Accelerating digital transformation in the UN

With the world seriously lagging behind in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the United Nations is intensifying its support to countries in accelerating implementation. In this context, innovation and digital transformation have emerged as indispensable drivers of progress. The UN 2.0 vision calls for a modernized UN system equipped with cutting-edge skills and a forward-thinking culture. In alignment with this vision, the United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC) has partnered with the Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG) and Microsoft to create practical opportunities for UN personnel to engage with digital and data-driven transformation across the system.   

UN 2.0: Driving a digital future

UN 2.0 emphasizes the critical role of data, innovation, digital technologies, foresight, and behavioral science—collectively termed the “quintet of change”—in reinvigorating the UN’s impact. This vision recognizes that fostering a culture of continuous learning and digital agility is essential for the UN to remain effective in a rapidly evolving global landscape.

UNSSC provides UN personnel with access to digital learning tools and resources that embody this forward-thinking approach, by equipping colleagues with the necessary skills and knowledge to supports a future-ready UN workforce capable of leveraging digital technologies to accelerate progress.

“I am very proud that the Staff College, through providing cutting-edge learning resources, supports UN colleagues in harnessing technology for real-world impact. Embracing digital innovation will help the UN to lead with purpose, amplify impact, and better serve humanity in a rapidly changing world.” said Silke Weinlich, UNSSC’s Deputy Director.

AI Toolkit on the Blue Line: A gateway to AI fluency

The first initiative under this partnership with the EOSG-developed with the support of Microsoft-is the launch of an AI toolkit, soon accessible for free to all UN personnel via the Blue Line learning platform. This toolkit serves as an introductory resource, demystifying artificial intelligence and its applications within the UN context. It is the first in a series designed to build AI fluency across the system. AI is not just a tool of convenience; it is a catalyst for empowerment and AI literacy skills are in high demand as the UN continues to evolve in a rapidly digitizing world.

The AI toolkit includes:

• Introductory modules that explain key AI concepts in clear, accessible language tailored for non-technical audiences. Topics include Human–AI Interaction, Data and AI, and AI in Our Daily Work, with additional modules to be released in autumn 2025.
• A glossary of key AI terms and concepts, designed to demystify technical language and promote shared understanding across the system.
• AI use cases from across the UN system to inspire realistic and responsible applications, showcasing how to best harness AI for impact.
• A prompt engineering guidance tool, offering practical tips on how to interact effectively with AI tools such as ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot.

By offering accessible, self-paced learning materials, the AI toolkit empowers personnel worldwide to engage confidently with emerging technologies, aligning their skills with the digital priorities outlined in UN 2.0.

‘’Helping to drive a digital future for the UN, Microsoft, UNSSC and EOSG will equip UN personnel with the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to navigate the evolving role of Artificial Intelligence in the UN system and workplace.” said Naria Santa Lucia, General Manager, Skills for Social Impact at Microsoft. “Our partnership focuses on prioritizing AI specific skilling to enhance and streamline work and provide insights for better decision making across the UN.’’

UN 2.0 Webinar Series: exploring AI and digital innovations

Launched as a companion to the UN 2.0 Fundamentals e-Learning Path, UNSSC, Microsoft, and the Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG) jointly organized the first three of a series of interactive educational webinars on Blue Line, free and open to all.

This series focused on Digital and delved into key themes such as Artificial Intelligence applications, Generative AI and prompt engineering, and AI agents.

With nearly 2.5k total participants, the webinars expanded awareness of cutting-edge digital tools, provided practical examples and demonstrations, and fostered interactive dialogue among UN personnel about how AI can be responsibly and effectively integrated into their work, advancing the digital transformation outlined in the UN2.0’s policy brief.

Recordings are now available on the Blue Line platform in both video and audio formats for flexible access.

The UN Learning Managers Forum: hands-on experience with AI and data

UNSSC’s efforts to accelerate digital transformation extend to the annual UN Learning Managers Forum (LMF), which convenes learning and development professionals from UN agencies, funds and programmes. This year’s LMF, delivered free of charge to nominated practitioners, will feature a dedicated day in The Garage – Microsoft’s innovation hub that fosters collaboration, creativity, and applied experimentation - offering a unique opportunity for UN learning managers to engage directly with AI and data experts.

‘’In partnership with the United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC) and the Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG), we are proud to support UN 2.0 Week by providing hands-on digital and AI trainings that can help UN employees adapt, adopt and embrace AI within the workplace’’ said Naria Santa Lucia, General Manager, Skills for Social Impact at Microsoft.

The session, titled “Co-Pilot to Accelerate Learning & Development,” will provide hands-on experiences with Microsoft’s AI technologies, helping participants envision how digital tools can enhance staff development and organizational learning. Given its relevance to this year’s call to “delivering for impact”, the UN Learning Managers Forum has also been recognized as an official side event of UN 2.0 Week.

Nigel Gan, Senior and Executive Leadership Learning Portfolio Manager at UNSSC, stated “Partnering with Microsoft for the UN Learning Managers Forum exemplifies the spirit of UN 2.0 -- leveraging innovation, digital learning, and system-wide collaboration to support future-ready UN personnel and critically leverage the role of learning managers as key drivers of transformation across the system. Together, we are shaping a culture of learning that accelerates transformation, inclusion, and impact."

This new and exciting addition to the LMF exemplifies how UNSSC is working to embed digital innovation into the UN system’s learning culture, in full alignment with the ambitions of UN 2.0.

What comes next?

UNSSC is taking concrete steps towards realizing the digital ambitions of UN 2.0, on its own, and with powerful partners. Its doing so by providing UN personnel across the system with access to AI toolkits, expert-led webinars, and immersive experiences, but also by actively promoting digital innovation in its learning programmes.

As the UN continues to adapt to the challenges of a complex and fast-changing world, these initiatives ensure that staff are equipped not only to keep pace with digital transformation but to lead it—accelerating progress toward the SDGs and a stronger, more agile UN system.

Explore our full range of digital transformation -related offerings