Development Manager in the private sector, until she embarked on a transformative journey with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa (NENA) and the World Food Programme (WFP) Regional Bureau in Cairo. Salma holds a Master’s degree in food chemistry and is currently pursuing a PhD. Salma continues to apply the invaluable knowledge gained from the programme to her work, seamlessly weaving together her expertise and the programme's teachings to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those in need.