UN General Assembly has approved the merger of two United Nations learning and training bodies, creating a new institution designed to strengthen support for both member states and the UN system itself.

In a resolution adopted on Thursday, the 193-member assembly, including Nigeria, endorsed integrating the UN System Staff College into the UN Institute for Training and Research.

They also approved establishing the UN Institute for Capability and Learning Innovation from January 2027.

The decision is part of the wider UN80 Initiative, which aims to make the United Nations more coherent, effective and responsive to today’s challenges. The new institute will combine UNITAR’s work helping governments, diplomats and public institutions build skills and capacity with UNSSC’s expertise in training, leadership development and knowledge-sharing for UN personnel.

“Member states and the United Nations system are facing increasingly complex and interconnected challenges. The UN must continue to evolve, building stronger capabilities, fostering innovation, and enhancing institutional effectiveness to turn global commitments into tangible results,” Michelle Gyles-McDonnough, UN assistant secretary-general and executive director of UNITAR.

The merger will create a single platform for learning and capability development, making it easier for member states, UN entities and partners to access expertise and support while reducing duplication and fragmentation.

Overall, the measure better equips the UN system to adapt to a rapidly changing world.

“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,” Miguel Panadero, acting director of UNSSC, said.

Addressing correspondents at UN Headquarters later in the day, spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said the secretary-general welcomed the assembly’s decision.

The transition will take place in phases through the end of 2026 to ensure continuity of programmes, partnerships and services. Until then, UNITAR and UNSSC will continue operating under their existing arrangements.

The new institute will be headquartered in Geneva, while Turin will continue serving as a UN learning campus and centre for leadership development. Existing offices and operations in Bonn, Hiroshima, Madrid and New York will also continue.

The merger is one of the latest concrete actions taken by member states under the UN80 Initiative, reflecting efforts to build a more agile, future-focused United Nations equipped to meet evolving global needs.

(NAN)