Our efforts in research span multiple pillars of the UNITAR system with the aim to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Pillar
We aim to promote peaceful, just, and inclusive societies. We support institutions and individuals to contribute meaningfully towards sustainable peace.
The Roadmaps for Energy Access in Displacement Settings (READS) project, funded by the IKEA Foundation and supported by SNV, Mercy Corps, and Practical Action, produced three reports on enhancing sustainable energy access for refugees and host communities in Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. The reports outline energy needs, solutions, and project opportunities to improve energy access in displacement settings.
Our Learning Solutions team launched a new Training of Trainers (ToT) website, offering a comprehensive package of TOT expertise, including an eLearning course, face-to-face immersions, and free learning resources like Gender and Inclusivity toolkits. The platform empowers individuals and organizations globally to implement effective training and expand capacity-building efforts. Testimonials highlight its transformative impact on education and leadership.
The inaugural Climate Security conference in Bonn gathered 118 stakeholders to address the security implications of climate change, focusing on conflict prevention, climate resilience, and sustainable development. The event emphasized collaboration and international cooperation, with outcomes guiding the 2024 edition and ongoing research partnerships with Technological University Dublin and EUT+.
Climate Security: Peace and Security Consequences of Climate Change
Ireland
Dr. Eoin Langan, with a background in accounting, finance, and IT consulting, transitioned to Higher Education at TU Dublin in 2019. He initially served as Head of School for Accounting and Finance and became Dean of the Faculty of Business in September 2021. He brings extensive executive management experience from industry and academia, focusing on collaboration, staff development, and inclusive leadership.
Dr. Langan's strong interest in innovation, technology, entrepreneurship, and sustainability within Higher Education was showcased when he served as a keynote speaker at the International Research Climate Security Conference organized by UNITAR. Held in Bonn, Germany, on 24 November 2023, the conference gathered experts from diverse backgrounds to explore the intersections of climate change and security.
TU Dublin, in collaboration with UOC and WADEM, played a pivotal role in advancing discussions on climate resilience, adaptation, and multilateral cooperation at the conference. Dr. Langan emphasized the need for transformative educational models and transdisciplinary approaches to effectively address climate security challenges. The conference provided crucial insights and a roadmap for policymakers and practitioners aiming to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
Looking forward, the second edition of the conference is scheduled for December 2024 at UN offices in Brussels, continuing to foster collaboration and drive actionable strategies in climate security and sustainable development.
Pillar
We aim to promote people’s well-being, including the protection and empowerment of groups that are vulnerable and marginalized, and to support equitable representation of countries in global decision-making fora.
Road Safety Data Dashboard
Ecuador
In 2023, UNITAR and the General Secretariat of the Andean Community (SGCAN) formed a transformative partnership aimed at enhancing road safety across the Andean Community (CAN). This collaboration introduced the Virtual Road Safety Dashboard, empowering road safety experts and Ministries of Transport to monitor safety metrics effectively.
Diego Caicedo, Director at SGCAN, praised the alliance with UNITAR for revolutionizing the organization of road safety indicators within the region. This state-of-the-art tool not only improved data accessibility and accuracy but also fostered a collaborative environment for progress.
Overcoming the challenges of manual monitoring, the virtual dashboard enabled real-time data analysis and error correction, enhancing the quality of information and road safety outcomes. A dedicated team of experts ensured seamless integration and maintenance, advancing data management and supporting vital projects by the Secretariat.
Beyond its role in data visualization, the dashboard prompted member nations to prioritize timely updates, boosting efficiency and yielding tangible benefits. Users highlighted its effectiveness in information visualization, emphasizing its transformative impact.
The implementation of the Virtual Road Safety Dashboard signifies a significant achievement in providing stakeholders with crucial, timely information. It underscores the power of collaboration, innovation, and steadfast commitment to advancing road safety and well-being throughout the Andean Community.
Pillar
We aim to strengthen capacities that foster a green, low-carbon and climate resilient transition, and to strengthen capacities that manage dangerous chemicals and waste in a sound and sustainable manner.
We support the conversation, restoration and safeguarding of the planet for present and future generations, improving the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.
key research products
In March 2023, we outlined severe e-waste challenges in West Asia, with most waste unmanaged. Transitioning to a circular economy could cut e-waste and create 225,000 jobs. Our International E-waste Day 2023 briefing revealed global mismanagement issues, while our Western Balkans Monitor stressed the need for better infrastructure and regional cooperation.
Between 2022 and 2023, SCYCLE's Unwaste project investigated waste trafficking from the EU to Southeast Asia, focusing on paper, plastics, metals, and e-waste. Millions of tons were exported, including 233 kilotons of e-waste in 2019. Despite bans, ASEAN countries received 10,000 tons of clinical waste via intra-regional trade.
Since March 2023, SCYCLE leads the Horizon Europe FutuRaM project to secure secondary raw materials in the EU up to 2050, focusing on critical raw materials.
In March 2023, SCYCLE began the CE-RISE project to develop a data platform for electronic products, aiding reuse and recycling.
SCYCLE’s ECOSWEEE project, launched in summer 2023, improves WEEE and battery collection with innovative methods.
Since October 2023, SCYCLE's EVERPV project aims for sustainable treatment of end-of-life photovoltaic panels and material recovery.
Pillar
We aim to optimise the use of new technology, including geospaitial technologies for evidence-based decision making, and to support coherence for the 2030 agenda.
Mapping products
In an era marked by a rising frequency and intensity of disasters and conflicts, the need for situational awareness from remote sensing is paramount. Over the last two decades, UNOSAT's emergency mapping service has provided crucial geospatial analysis to aid those facing the greatest challenges. In 2023, UNOSAT delivered approximately 1,795 mapping service products across 83 activations in 64 countries worldwide.
Since October 2023, UNOSAT has supported humanitarian efforts in the Gaza Strip by providing satellite-based analysis to agencies. We have assessed infrastructure and building damage, monitored internally displaced persons, and evaluated agricultural impacts. Collaborating with Wuhan University, we use very-high-resolution night-time light data to assess power shortages and infrastructure functionality during the conflict.
Pillar
We aim to optimise the use of technology and to support coherence and evidence based policies of the 2030 Agenda.
With the UN Statistics Division, UN Women, and other partners, we co-led the Collaborative on Citizen Data and developed the Copenhagen Conceptual Framework. Presented at the UN Statistical Commission's fifty-fifth session, it aims to empower National Statistical Offices, civil society, and communities to use citizen data for better policies, service delivery, and inclusion.
Citizen Science Data on Indigenous Women to Fill in Data Gaps on the Gender Dimension of Climate Change
France
Merlyn, a research and data analyst at the Learning Planet Institute, is tackling the underrepresentation of indigenous women in local decision-making, especially in Colombia, home to two million indigenous people. Despite their vital role in biodiversity and climate resilience, these women face gender and ethnic discrimination. To address this, Merlyn launched WOMER, a citizen science project empowering indigenous women to collect climate change data via a mobile app.
WOMER supports evidence-based advocacy for policies that align with indigenous women's needs, adhering to the CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance. The project not only generates actionable data but also empowers women by integrating traditional knowledge with digital tools.
Merlyn's work, strengthened by UNITAR’s coaching, has built trust within communities, enabling women leaders to drive the initiative. The project’s success in Colombia has the potential to be replicated globally, advancing gender equality and climate action.
Pillar
Our aim is to enable and assist all low-resource countries to scale-up action on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD). We do this through national capacity building, community scale-up of NCD services, affordability and accessibility of essential NCD supplies, and financing for country-level NCD programming.
We completed the first phase of a program with WHO and partners to support young researchers from low- and middle-income countries in scaling up NCD responses. Out of over 100 applications, eight were selected, resulting in policy briefs on topics like diabetes care integration, sugary beverage restrictions, and mobile health solutions in various countries.