The outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020 led to a global lockdown, prompting over half of the world’s population to stay at home. During this time, people were encouraged to use the opportunity to self-study and learn new skills. To facilitate this, the United Nations System has curated a wide range of e-Learning tools and online courses covering various topics such as sustainable development, human rights, climate change, and more.
One of the courses offered by the United Nations is the „New UN course helps cut through the noise to bolster online safety.“ This course focuses on enhancing online safety and provides valuable insights into navigating the digital landscape securely. The course aims to equip individuals with the necessary skills to protect themselves online and make informed decisions in the digital world.
Another valuable resource is the United Nations Speech Bank for interpreters. This e-learning tool is designed to help students and candidates prepare for United Nations competitive examinations for language positions and global language register exams. It provides a platform for individuals to practice interpreting speeches and improve their language skills in a UN context.
The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) offers a Digital Learning Centre (DLC) that provides digital capacity-building resources for implementing the 2030 Agenda. The DLC offers a curated repository of digital learning resources on various topics related to economic and social development. It serves as a valuable platform for individuals looking to enhance their knowledge and skills in sustainable development.
The African Institute for Economic Development and Planning (IDEP) under the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) offers an eLearning Platform that focuses on economic management and planning in African countries. The platform provides specialized courses tailored to the needs of African member states, helping to build capacity at senior and middle levels in economic development and planning.
The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) offers training courses and workshops to strengthen the technical capacities of member countries in support of inclusive and sustainable development. The courses cover various areas related to the Commission’s work, providing participants with the opportunity to learn and share experiences on development issues in the region.
The Economic Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) focuses on developing the technical, managerial, and institutional capacities of member governments to plan and deliver effective policies and programs for sustainable development. ESCAP offers e-learning courses, training programs, and online platforms to help member governments address development challenges and fulfill the 2030 development agenda.
The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) provides an e-learning portal that offers courses on various development issues relevant to the Arab region. The portal covers topics such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, climate change, poverty, gender equality, urban development, and public sector leadership. Learners can take individual courses or complete a learning path to earn a professional certificate on specific topics.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) offers the FAO eLearning Academy, which provides learning opportunities and multilingual courses on food and nutrition security, social and economic development, and sustainable management of natural resources. The Academy aims to strengthen the capacity of member countries to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through a variety of learning formats.
The Human Rights Council (HRC) offers an e-Learning tool on the Human Rights Council and its mechanisms. This interactive tool is designed for government officials from least developed countries and small island developing states, as well as UN staff, representatives of NGOs, and civil society organizations. The tool provides valuable insights into the work of the Human Rights Council and its mechanisms.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) offers a wide spectrum of education and training activities, including face-to-face training courses, online learning, fellowship programs, and schools on various nuclear-related topics. The IAEA’s CyberLearning Platform for Network Education and Training (CLP4NET) provides online courses on nuclear safety and security, radiation protection, sustainable energy development, and the use of nuclear applications.
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) offers e-learning courses on rural and agricultural development issues. These courses provide valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities in rural development, equipping learners with the knowledge and skills to address key issues in the agricultural sector.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) offers e-Learning tools on child labor and various other topics related to labor rights and social protection. The ILO’s International Training Centre (ITC-ILO) provides learning, knowledge-sharing, and capacity-building programs for governments, workers‘ and employers‘ organizations, and development partners. The ITC aims to be a forum where development intersects with all forms of knowledge in the world of work, promoting inclusivity and diversity.
InforMEA is the United Nations Information Portal on Multilateral Environmental Agreements, offering a wide range of courses in over 60 language versions. The platform provides free, self-paced courses on various environmental issues, offering certificates of completion upon successful completion.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) offers an Online Learning Program aimed at strengthening technical knowledge and expertise in government agencies to develop and implement sound economic and financial policies. The program provides free access to courses on macroeconomic analysis, public debt management, central banking, inclusive growth, macroeconomic statistics, and more.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) offers an e-Learning portal with courses aimed at increasing the capacity of Member States to effectively implement IMO instruments. The platform provides courses on energy saving at sea, sustainable transport, and trade connectivity, among other topics.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) offers the IOM e-Campus, a learning platform with online courses and training materials on migration. The platform provides courses in multiple languages on topics related to migration, prepared by experts in the field.
The International Telecommunication Academy (ITU) offers the ITU Academy, an online gateway to ITU’s capacity development activities in the field of information and communication technologies (ICTs) and digital development. The Academy provides a wide range of training activities and knowledge resources to enhance the skills and capabilities of individuals in the ICT sector.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) provides ReliefWeb, a humanitarian information service that offers training programs and job listings for humanitarian organizations. ReliefWeb serves as a valuable resource for individuals seeking career opportunities and training programs in the humanitarian sector.
The SDG AcademyX offers free online courses on sustainable development topics, curated by the SDG Academy. The courses address key challenges facing the world today, such as sustainable cities, human rights, and climate action, providing learners with the opportunity to engage with experts in the field.
The One UN Climate Change Learning Partnership (UN CC:Learn) offers a platform for countries to achieve climate change action through general climate literacy and applied skills development. UN CC:Learn provides learning resources and training to help individuals, governments, and businesses understand, adapt, and build resilience to climate change.
The United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) offers e-learning courses on climate change and human mobility. The courses aim to provide individuals with a foundational understanding of climate change and practical steps for climate action, without requiring prior knowledge of climate science.
UN SDG:Learn is a collaborative effort by the United Nations, multilateral organizations, and sustainable development partners to provide a gateway for individuals and organizations to access SDG-related learning products and services. The platform empowers individuals to make informed decisions when selecting among a wealth of SDG-related learning resources.
The UN Women Training Centre offers an eLearning Campus for training on gender equality, women’s empowerment, and women’s rights. The platform is open to everyone interested in advancing gender equality through training and learning opportunities.
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) offers e-Learning courses on trade, gender, and development, as well as non-tariff measures in trade. The courses are designed to enhance understanding of trade-related issues and promote sustainable development.
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) provides the ‚Standards for the SDGs‘ e-learning platform, which aims to enhance global understanding of quality infrastructure and its importance for sustainable development. The platform offers courses on risk management, conformity assessment, and market surveillance, among other topics.
The UNECE LearnQI Platform offers e-learning resources on key areas of quality infrastructure, developed by the UNECE Working Party on Regulatory Cooperation and Standardization Policies. The platform provides self-directed courses to enhance participants‘ understanding of trade-related topics and issues.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) offers Massive Open Online Courses on critical environmental issues, as well as an eLearning platform for courses, workshops, and seminars on environmental topics. The UNEP eLearning platform provides valuable resources for individuals interested in environmental conservation and sustainability.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) offers the UNESCO Open Learning platform, providing e-learning capacities for online course development and dissemination on topics aligned with UNESCO’s mandate. The platform focuses on science-related topics, such as water resources management, disaster risk reduction, and climate change adaptation.
The World Health Organization (WHO) offers OpenWHO, an interactive platform for online courses to improve the response to health emergencies. OpenWHO provides valuable knowledge transfer to frontline responders and equips individuals with life-saving skills in health emergencies.
The World Trade Organization (WTO) offers e-Learning platforms with courses on various trade-related topics, aimed at enhancing the knowledge and skills of beneficiaries of WTO technical assistance and the general public. The WTO’s e-Learning initiatives provide comprehensive learning opportunities in trade-related areas.
The World Bank Group Open Learning Campus provides dynamic learning opportunities for individuals to tackle development challenges. The platform offers a wide range of courses and learning curricula to equip individuals with the knowledge and capabilities to address global development issues.
In conclusion, the United Nations System offers a diverse range of e-Learning tools and online courses covering a wide array of topics. These resources provide valuable learning opportunities for individuals looking to enhance their knowledge and skills in various areas related to sustainable development, human rights, climate change, and more. By taking advantage of these e-Learning platforms, individuals can expand their understanding of key global issues and contribute to positive change in their communities and beyond.
