11 December 2024, Geneva, Switwerland - The Global Surgery Foundation and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) are pleased to announce the launch of "Navigating the Global Surgery Ecosystem", an educational series hosted on SURGhub. This series is designed to equip healthcare professionals with the essential skills and knowledge to engage effectively in the complex and evolving global surgery landscape. By addressing the unique challenges of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), the series empowers participants to drive meaningful, lasting change in their local and global communities.

11 December 2024 – The 2024 Youth Ambassador Asia-Pacific Programme concluded on 30 November 2024 with participants showcasing their creative proposals for projects that address local issues and create global impact. Guided by UNITAR and partner ITS Education Asia, 26 young changemakers from Afghanistan, Hong Kong, India, Japan and the Philippines completed the 8-week training programme.

11 December 2024, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – On 7 December 2024, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) hosted a high-level side event to the sixteenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) , focusing on transformative agricultural partnerships and innovative financial solutions.

6 December 2024, Hiroshima, Japan – On 27 November 2024, the online phase of the UNITAR “Women’s Leadership in Tsunami-based Disaster Risk Reduction” training programme was brought to a successful close. Over three months, participants from the Pacific Islands and Asia learned about climate and disaster resilience, risks management and challenges in the Asian and Pacific regions. Around 130 participants joined the closing webinar of the online training phase.

26 November 2024, Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom – In partnership with the University of Surrey, UNITAR has launched CIFAL Surrey, the newest addition to the CIFAL Global Network. Hosted by the University of Surrey's Institute for Sustainability, CIFAL Surrey will focus on key areas such as Urban Governance and Planning, Economic Development, Social Inclusion, and Environmental Sustainability. The official launch event took place in Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom.

4 December 2024, Geneva, Switzerland – Jointly with the International Training Centre for Authorities and Leaders in York (CIFAL York), UNITAR succesfully conclude the learning webinar series “Supporting Breastfeeding in the Community, offering a rich platform for learning, discussion, and collaboration among global breastfeeding advocates and practitioners. This free, online series brought together leading experts to address critical topics such as interpreting feeding cues, managing mastitis, understanding challenges faced by vulnerable populations, and exploring the United Nations' work to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through breastfeeding promotion.

5 December 2024, Geneva, Switzerland – The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) will hold a side event during UNCCD 16th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) Global Advocacy Dialogue Series: “Cultivating Prosperity: Agriculture Partnerships for Sustainable Development”, on 7 December 2024 (6-7:30 p.m.) in Riyadh. The high-stakes dialogue will bring together key stakeholders to chart the course for transformative agricultural partnerships and innovative financial solutions that will shape the future of sustainable farming.

3 December 2024, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic - President of the Dominican Republic, H.E. Mr. Luis Abinader, signed Decree 656-24, formally declaring road safety a national priority and initiating the development of the National Road Safety Plan 2025–2030.

3 December 2024, Mpumalanga, South Africa – Following the successful kick-off in Eswatini, the “Management Practices for Safer Roads” workshop series continued with sessions in the cities of Gqbertha, Rustenburg and Mpumalanga in South Africa.

26 November 2024, New York, USA - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) New York Office and Columbia Law School have collaborated to deliver another set of impactful series of workshops for this Fall, addressing critical global issues through skill-building and education. The participants encompassed diplomats from the UN Secretariat, industry professionals, non-government organizations, with every session attracting over 100 registrants, benefitting a total of approximately 200 in-person participants. Building on this success, UNITAR NYO and Columbia Law School are collaborating again for a special Mediation and Multilateral Clinic in Spring 2025.