UNITAR hosts the XIV Meeting of its Global Network of CIFAL Affiliated Training Centres

15-17 November 2017, Geneva, Switzerland – The CIFAL Global Network is UNITAR’s network of affiliated centres dedicated to provide cutting-edge training aimed at strengthening the capacities of local authorities and key change agents to design and implement innovative solutions to global challenges.

The XVI Steering Committee of the CIFAL Global Network convened the Directors and teams of the 16 training centres at the Palais des Nations in Geneva for a two-day dynamic discussion on how to expand the work of the centres to address the needs of local governments around the world. During the meeting, CIFAL centres exchanged ideas and strategies for mobilizing resources, shared training methodologies and innovative approaches, and identified new areas for training.

The last day of the meeting included a visit to CIFAL Zurich to participate in the training “Leadership for the SDGs”. The training took place at UBS Congress Centre and provided an insight on how to mobilize the private sector to build-up their current social innovation initiatives towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

Special contributions to the discussions from the government and private sector perspective were made by Ambassador Michael Gerber, Switzerland’s Special Envoy for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and from the Communications and Marketing Director of UBS.

During the Meeting, UNITAR welcomed the new CIFAL Madrid, which will provide training and education opportunities on road safety.  As of December 2017, the CIFAL Global Network is comprised of 16 training centres located across Africa, Asia, Europe, Australia and the Americas, reaching to more than 10,000 beneficiaries annually through more than 100 capacity building activities.

Photo: CIFAL Centres Directors during the XVI Steering Committee Meeting in Geneva.