Surrey CIFAL training centre
Working in partnership with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), the Institute for Sustainability at the University of Surrey is leading Surrey CIFAL, a training centre offering customised learning solutions to institutions and individuals from all sectors. The provision has at its core a focus on achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Register your interest
CIFAL Surrey can help you lead on sustainability
What is CIFAL Surrey?
The new United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)-affiliated CIFAL centre at the University of Surrey has been set up to drastically improve the UK’s ability to address climate change.
Drawing on the University’s strong research heritage and active engagement in sustainability, the CIFAL centre (Centre International de Formation des Autorités et Leaders), CIFAL Surrey, will work with UNITAR (the UN’s training branch) and the CIFAL Global Network among other stakeholders to lead both training and capacity-building initiatives in sustainability. The focus of CIFAL Surrey will be on empowering climate leadership through enhanced climate literacy within and beyond Surrey.
As part of its activities, CIFAL Surrey will work in partnership with national and local government, industry, civil society, and beyond, developing sustainable economic practices, and helping to advance action towards the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Situated within the University’s Institute for Sustainability, CIFAL Surrey will draw strongly on multi-disciplinary expertise in delivering both training and capacity building on a wide range of sustainability challenges, to help facilitate knowledge exchange among leaders in government, the private sector, and civil society – locally, nationally and internationally, as well as UK-based international organisations.
What is UNITAR?
The United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) is a United Nations agency created in 1963 to provide innovative learning solutions to individuals, organisations and institutions to enhance global decision making and support country-level action for shaping a better future. Over the years, UNITAR has acquired unique expertise and experience in designing and delivering a variety of training activities.
What is the CIFAL Global Network?
The Institute for Sustainability is a proud CIFAL Centre located in the South East of England.
The International Training Centres for Authorities and Leaders (CIFAL) are hubs for capacity building and knowledge sharing between local and regional authorities, international organisations, the private sector and civil society.
CIFAL stands for Centre International de Formation des Authorités et Leaders” (in French), and Centro Internacional de Formación de Autoridades y Lideres (in Spanish). Each CIFAL Centre is a regional hub for capacity development bringing together public sector, private sector and civil society. CIFALs assist local actors in achieving sustainable development in the context of increasing responsibilities at local level.
The CIFAL Global Network is composed of 29 International Training Centres for Authorities and Leaders. These CIFAL Centres are located across Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, the Americas and the Caribbean. The network provides innovative training throughout the world.
Thematic areas include:
- Urban governance and planning
- Environmental sustainability
- Economic development
- Social inclusion
- Cross-cutting.
With only four CIFAL centres located in Europe (Belgium, Poland, UK and Switzerland), the Institute for Sustainability is the perfect intellectual home for a CIFAL training centre based in the South East of England.
Our CIFAL training Centre offers training programs in key areas related to sustainable development. It acts as a hub for knowledge exchange between government officials, non-governmental and international organisations, the private sector, academic institutions and the UN system.
Non-learning events
Non-learning events are usually short events (4-6 hours) in which the main purpose is to share knowledge and information. They include:
- Side events
- Retreats
- Meetings
- Conferences
- Public lectures.
Public lectures
Learning events
Learning events are usually a minimum of two training days with clear learning objective designed to enhance specific skills. The event includes a compulsory assessment, to measure if the new skills have been acquired. The learning events include:
- Workshops
- Courses
- Seminars
- Webinars
- Briefings
- Fellowship programmes.
Courses
UN Sustainable Development Goals annual report
Our report showcases what we achieved in 2021/22 to meet the United Nations 17 sustainable development goals.