21 June 2023, Hiroshima, Japan - UNITAR Division for Prosperity invites entrepreneurs in Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon to apply to the Great Ideas Space 2023: Entrepreneurship and Innovation promoting Health Security and Economic Development in Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon. The programme aims to train entrepreneurs to bring to life innovative local COVID-19 recovery solutions.

21 June 2023, Hiroshima, Japan - The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), Division for Prosperity invites young entrepreneurs, innovators, civil servants, and other actors along the agricultural value chain in South Sudan to apply to the Great Ideas Space for South Sudan 2023: Entrepreneurship and Innovation Training for Food Security.

The State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SAPSSI), whose “ASAN” Service Centers won the United Nations Public Service Awards in 2015, is joining forces with UNITAR to build capacity worldwide on transparent, efficient, accountable, and accessible public service delivery for all.

19 June 2023, Geneva, Switzerland – UNITAR in collaboration with Open Geneva and the University of Geneva School of Economics, organize the upcoming international workshop on Economics of Information Security, WEIS 2023. The event will be held on 5-8 July at Campus Biotech, in Geneva.

26 June 2023, Isingiro, Uganda - In March 2023, Epa conducted fieldwork in Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda, shedding light on the challenges of energy access. Due to population growth and widespread deforestation, refugees and host communities face significant hurdles to accessing fuels to cook. While innovative solutions like biogas cooking systems offer some hope, the overall situation remains dire. More work is needed to support sustainable energy access for refugees and host communities. Epa explains how crucial innovations in cooking systems are in order to implement SDG 7 for “Affordable and clean energy” in displacement contexts.

26 June 2023, Geneva, Switzerland - Are you curious about how artificial intelligence (AI) can help you design more effective learning experiences? You have probably heard of AI and perhaps experimented with some AI tools, but you either found it overwhelming or were not necessarily impressed by the results. What if we told you that, when used properly, AI can contribute to creating innovative, inclusive and impactful educational experiences that promote the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?

In this article, we will share some examples of how we have used AI to enhance learning design and how this aligns with our mission to advance the SDGs.

26 June 2023, Geneva, Switzerland - Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires innovative approaches that go beyond traditional approaches. The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) is particularly proactive in innovating to be one of the most important institutions to develop methods in keeping with global developments and surrounding circumstances, especially via its significant work towards the achievement of SDG 16 for peace, justice and strong institutions endorsed by its Division for Peace and its inventive work to prevent extremism and counter-terrorism.

As the dedicated training arm of the United Nations, UNITAR strives to stay at the forefront of innovation. We acknowledge our responsibility in the role of leading the discussions, highlighting best practices, and framing a responsible evolution of the education environment.

To exemplify our commitment to delivering on our mandate and working in the spirit of inclusivity and social responsibility, our “Art for Peace” NFT Collection will help shape the new leaders of a new world, by serving as a fundraising platform that will cover the tuition fees for 50 students from Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). We prioritize inclusivity, and strive to ensure that education is accessible to all.

26 June 2023, Geneva, Switzerland - Halfway down the road, we still have a long way to go to reach the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. On some goals, we fell behind due to the COVID-19 pandemic which taught us one important thing: actions and policies cannot be developed in silos. While a wildlife issue can have effects on public health, measures in this area may in turn affect economy, access to education and other health services and contribute to gender-based violence. They can also have short-term and longer term effects on environment – and all this with complex effects across countries, reigons and time. Anticipating and understanding the effects of actions across different policy areas and georgraphies has been a challenge for all: be it a policy-maker, businessperson, care-provider, scientist, civil society advocate or just as an individual. The COVID-19 response has been a glaring demonstration of how important it is for all stakeholders to fully embrace the eight core cross-cutting SDG or sustainability competencies defined by UNESCO - systems-thinking, anticipatory, normative, strategic, critical thinking, self-awareness, collaboration, and integrated problem-solving as an overarching competency.

14 June 2023, Hiroshima, Japan – On 5 June 2023, UNITAR Association, UNITAR's national commitee in Japan, held a Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Seminar for its supporting members in Hiroshima, Japan. Hiroshima companies gathered to reflect on the philosophical and practical lessons they’ve learned while integrating the SDGs into their businesses.