Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) play a critical role in advancing sustainable development by shaping the knowledge, skills, and mindsets of present and future generations. Developed by UNITAR, UNESCO, and a collective of HEIs, the Leaders in Higher Education Alliance and Programme - for Accelerating Sustainability Transformations (LEAP-FAST) aimed to strengthen this role by fostering a global movement of sustainability leaders in higher education. The initiative comprises four components: a Leadership Dialogue, a Certificate Programme, an SDG Ambassadors' Programme, and Regional and National Spin-offs.

April 2026 - Small Island Developing States (SIDS) such as Saint Lucia face a persistent challenge: producing timely, accurate, and granular data to inform decision-making. Rapidly changing informal settlements, combined with limited statistical resources, make it difficult to maintain up-to-date population estimates and vulnerability assessments.
For Saint Lucia’s Central Statistics Office (CSO), the challenge became particularly visible when the 2022 population and household census was estimated to have a 23.3 per cent undercount rate. Based on listings and field experience, the CSO suspected that much of this undercount was concentrated in informal settlement areas, where housing patterns can change quickly between census cycles. These gaps are not only technical. They affect how services are planned, how risks are assessed, and how resources are allocated.

Over the past years, the Tanzania Peacekeeping Training Centre (TPTC) has undergone a significant transformation: from a relatively low-profile national training institution to an increasingly recognized centre of reference for peacekeeping training in Africa. UNITAR’s support in 2025 contributed to accelerating this trajectory by reinforcing the centre’s institutional capacity, training methodologies, and ability to adapt to evolving operational demands.

Electronics are the world’s fastest-growing waste stream, and yet most countries still lack the data, systems, and institutional capacities required for effective management. UNITAR’s Sustainable Cycles (SCYCLE) Programme has not only built the world’s most comprehensive multi-level monitoring architecture—spanning global, regional, and national e-waste and material-flow analyses—but also develops the expert networks, methodological leadership, and practical system knowledge needed to support real-world transition processes.

Limited awareness and understanding of Human Rights trigger a number of challenges, including discrimination, access to fair and independent justice, and conflicts. In this regard, fostering knowledge, skills, and attitudes in this field enables more inclusive, prosperous, resilient, and peaceful societies. As a contribution to this end, the Saudi Human Rights Commission, UNITAR, and Majmaah University developed and implemented the Expert in Human Rights Programme in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT), part of UNITAR, delivers satellite analysis, training, and capacity development to UN entities and Member States. We leverage geospatial technologies to support humanitarian response, sustainable development, and resilience building worldwide. Through satellite analysis and targeted training initiatives, UNOSAT empowers UN entities and Member States to leverage geospatial technologies for evidence-based decision making. The project “Strengthening Capacities in the Use of Geospatial Information for Improved Resilience in Asia-Pacific and Africa”, implemented between 2021-2024 with funding from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), supported eight countries across Asia-Pacific and Africa in strengthening their geospatial capabilities to address development challenges. The following case study from Bhutan demonstrates the transformative impact of this initiative.

Climate change has challenged traditional livelihood strategies, such as agriculture and pastoralism, requiring alternative, resilient livelihood options. To develop capacities that can face these new realities, the UNITAR Division for Prosperity organized the “Developing green livelihoods for women and youth in Africa: Strengthening food security, supporting climate resilient economies” programme. This Impact Story reveals that the programme was useful to participants' needs and that the majority were able to use what they had learned, including participants who started the implementation of their business ideas or project proposals.

In March 2025, two consecutive earthquakes—measuring 7.7 and 6.7 magnitude — struck central Myanmar, causing widespread destruction. In the worst-affected areas, the earthquakes left 6.3 million people in urgent need of assistance and protection. Prior to the disaster, 4.3 million people were already in need in these areas. The earthquake pushed an additional 2 million people into crisis.

Electrical and electronic equipment have revolutionized how we live, work, and communicate, and are today integrated into our daily lives. However, as this equipment reaches the end of its life cycle, e-waste generation is inevitable. Recognizing the need to address e-waste generation and recyclability, UNITAR Sustainable Cycles (SCYCLE) Programme and Microsoft joined forces to tackle this issue. The collaboration, rooted in a shared vision for sustainability, has yielded tangible results.

The "Road Data Management System App - OKOA MAISHA" project aimed to streamline incident data collection and improve road safety through technology and awareness initiatives in Tanzania. The project was designed to address critical road safety challenges by leveraging mobile technology for real-time data collection and analysis. This approach was intended to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of traffic management and accident response.