Lauren is currently pursuing a law degree at the University of Newcastle. She learned about the UNITAR “She Leads for Peace Summer School” through her former supervisor at work. Initially drawn to the programme to acquire new skills for her future career, she realized that the experience offered much more than she had anticipated, broadening her perspective on women’s leadership in the broader sustaining peace ecosystem.

Cindy is an instructional designer and international trainer. Before joining the “Learning Design and Facilitation Masterclass Series” offered by UNITAR’s Learning Solutions team, she had over six years of engagement with UNITAR as a trainer in topics related to leadership, coaching, communication, and negotiation. Cindy also works full-time as a training and development designer at Unitrade Management Services and is pursuing a degree in instructional design. Clearly, Cindy was not new to the intricacies of training development, however, UNITAR's Masterclass Series provided her with additional skills that have complemented her experience as an instructional designer. 

15 April 2025, Victoria, Canada - UNITAR, in partnership with the University of Victoria (UVic), Canada, successfully concluded its third year of the Co-operative Education Programme (Co-op), a professional development learning pathway. The Co-op continues to lead nationally in experiential learning, with this initiative launched in partnership with CIFAL Victoria—a UNITAR-affiliated centre. This international programme serves as a vehicle through which UVic students can acquire valuable work experience. Through this partnership, students can also participate in initiatives that are aligned with and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS).

14 April 2025, Kabul, Afghanistan - The third phase of UNITAR’s “Food and Economic Security through Entrepreneurship Training for Women and Youth in Afghanistan” was held in Kabul from February 22 to 26, 2025, bringing together 80 promising young entrepreneurs from diverse sectors, including the private sector, local NGOs and civil society, UN agencies, international organizations, and academia.

11 April 2025, Geneva, Switzerland — The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the Financial Analysis and Supervision Unit (FASU) of the Bank of Papua New Guinea (BPNG) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 02 April 2025 to enhance anti-money laundering (AML), countering the financing of terrorism (CFT), and countering proliferation financing (CPF) efforts in Papua New Guinea.

10 April 2025, Geneva, Switzerland - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the Sovereign Order of Malta successfully hosted a Human Rights Council side event titled, "After 25 Years of the Palermo Protocol – The Need for Real Action".

Focusing on strengthening global efforts to combat human trafficking through capacity-building and training, the event brought together a plethora of experts in the field, encouraging rich dialogue and raising awareness of the remaining pitfalls in current methods following the General Assembly Resolution 55/25 in 2000. Featuring keynote addresses and panel discussions with leading policymakers, diplomats, and experts, the event emphasised the imperative need for innovative solutions and multi-stakeholder cooperation.

10 April 2025, Hiroshima, Japan - University lecturer Loretta Dilu joined the 2024 UNITAR Leaders for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific: Sea and Human Security training programme with little prior knowledge of sea and human security. However, through her perseverance, she distinguished herself and was selected to advance to the final phase of the programme.

5 April 2025 Geneva, Switzerland – UNITAR and the Directorate of Climate Change (DoCC), an affiliated institution of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, Republic of Türkiye, reached a milestone on 27 March 2025 with the successful delivery of an online capacity-building session “Introduction to the Prosperity Blueprint: Project Proposal Development.” The 60-minute training was designed to respond to DoCC’s growing need for strengthened skills in project proposal development. Thirteen officials from DoCC, including senior-level staff, actively participated in the session.

1 April 2025, London, United Kingdom- In collaboration with GEDU Global Education Group and the International Training Centre for Authorities and Leaders in London (CIFAL City of London), UNITAR hosted the Breastfeeding Education Conference and Training of Trainers Workshop in London, UK, on 27-28 March 2025.

UNITAR’s Division on NCD, Digital Health, and Capacity Building partnered with WHO to modernize global healthcare education by migrating and enhancing over 140 courses. This initiative ensures healthcare professionals, especially in low- and middle-income countries, have seamless access to high-quality, evidence-based learning. By consolidating learning resources onto a unified platform, the project supports SDG 3.4 and strengthens global health systems. The impact has been profound, breaking down barriers to education and empowering health workers worldwide with essential skills to improve patient care.