January 2024 - In a collaborative endeavour spanning from December 2020 to February 2023, the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) joined forces with the Directorate-General for Growth within the Ministry of Finance in Cyprus and the DG Reform of the European Commission to execute a project generously funded by the European Commission, aptly titled "Implementation and Mainstreaming of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the National Policy Framework" in Cyprus.

On the 20th of December 2022, UNITAR launched its latest initiative, the "Data analysis to inform SDG formulation and evaluation" programme. Tailored for public officials overseeing planning and evaluation, researchers seeking to delve into public policy evaluation, evaluators aiming to enhance their quantitative skills, and professionals requiring strengthened statistical and causal inference abilities, the programme stands as a comprehensive online training opportunity.

28 November 2023, Doha, Qatar - The Training and Continuing Education Center at Lusail University organized a roundtable discussion on "University Contributions to Achieving Sustainable Development Goals in the State of Qatar." This event was part of the collaboration with CIFAL, a network of training centres affiliated with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). The discussion witnessed distinguished participation from prominent figures in the field of education and sustainable development. Discussions focused on the crucial role of universities and the challenges faced by students in pursuing sustainable development goals in the modern world.

21 December 2023, Online/Dubai, UAE - From the 4th to the 10th December, UNITAR hosted three events at COP28 for UN CC Learn’s Climate Classrooms, entitled; Tackling Plastic Pollution; Sustainable Marine Transportation; Upskilling for Decarbonization, and two in-person events at COP28, first with CIFAL City of London on December 5th entitled ‘Sustainable Development and Higher Education’, and second with RES4City at the ‘United in Science 2023’ event on December 10th.

18 December 2023, Geneva, Switzerland - New satellite imagery analysis conducted by the United Nations Satellite Center (UNOSAT) has uncovered distressing trends in the agricultural landscape of the Gaza Strip. Based on an assessment utilizing Sentinel-2 satellite imagery collected between December 2017 and December 2023, the findings illuminate the significant impact of the ongoing conflict on the health and density of crops.

18 December 2023, New York, USA – Today, the selected 100 young participants of the Youth Leader Fund for a World without Nuclear Weapons (YLF) convened for the first time.

17 December 2023, Ankara, Türkiye - the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), in collaboration with the Global Surgery Foundation (GSF), signed a shared Vision Statement with members of the Value-Based Healthcare (VBHC) Expert Working Group in Türkiye.

12 December 2023, Geneva, Switzerland - Eighteen per cent of structures in the Gaza Strip have been damaged since the outburst of the conflict. This figure comes from a new satellite imagery analysis conducted by the United Nations Satellite Center (UNOSAT) based on an image collected on 26 November 2023 with the very-high resolution WorldView-3 satellite. Additionally, there has been a staggering 49% increase in total structures affected since the last assessment on 7 November 2023.

12 December 2023, Geneva, Switzerland – UNITAR successfully concluded a four-day training on Environmental, Social, and Governance Frameworks for Public Officials at the Palais des Nations, bringing together 23 participants from 18 member-states of the Group of 77 and China (G77 + China). The workshop consisted of eight interactive sessions, led by world-class experts, including Ambassadors, university professors and senior UN officials, all working to equip participants with the skills and knowledge necessary to impact ESG integration and sustainable development.

12 December 2023, Abidjan, Ivory Coast – Breastfeeding is linked to many of the Sustainable Development Goals. Breastfeeding is, for example, a critical aspect in achieving SDG2 and SDG3 — which include ending hunger, improving nutrition, and promoting health and well-being.