28 May 2024, Geneva, Switzerland - In the vast expanse of the Pacific, where the azure waters meet lush islands, the threat of climate change is not distant, but a reality deeply anchored in the present. Rising sea levels, frequent flooding, and coastal erosion pose relentless threats to their rich ecosystems and communities. Despite contributing minimally to global carbon emissions, these island nations face staggering costs to bolster their infrastructure against climate-induced hazards. Estimates suggest that Pacific island countries need to invest between 6% and 9% of their annual GDP—which is approximately $1 billion annually for the region—to fortify their defences against climate change. In response to these urgent needs, UNOSAT has stepped up, leveraging its technological prowess and capacity-building initiatives to enhance resilience and safeguard livelihoods. 

May 2024, Hiroshima, Japan - Agnes Chiu, a high school student in Hong Kong, leads a global youth initiative called “Design Your Life at 25” to help teenagers envision their life and career paths and make informed decisions to reach their dreams. In immersive three-hour workshops, Agnes and her team guide teenagers through self-discovery journeys to envision their lives at age 25. To date, the initiative has already trained 300 young people from 14 countries. Inspired by the UNITAR Asia Pacific Ambassador Programme, Agnes and her team are now developing an app driven by artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance engagement and accessibility for her workshops.

28 May 2024, Hiroshima, Japan – On 25 April 2024, UNITAR signed a memorandum of understanding with the City University of Seattle (CityU) to develop joint degree or certificate programmes and share educational resources such as online learning materials and platforms. The two institutions also hope to exchange faculty members, researchers and students and jointly organize workshops, seminars and conferences in areas of common interest.

28 May 2024, Hiroshima, Japan – UNITAR calls for applications for its “Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Promoting Food Security and Economic Development in Egypt, Iraq and Lebanon” training programme for young entrepreneurs from ages 18-45 in Egypt, Iraq and Lebanon. Participants will learn entrepreneurship fundamentals and knowledge and develop advanced skills for achieving economic development and fighting food insecurity. The programme is scheduled to run from June 2024 to March 2025 and the application deadline is 30 June 2024 (11:59 PM JST).

27 May 2024, Lisbon, Portugal - The Atlantic Centre and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research's (UNITAR) Division for Peace today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on training and capacity development initiatives focused on maritime security and port governance.

27 May 2024, Online - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the Djibouti Code of Conduct (CoC) Secretariat proudly announce the inception of a groundbreaking collaboration aimed at bolstering capacity in visibility for the framework in the western Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden. Central to this partnership is the enhancement of communications and visibility for the DCoC/JA. Effective communication is essential for raising awareness, engaging stakeholders, and promoting transparency. UNITAR and the DCoC Secretariat will focus on the following capacity-building initiatives to achieve these goals:

24 May 2024, Shanghai, China – The “Autosobriety Training Camp” aims to enhance participants’ knowledge about the dangers of drinking and driving by learning and testing. It consists of a dedicated digital training platform for college students to provide them with essential knowledge related to the topics of drinking and driving, alcohol and the law in China and ways for preventing drink-driving.

23 May 2024, Hiroshima, Japan – UNITAR Hiroshima Office and the UNITAR Association invite motivated Hiroshima high school students to apply for the “2024 UNITAR Youth Ambassador Programme: Leaders for a New Era”. The programme will run from 30 June to 30 August 2024 and aims to deepen the student’s understanding of nuclear disarmament and peacebuilding and prepare them to become change-makers who can spread messages of peace from Hiroshima to the world. The application deadline is 3 June 2024 (10 a.m. JST).

23 May 2024, Hiroshima, Japan – In the heart of Baghdad Medical City is a woman dedicated to improving Iraqi health care: Dr. Mawadah Arif Hammadi. As a junior resident physician, Mawadah works in the emergency room, where she cares for the many frightened people who come through the door. Doing what she can to ensure that every Iraqi person gets accessible, quality health care, Mawadah is developing a project to raise breast cancer awareness among Iraqi women.

23 May 2024, Hiroshima, Japan – On 27 April 2024, UNITAR signed a memorandum of understanding with the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) at a ceremony held at the 2024 Islamic Development Bank Group Annual Meetings in Riyadh. The memorandum was signed by Dr. Tarifa Alzaabi, Director General of ICBA, and Ms. Chisa Mikami, Head of UNITAR Hiroshima Office, Division for Prosperity.