18 January 2022, Geneva, Switzerland – With the creation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1963, African countries established institutions, designed policies, and launched initiatives to deepen their political and economic integration in increasingly salient areas to their continent’s development. Strengthening the relationship with their counterpart across the Mediterranean and tackling issues of common concerns continues to be a priority between the European Union (EU) and the African Union (AU). Following the request of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and thanks to their generous support, the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the Luiss School of Government partnered to develop the unique Executive Master in Global Public Diplomacy and Sustainable Development designed to admit up to 30 highly skilled African diplomats.

13 January 2022, Geneva, Switzerland – The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) is pleased to welcome the Sustainable Cycles (SCYCLE) Programme to the UNITAR family.

10 January 2022, New York, USA – The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), in partnership with the Office of the President of the General Assembly (OPGA), successfully launched its flagship initiative, the 2022 President of the General Assembly Fellowship for HOPE (Harnessing Opportunities for Promoting Empowerment of Youth) on 10 January 2022. As envisioned by H.E. Mr. Abdulla Shahid, President of the 76th General Assembly, and his Presidency of Hope, this Fellowship programme aims to promote youth engagement in multilateralism and support the next generation of diplomats, particularly from underrepresented countries (LDCs, LLDCs, SIDS) at the United Nations, while also ensuring geographical representation and gender balance.

29 December 2021, Geneva, Switzerland - On the 2nd of December 2021, UNITAR hosted the third meeting of UN SDG:Learn Steering Group entirely online. The meeting was co-organized with the UN System Staff College (UNSSC).

Amaraa Erdenebaatar, a diplomat of Mongolia, learned skills to become a better negotiator in the 2021 UNITAR Hiroshima Training Programme on Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation. Mongolia is the only country in the world with a self-declared nuclear-weapon-free status. Their status has been recognized internationally. The online UNITAR training combines theory with practice. The theory is taught by world-renowned experts. Participants also meet with hibakusha (atomic bombing survivors). The course ended with an online conference simulation. Participants negotiated a paragraph of an NPT Foreign Ministers Communiqué. Amaraa hopes to meet his course mates in person one day. He will continue promoting security and disarmament to make the world safer for his children.

The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the Program on Negotiation (PON) at Harvard Law School will collaborate on a project supported by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Consulate-General of Japan in Boston on Enhancing International Scientific Cooperation: Arctic Science and Technology Advice with Ministries. With the coordination of the Science Diplomacy Center at EvREsearch LTD, this training project, consisting of three webinars, aims to help enhance international scientific cooperation by inclusively addressing inevitable questions that involve the 2017 Arctic Science Cooperation Agreement, ministries of nations, indigenous peoples, and science. Upon the signature of the Arctic Science Cooperation Agreement in 2017, scientists from the eight Arctic governments were granted access to the Arctic areas that each government has identified, including entry and exit of people, equipment, and materials; access to research infrastructure; and access to data. The Arctic will be analyzed as a global case study in view of climate and planetary challenges to balance national interests and common interests “for the benefit of all on Earth across generations.”  

23 December, 2021, Hiroshima, Japan – UNITAR Division for Prosperity will convene an online panel discussion to explore women’s leadership in disaster risk reduction (DRR) to promote inclusion and equality. The panel will be held on 26 January 2022, noon to 1:30 p.m. (Japan Standard Time), and is free and open to the public (registration required).

20 December 2021, Budapest, Hungary / Hiroshima, Japan / Geneva, Switzerland – UNITAR Division for Prosperity and Central Bank of Hungary (Magyar Nemzeti Bank – MNB) have launched a new partnership to develop a training programme on the digitalization of the financial sector.

16 December 2021, Geneva, Switzerland - On 17 March 2022, UNITAR, the University of Geneva, and the University Global Coalition, host the fourth Geneva Trialogue edition, under the theme of ”Open Innovation for Education“. The Geneva Trialogue fosters communication and collaboration between academia, international organizations and the private sector, to tackle the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

16 December 2021, Geneva, Switzerland - UN CC:Learn's participation at COP26 highlighted the importance of education and learning in scaling up climate action. As in previous editions, the programme held a series of activities, notably the Climate Classroom, and collaborated with a wide range of partners. Read on to find out more!