13 October 2020, Costa Rica, New York, and Geneva – The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) represented by the Executive Director, Mr. Nikhil Seth, and the Director-General, Mr. Manuel Otero, respectively, participated in the first virtual signature of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) together with the Head of UNITAR New York Office, Mr. Marco Suazo.

5-12 October 2020, New York, USA (Virtual) – The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) delivered a six-day training for Mexico, the newly elected member of the Security Council. Mexico was elected as a member of the Security Council in June 2020 by the members of the General Assembly along with India, Norway, Ireland and Kenya. Mexico will serve a two-year term in the Security Council, starting 1 January 2021.

28 September – 2 October 2020, New York, USA (Virtual) – The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) continued its training series for the newly elected members of the Security Council. On October 2020, UNITAR successfully completed its five-day virtual training for the delegates from the Permanent Mission of Kenya. Kenya was elected as a member of the Security Council in June 2020 by the members of the General Assembly along with India, Norway, Ireland and Mexico. Kenya will serve a two-year term in the Security Council starting 1 January 2021.

The UNITAR New York Office delivered the first of a series of training programs for the delegations of incoming elected members of the Security Council.

24 September 2020, Geneva, Switzerland - On 24 September 2020, 50 participants took part in a four-hour webinar on the topic “Sustainable Development Goals in the Private Sector”, organized and implemented by UNITAR and the Global Institute of Excellence in Hong Kong.  In a short introduction, UNITAR’s executive director Nikil Seth explained how the Sustainable Development Goals and the private sector are ultimately connected and how the business sector has an immense influence on the impact of climate change and the ecological footprint. Especially now, in the midst of a global pandemic, Mr. Seth highlighted the urgent need to take action against the climate crisis and focus on water and energy efficiency, the protection of biodiversity, gender equality, sustainable infrastructures and much more.

11 September 2020, New York - UNITAR started the second day of training by debuting its new video on the process of drafting UN resolutions , and introduced its latest publication Guidelines for United Nations Resolutions - a great resource for preparing for the 75th UNGA. After the video, the head of UNITAR New York office, Mr. Marco Suazo, warmly welcomed the participants and introduced the first speaker of the day, Ms. Blanca Montejo, the Senior Political Affairs Officer of the Security Council Practices and Charter Research Branch from the Security Affairs Division (SCAD).

16 September 2020, New York, USA, Video Conferences - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research New York Office (UNITAR NYO) rolled out its “Foundations of UN Writing” course on 16 September. This training is designed to prepare the diplomatic staff of the Permanent Mission of Qatar to the United Nations with the necessary knowledge of guidelines and best practices for writing while performing their duties at the United Nations.

10 September 2020, New York, USA, Zoom Conferences - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) New York Office (NYO), in partnership with the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Singapore to the United Nations as Chair of the Forum of Small States (FOSS), successfully opened its two-day course entitled “Briefing New Delegates on the Work of the 75th General Assembly”. The session opened with more than 250 delegates present on the online conference.

14 September 2020, New York, USA, Video Conferences - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) New York Office (NYO) successfully launched its course “Strengthening Knowledge and Skills in Multilateral Diplomacy: Induction Course for Qatari Diplomats” on 14 September. The training will last through 18 September and is a comprehensive course designed to enhance the performance of the diplomatic staff from the Permanent Mission of Qatar to the United Nations. The Qatari delegation also attended the “Briefing on the Work of the 75th General Assembly and the Main Committees” facilitated by UNITAR NYO from 10-11 September.

1- 2 September, New York USA, virtual seminar – The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) Office in New York successfully launched the Joint Swiss-UNITAR Briefing on United Nations Budgetary Matters training series on Tuesday, 1 September 2020. The four-day virtual training programme caters for the needs of the incoming delegates of the United Nations General Assembly Fifth Committee. The first two sessions have directly benefited more than 120 delegates each session from numerous Member States.