GENEVA – 10 October 2025
The first-ever Annual UNICC Forum marked a significant milestone in the evolution of UNICC digital collaboration and support within the United Nations system and international organizations. Held in Geneva on 9 October 2025, the event brought together over 100 technology leaders and digital experts from the UN system and other international organizations to showcase UNICC capabilities, explore opportunities through shared services, and exchange experiences that accelerate digital transformation, in line with the principles of the Global Digital Compact and the UN 2.0.
As the UN system celebrates its 80th anniversary, the need to deliver greater impact with limited resources has become a defining feature of global cooperation. Within this context, the Forum served as a platform to advance digital transformation as an enabler of operational efficiency and agility across international organizations. Participants highlighted that technology today is not a peripheral tool but a strategic pillar of the UN and other entities’ ability to serve people and planet more effectively, transparently, and securely.
Throughout the day, participants engaged in parallel sessions that explored key themes such as digital sovereignty, cybersecurity, cloud strategy, digital identity, and the operationalization of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. The panels showcased how tools, solutions, and infrastructure are being adopted across a wide range of entities with the leadership and support of UNICC.
“A decade ago, technology in the UN system was largely seen as a support function. Today, it sits at the heart of how every organization operates and evolves. If UNICC can serve as a catalyst—an enabler on that journey—then we are fulfilling our mandate. This forum showcases the full breadth of what we offer — and, more importantly, it serves as a space to listen, learn, and co-create with our partners.”
— Sameer Chauhan, Director, UNICC
Experiences shared by UNICC partners illustrated the evolving role of ICT units and departments as strategic enablers. Agencies and organizations such as the ICJ, IAEA, IOM, INTERPOL, ITU, OECD, OHCHR, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNJSPF, UNICEF, UNRWA, WIPO, and the WTO presented real-world collaborations with UNICC that span enterprise cloud migration, cybersecurity, AI-powered solutions, and scalable learning platforms. These examples reinforced UNICC’s unique value as a co-creation partner with deep UN-context knowledge, operational excellence, and cross-agency insights.
“Today, it’s not only about delivering services — it’s about co-creating solutions, scaling what works, and making sure that every existing technology strengthens the UN system as a whole. That is why this forum matters. It is your space to share priorities, to bring forward challenges, and help guide UNICC’s evolution. The more we align around shared solutions, the more valuable innovation we can unlock for the entire UN family.”
— Tomas Lamanauskas, Deputy Secretary-General of ITU and Chair of the UNICC Management Committee
The Forum’s agenda also featured a blend of strategic dialogues and personalized engagement. On one hand, high-level sessions tackled critical themes, contributing to shaping the future of technology across the UN system. The session on Data Security and Data Sovereignty underscored the operational imperatives of protecting data. It also spotlighted UNIQCloud, UNICC’s private cloud computing solution designed specifically for the UN system and international organizations.
The Digital Identity for the UN Family and Beyond session brought together multiple agencies to explore inclusive, secure, and interoperable digital identity systems that are already transforming field operations and service delivery. Complementing these plenary moments, the Forum also offered consultation clinics—one-on-one sessions with UNICC experts and open feedback spaces tailored to the unique needs and operational challenges of each participating entity.
As the day drew to a close, participants reflected on the importance of this inaugural gathering as an opportunity to build a shared digital future. The closing remarks were delivered by Sameer Chauhan, Director of UNICC; Sylvain St-Pierre, Chief Information Officer, Global IT Services and Digital Transformation at UNHCR; and Valentin Prat Padrós, Division Chief of AI and Enterprise Architecture at the IMF. Together, they underscored a shared commitment to continue exploring how to unlock the full potential of UNICC—not just as a service provider, but as a model for shared capabilities and deeper collaboration across UN system organizations.
UNICC announced it will conduct a post-event consultation to shape future editions, with many partners expressing strong support for establishing the forum as a recurring space for engagement, learning, and collaboration. The first Annual UNICC Forum was widely welcomed as a timely initiative to align priorities, unlock innovation, and reduce fragmentation across the UN system.
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