The increase in disaster occurrences and the high numbers of victims resulting from conflicts are urgent issues that require effective and rapid action. Satellite imagery analysis is a vital tool essential in this response, as it can cover large areas and provide accurate information in near real time.



UNOSAT’s Emergency Mapping Service (EMS), funded by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (NMFA), provides satellite image analysis during humanitarian emergencies related to disasters, complex emergencies and conflict situations. With a 24/7 year-round availability to process requests, the team of experienced analysts ensure timely and tailored delivery of satellite imagery derived maps (both web and static maps), reports and data ready for direct inclusion in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for evidence based decision making and operational planning.

The 2024 Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review (QCPR) training series, organized by UNITAR, the Swiss Government, and UN DESA, commenced on May 21, 2024, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. This series aims to prepare delegates for the General Assembly’s Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review of Operational Activities for Development of the United Nations System. Here, we highlight the first three modules of this comprehensive training series, detailing the objectives, key topics, and speakers involved.

01 July – 01 August 2024, New York, United States – United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) New York Office in partnership with Qatar Leadership Centre (QLC) and the International Advisory Group (IAG), hosted an exclusive fellowship programme for Qatar University students from 1 July to 5 August. This unique 5-week opportunity was designed to provide third and fourth-year students with unparalleled knowledge, professional experience, and leadership skills through immersive training and various United Nations agencies.

08 August 2024, Geneva, Switzerland – Sports diplomacy is an emerging and dynamic field that leverages the universal appeal of sports to enhance knowledge sharing, promote peace, and strengthen international ties. From the Winter Olympics in South Korea to the World Cups in Russia and Qatar, sports events are becoming integral to foreign policy strategies, highlighting their capacity to unite diverse stakeholders and advance international cooperation.

2 August 2024, Hiroshima, Japan – UNITAR is accepting applications to its training programme on women’s leadership in disaster risk reduction, from learners over 18 years of age, living in or from Pacific small island developing states and Asia. Women are highly encouraged to apply. This programme, “Women’s Leadership in Tsunami-Based Disaster Risk Reduction for World Tsunami Awareness Day 2024”, aims to equip learners with lifelong skills to develop inclusive disaster risk reduction plans that reflect the needs of their communities and countries. Application deadline is 23 August 2024 at 11:59 p.m. JST (UTC+9).

1 August 2024, Geneva, Switzerland,– The recent conflict in the Gaza Strip has produced a volume of debris that is 14 times greater than the combined total from all conflicts over the past 16 years. This finding comes from a comprehensive assessment conducted by UN-HABITAT and UNEP. The analysis, using satellite imagery analysis provided by UNOSAT, offers a detailed view of the extensive destruction and its implications for debris management.

31 July 2024, San Juan, Puerto Rico – UNITAR in collaboration with the International Road Federation (IRF), and with support from AB InBev and Falconi delivered a workshop on its Management Practices for Safer Roads Toolkit in the framework of the 12th IRF Caribbean Regional Congress, titled “A Roadmap to a Safe, Inclusive, and Resilient Transport System”, in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

31 July 2024, New York, New York - 0n July 8 - 17, 2024 The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) launched the 2024 iteration of the two organization’s long-term partnership programme, the SDGs Learning, Training and Practice (SDGs In Practice). SDGs in Practice is a series of substantive capacity-building trainings and knowledge-sharing sessions, held as a special event during the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), with a theme around the five Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in focus, SDG1-No Poverty, SDG2-Zero Hunger, SDG13-Climate Action, SDG16-Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, and SDG17-Partnerships for the Goals.

26 July 2024, San Juan, Puerto Rico – UNITAR in collaboration with the International Road Federation (IRF) will deliver a training workshop on its Management Practices for Safer Roads for government officials from across 30 countries and territories in the Caribbean region.

23 July 2024, Geneva, Switzerland - The FIA and its new partner United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) have kicked off the SafeForAll&forLife project with support from the FIA Foundation.