Published on: 2026-09-03
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
September 3, 2026, UN
The UN General Assembly approved the merger of two UN entities – the UN System Staff College and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). This is the first structural merger envisaged by the “UN-80” initiative aimed at improving the Organization’s efficiency.
The corresponding draft resolution was adopted by 132 votes to four, with one abstention. Before the vote, Russia proposed to postpone the decision, but this proposal was rejected: it was supported by seven states, 60 voted against, and 47 abstained.
In the adopted resolution, the General Assembly approved the Secretary-General’s report on the merger of the two structures and decided to transfer all existing mandates, functions, personnel, property, assets, rights, and obligations of the College to UNITAR. At the same time, in the initial phase, the key educational resources of both structures and their existing geographical presence should be preserved.
Upon completion of the first stage of the transition process, UNITAR, as the legal successor to the UN System Staff College, will be renamed the United Nations Innovative Institute for Capacity Development and Learning. The first stage is expected to be completed by December 31, 2026.
Enhancing the Efficiency of the UN
The decision was made within the framework of the “UN-80” initiative, launched amid efforts to enhance the efficiency of the Organization’s system. The corresponding resolution was approved in July 2025.
The Secretary-General has been tasked with carrying out the reorganization and presenting a detailed report to the General Assembly at its 81st session. This report should, in particular, include the timelines for the transformations, the expected cost savings, efficiency improvements, reduction of overlapping functions, transitional period expenses, and the future staffing structure.
The merger of UNITAR and the College of Personnel was the first UN structure merger approved by the General Assembly under the initiative. Currently, the possibility of merging the UN Development Programme and the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), as well as the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the UN Women entity, is also being studied. No decisions have been made on these proposals yet.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the General Assembly’s decision, calling it an “important step forward” in implementing the “UN-80” initiative. According to him, the creation of a new unified structure will allow for the formation of a more effective platform for training, capacity building, and institutional reforms within the UN system.
Please note; This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.