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UNITAR e-Newsletter

1st edition 2017

UNITAR staff

Achievements 2016 and Outlook 2017

In 2016, we had a quite busy year at UNITAR.  We organized the first Friends of UNITAR meeting to present our courses and offers, we celebrated UNOSAT programme’s 15-year anniversary, we expanded our portfolio of free and open courses, we concluded agreements with multiple new partners, and we continued developing training and capacity development events to empower national Governments and their partners on multilateral diplomacy, environment, peace, economic and social inclusion, and the 2030 Agenda. 

In numbers, we organized more than 450 training and learning events benefiting over 55,000 participants, maajority of whom are from Africa (approx. 48%), and from Latin America and Caribbean (approx. 27%).  We continue to serve the Government officials (local, regional and national) as our top beneficiaries (more than 50%), followed by academia (14%) and the private sector representatives (less than 10%).

Here are a few examples of our key achievements in 2016 and outlook for 2017.

Enjoy reading!

The Climate Classroom @ COP22 Provides Innovative Learning Opportunities for Busy Delegates

The Climate Classroom @ COP22 Provides Innovative Learning Opportunities for Busy Delegates

Keeping abreast of the newest developments in climate change is essential to make timely, effective and sustainable decisions. Yet, adequate time and space for learning are rarely accessible for busy decision-makers and full-time working professionals. The Climate Classroom – a mobile learning space coordinated by UN CC:Learn that ‘pops up’ at the center of major climate change conferences and related events – has been developed to bridge this gap.

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Introduction to Sustainable Consumption and Production in Africa

First e-Learning Course on "Introduction to Sustainable Consumption and Production in Africa"!

Transitioning towards Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) is key to achieving the 2030 Sustainable Agenda. The course “Introduction to SCP in Africa” provides policy makers and other stakeholders with an introduction to SCP, as an approach to enabling sustainable societies in Africa. This is the first course of its kind, developed specifically for the needs of the African region.

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Closing the Climate Finance Gap in Cambodia: Could Training be the Simple Answer?

Closing the Climate Finance Gap in Cambodia: Could Training be the Simple Answer?

Almost a year ago, the Eiffel Tower lit up with the phrase “No Plan B”, as delegates from 195 countries gathered to sign the landmark Paris Agreement, affirming their belief that climate change is the greatest threat to humankind in the 21st century. The agreement sets out a global plan of action to reduce green house gas emissions and limit the increase in the global average temperature. But as the treaty enters into force a year later, it is clear that global goodwill will not be enough to curb the risks that currently loom over the world’s poorest nations.

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New Youth Leadership Programme Empowers Indonesian Youth to Act on Climate Change

New Youth Leadership Programme Empowers Indonesian Youth to Act on Climate Change

UN CC:Learn and UNESCO Office, Jakarta, in collaboration with The Climate Reality Project Indonesia and Youth for Climate Change Indonesia, and with support from Office of the President’s Special Envoy for Climate Change, have launched the Youth Leadership Camp for Climate Change 2017. This initiative is carried out within the second phase of the UN CC:Learn Project to Strengthen Human Resources, Learning and Skills Development to Address Climate Change in Indonesia and contributes to the implementation of the National Climate Change Learning Strategy.

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UNITAR Hiroshima Office Update Winter 2016

UNITAR Hiroshima Office Update Winter 2016

The UNITAR Hiroshima Office had a busy end to 2016, implementing capacity building programmes for Iraq, South Sudan, Afghanistan, North Africa, and Small Island Developing States, as well as increasing its engagement with the local community through a range of interactive activities.

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Mercury: From Inventories to Priorities to Action

Mercury: From Inventories to Priorities to Action

Using various tools adapted to the specific needs of our clients, the mercury team of UNITAR’s Chemicals and Waste Management Programme (CWM) is offering targeted assistance to developing countries in their efforts to ratify and prepare for implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury. This is done in close cooperation with our partners, including the UN Development Programme, UN Environment and the UN Industrial Development Organization.

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Announcements

FREE Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on the 2030 Agenda

“Introduction to the 2030 Agenda: A New Agenda for a Sustainable World”

This course is open to everyone interested to learn more about the nature of the 2030 Agenda, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their interlinkages, as well as how this will affect their implementation, and how everyone can contribute at his/her level. Participants can follow the course at their own pace, and can choose to have a certificate provided they have met the certification requirements.

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Global MOOC Survey

Join Our Global MOOC Survey

The Global MOOC Survey is a scientific, independent and non-profit first global survey on the quality of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). It targets MOOC learners, MOOC designers and MOOC facilitators. The long-term goal is the development of quality indicators and tools to improve the design of MOOCs.

More information >>

Upcoming Learning Conference on Developing a “Holistic Approach for the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda

Learning Conference on Developing a “Holistic Approach for the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda”

UNITAR in partnership with other programmes of the UN family started the development of a series of toolkits and a learning conference promoting “whole-of-government” and “whole-of-society” approaches to the implementation of the SDGs. The objective of this training conference is to improve policy coherence across the national policy cycle by reinforcing cooperation between different parts of the Government involved in central-level planning, budgeting and monitoring.

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Executive Director's interview with El Pais on the 2030 Agenda

Executive Director's interview with El Pais on the 2030 Agenda

Mr. Nikhil Seth, the Executive Director of UNITAR, had a long interview with El Pais, a leading newspaper in Spain, while he was on mission to the country. Mr. Seth talked about the importance of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, for all UN Member States, how each Goals are interrelated, and how UNITAR can help in implementing the Agenda.

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PAGE e-Learning Course on Green Economy and Trade

Significant opportunities exist for developing and developed countries to achieve long-term and sustainable economic development by diversifying their economies and benefitting from the growing global demand for green goods and services. In this context, sustainable trade can serve as an effective means to advance an inclusive green economy.To meet the learning needs and build capacities of national stakeholders, UNITAR and UNEP are collaborating within the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) to deliver a new interactive e-learning course at the nexus of trade and the green economy.

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Report for New Creativity for Development Course

Report for New Creativity for Development Course Ready!

We are pleased to announce that the report for the Creativity for Developement Open Access Course is ready! In the last quarter of 2016, UNITAR and UNCTAD, together with Asa Baako One Dance, Cirque du Monde, HATCH,Momentom Collective and UNISINOS delivered the course to raise awareness on the value of creativity an culture for socioeconomic development.

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Partnerships

Mr. Yves Flückiger and Mr. Nikhil Seth

UNITAR and the University of Geneva partnered to launch a joint a Master programme of Advanced Studies in European and International Governance

On 13 January 2017 the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the University of Geneva signed their first agreement to launch a joint Master’s Programme of Advanced Studies in European and International Governance. The signature took place at the University of Geneva between the University’s Rector Mr. Yves Flückiger and the Executive Director of UNITAR Mr. Nikhil Seth.”

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UNITAR Collaborates with Royal Academy of Science International Trust (RASIT)

UNITAR Collaborates with Royal Academy of Science International Trust (RASIT)

United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director of United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), Mr. Nikhil Seth, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Royal Academy of Science International Trust (RASIT) represented by HRH Princess Dr. Nisreen Bint Prince. RASIT is an organization that was established in 1968 with a mission to promote and develop excellence in science, education, economics, health and the environment for sustainable development.

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