13 December 2019, New York, USA - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) New York Office concluded training for December 12th-13th, 2019, titled “Practical Preparations for Membership in The United Nations Security Council” for the Permanent Mission of St. Vincent and the Grenadines as well as the Permanent Mission of Vietnam. The training which was made possible through the support from the Swedish International Development Agency’s (Sida) towards the UNITAR Strategic Framework Fund (SFF), included sessions titled “Formal and Informal Council meetings, and relations between the Council and the Assembly”, and “Charter Considerations, Subsidiary Organs, Council Documentation, and the Presidency”.

11 December 2019, New York, USA- The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) New York Office kicked off a joint training for newly elected members of the Security Council from the Permanent Mission of Vietnam and the Permanent Mission of St. Vincent and the Grenadines ahead of the 2020-2021 period. This training was made possible through the support from the Swedish International Development Agency’s (Sida) towards the UNITAR Strategic Framework Fund (SFF) and holds from the 11th - 13th of December 2019 at the Commonwealth Conference Room.

9 – 11 December 2019, Kigali, Rwanda – UNITAR collaborated with the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Centre (ROLACC) to host a Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop on Anticorruption and Sustainable Development in Kigali, Rwanda from 9-11 December 2019. In the framework of this event, UNITAR also signed a partnership agreement with the State of Qatar and the Government of Rwanda, aimed at future joint anti-corruption training activities.

9 December 2019, Geneva, Switzerland - UNITAR’s Division for Multilateral Diplomacy delivered a two-day workshop entitled Business and Human Rights: Key to Achieving the SDGs on the 5th and 6th of December at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, with some 60 participants from governments, business, civil society and other stakeholders. The overall objective of the workshop was to help participants gain a thorough understanding of the Business and Human Rights agenda and provide leadership perspectives on the potential and challenges to implement the UN Guiding Principles as an essential means to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

6 December 2019, New York, USA - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) New York Office hosted the Graduation Ceremony for the Fall 2019 Global Diplomacy Initiative (GDI) programme at the United Nations Headquarters. The UNITAR GDI programme provides an exceptional training experience to professionals and students in higher education while leveraging the connections and experience of UN delegates and academics

29 November 2019, Geneva, Switzerland - The Board of Trustees of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) concluded its Sixtieth Session, which convened from 28 to 29 November 2019. Key decisions of the session include adoption of the $88 million programme budget for 2020-2021 and the integration into UNITAR of The Defeat-NCD Partnership with a biennial budget of $31 million.

Strengthening national capacities to develop integrated policies for the SDGs in the African region

21 November 2019, Geneva, Switzerland - On 21 November 2019, UNITAR hosted the first meeting of UN SDG:Learn Steering Group in Geneva, organized together with the UN System Staff College (UNSSC). The Steering Group is composed of representatives of 51 partner organizations, making up 53 UN SDG:Learn partners in total with UNITAR and UNSSC. The main objective of the meeting was to jointly discuss the ways forward in terms of leveraging UN SDG:Learn to amplify each organizations’ efforts in serving the needs of their target audiences, sharing experiences and innovative approaches on delivering effective learning, as well as promoting synergies across the work of partners on the SDGs.

Strengthening the capacities of the Caribbean SIDS for system-based approaches and integrated policy design in the context of the SDGs

14 November 2019, Geneva, Switzerland – A delegation of Algeria’s Business Leaders Forum (FCE) visited the headquarter of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) in Geneva to discuss the organizations’ partnership and identify concrete activities in the near future. The FCE delegation consisted of Mr. Mohamed Sami Agli, President, and Mr. Mehdi Bendimerad, Vice-President. UNITAR was represented by Mr. Nikhil Seth, Executive Director, Mr. Alex Mejia, Division Director, and Mr. Mohand Cherifi, Senior Adviser.