Nigeria and other United Nations member states have endorsed plans to establish a new UN institution dedicated to strengthening learning, training and capacity development across the organisation and its member countries.
The UN General Assembly approved the move on Thursday through a resolution adopted by its 193 members, providing for the integration of the UN System Staff College (UNSSC) into the UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
The resolution also provides for the creation of the UN Institute for Capability and Learning Innovation (UNICLI), which is expected to begin operations in January 2027.
The restructuring forms part of the UN80 Initiative, a broader reform programme aimed at making the world body more efficient, coordinated and responsive to emerging global challenges.
Under the new arrangement, UNICLI will bring together UNITAR’s capacity-building work with governments, diplomats and public institutions and UNSSC’s expertise in leadership development, training and knowledge-sharing for UN personnel.
UNITAR Executive Director and UN Assistant Secretary-General, Michelle Gyles-McDonnough, said the reform was necessary as member states and the UN system confront increasingly interconnected challenges.
She said the organisation needed to strengthen its institutional capabilities, encourage innovation and improve effectiveness so that global commitments could translate into practical outcomes.
Officials said bringing the two institutions together would create a central platform for learning and capability development while reducing duplication and fragmentation within the UN system.
Acting Director of UNSSC, Miguel Panadero, said the integration would enable the new institution to provide a more coordinated approach to capacity development for both member states and UN entities.
The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, also welcomed the General Assembly’s decision, according to his spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric.
Dujarric said the Secretary-General viewed continuous learning, capability development and innovation as strategic components of the UN’s effectiveness and reform agenda rather than secondary functions.
He said Guterres had called on member states, UN agencies, partners and other stakeholders to participate in shaping the new institution and strengthening its contribution to a more sustainable, inclusive and resilient world.
The transition is scheduled to be implemented in phases until the end of 2026, with UNITAR and UNSSC continuing to operate under their current structures during the process to ensure that existing programmes and partnerships are not disrupted.
UNICLI will be headquartered in Geneva, while Turin will retain its role as a UN learning campus and leadership development centre. Existing operations in Bonn, Hiroshima, Madrid and New York will also continue.
The establishment of the new institute represents another concrete step under the UN80 reform agenda, as member states seek to create a more streamlined, adaptable and future-oriented United Nations.
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