UN Geneva Press Briefing: UNITAR, WMO, WHO

Description

Merger of the UN System Staff College and the UN Institute for Training and Research Michelle Gyles-McDonnough, Executive Director of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), briefed about the decision taken by the UN General Assembly: the approval to merge the UN System Staff College, UNSSC, into the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), and to establish the new United Nations Institute for Capability and Learning Innovation, or UNICLI. The decision formed part of the broader UN80 Initiative, which was fundamentally about making the UN better able to deliver – by aligning mandates, structures, resources, and capabilities around results. Ms. Gyles-McDonnough further explained that the rationale for this move was straightforward: Member States and the UN were facing increasingly complex and interconnected challenges — from conflict and humanitarian crises to climate change, technological disruption and slow progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. Responding effectively required people and institutions to continuously develop new skills, adapt and turn knowledge into action. The future UNICLI would bring together the complementary strengths of UNITAR and UNSSC: UNITAR's leadership in capacity development for Member States, public institutions, diplomats, and development practitioners would be combined with UNSSC's expertise in learning, leadership, and organizational transformation. The aim was not simply to bring two organizations together, but to create a more coherent and accessible platform for learning and capability development. Ms. Gyles-McDonnough emphasized that this would be a phased transition. Until the end of 2026, UNITAR and UNSSC would continue to operate as separate entities, and its programmes, services, partnerships and existing commitments would continue. UNICLI would then be formally established on 1 January 2027, with the integration of structures, systems and capabilities continuing throughout 2027. The priority throughout this process was continuity — for Member States, UN personnel, learners, donors and partners. Rolando Gómez, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), informed that the Secretary-General had welcomed the GA decision to merge the UNSSC with UNITAR, replacing them with a new entity. This decision was an important step forward in his UN80 Initiative. The decision created a stronger, more integrated platform for learning and capability development, and institutional transformation. Answering questions from the media, Ms. Gyles-McDonnough explained that the Secretary-General had proposed this merger, with an implementation plan, back in March 2025, following a four-month process of consultation. The potential merger had been on the table for almost 20 years, she explained, but given the urgency of the current moment and a detailed analysis, the merger was taking place now. Both UNITAR and UNSSC boards had studied the proposal and given it a green light. Savings of USD 5.5 to 7 million were expected, with one-time merger costs of USD 7 to 9 million. The merger had never been envisioned as a solely cost-cutting exercise, but the focus was on providing better service and avoiding duplication. Ms. Gyles-McDonnough said that the approved new structure foresaw the staffing of 153; there would be a 26 percent reduction compared to the existing staffing. Attacks on WHO warehouses in Ukraine Christian Lindmeier, for the World Health Organization (WHO), informed that in the past three months, three WHO humanitarian warehouses in different regions of the country had been damaged by air-strikes, destroying essential medical supplies intended for frontline and hard-to-reach areas. Just the previous night, an air attack in Kyiv oblast had affected one of WHO's main warehouses storing humanitarian medical supplies. Access to the site remained restricted due to heavy smoke and safety concerns, while assessments of possible damage and stock losses were ongoing. No WHO personnel had been affected. Mr. Lindmeier further said that the incident followed an attack two weeks earlier that had destroyed a WHO humanitarian warehouse in Dnipro, resulting in the loss of half of the medical supplies and equipment intended to support an estimated 225,000 people living in frontline and hard-to-reach areas. Another warehouse used by WHO in Kyiv oblast had been damaged during a large-scale wave of attacks on Kyiv and the region in July. These attacks were part of a broader pattern affecting humanitarian operations across the country. In 2026, at least 20 attacks had affected warehouses storing humanitarian supplies, including 15 attacks on warehouses holding health-related humanitarian supplies. Despite these challenges, said Mr. Lindmeier, WHO continued to work with health partners across Ukraine to ensure that essential medical supplies reached health facilities and communities in need. Alternative storage arrangements had already been identified following the latest incidents. WHO's immediate priority was to establish which products had been damaged and determine how they could be replaced with the support of its partners. All UN locations, including warehouses, had been communicated to both sides of the conflict, said Mr. Lindmeier responding to questions. Announcements Clare Nullis, for the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), informed that the WMO Air Quality and Climate Bulletin would be released on 6 September, the Clean Air for Blue Skies Day. Information under embargo should be shared with the media later today. Christian Lindmeier, for the World Health Organization (WHO), said that on 8 September, WHO would publish a new study on the effects of smoking on fertility. Rolando Gómez, for the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), informed that the previous day the Secretary-General had addressed the General Assembly on the implementation of the UN80 Initiative. His remarks can be found here. The 81st session of the UN General Assembly would start in New York on 8 September under the presidency of Khalilur Rahman of Bangladesh. On 8 September at 2 pm, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic would present an update on the human rights situation in the country. This morning, the Committee on the Rights of the Child would end its review of Tanzania. The following week, the Committee would review the reports of Uganda and Burkina Faso. Finally, Mr. Gómez informed that 7 September would be the International Day of Police Cooperation and the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies. ***