UN approves new learning institute as Nigeria backs UNITAR-UNSSC merger

The United Nations General Assembly has approved a new institution that will combine two of the organization’s learning and training bodies, with Nigeria among the member states supporting the decision.

Under a resolution adopted on Thursday, the 193-member Assembly endorsed the integration of the UN System Staff College into the UN Institute for Training and Research, known as UNITAR. It also approved the creation of the UN Institute for Capability and Learning Innovation, or UNICLI, from January 2027.

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The UN must continue to evolve, building stronger capabilities, fostering innovation, and enhancing institutional effectiveness to turn global commitments into tangible results.

The merger forms part of the UN80 Initiative, which seeks to make the United Nations more coherent, effective and responsive. The new institute will bring together UNITAR’s work with governments, diplomats and public institutions and UNSSC’s training, leadership-development and knowledge-sharing work for UN personnel.

UNITAR Executive Director Michelle Gyles-McDonough said member states and the UN system face increasingly complex and interconnected challenges. She said the UN must build stronger capabilities, encourage innovation and improve institutional effectiveness so global commitments produce practical results.

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By integrating UNSSC’s and UNITAR’s expertise in providing training for the UN system and Member States respectively, the new entity will be better positioned to provide a stronger, more coherent capability development function.

The planned structure is intended to give member states, UN bodies and partners a single platform for learning and capability development, while reducing duplication and fragmentation. Acting UNSSC Director Miguel Panadero said combining the two organizations’ expertise would create a more coherent capability-development function. UN spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said the secretary-general welcomed the decision and described continuous learning and innovation as strategic drivers of UN effectiveness, reform and impact.

The transition will take place in phases through the end of 2026 to preserve existing programs, partnerships and services. UNITAR and UNSSC will continue under their current arrangements until then. UNICLI will be headquartered in Geneva, while Turin will continue serving as a location for the institution.

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Capability development, continuous learning and innovation are not ancillary functions, but strategic drivers of the UN’s effectiveness, reform and impact for Member States.