Victoria, Canada – The International Training Centre for Authorities and Leaders (CIFAL) in the City of Victoria was established in 2022 as a collaboration between UNITAR and the University of Victoria to deliver training activities and research that build on UVic’s commitments to the UN SDGs and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
CIFAL Victoria seeks to connect Victoria and the surrounding region with the global community through international knowledge-sharing and partnerships, with a focus on four key themes:
- Oceans, climate and sustainability
- Innovation and entrepreneurship
- Decolonization and Indigenous knowledge
- Global health and well-being
In 2023, CIFAL Victoria hosted 18 activities and initiatives including the following:
- SDGs Dashboard to highlight training initiatives to advance the SDGs developed by staff, faculty and leadership at the University of Victoria. A total of 104 initiatives were identified and uploaded onto a public dashboard that can be navigated through different filters such as departments, SDGs and levels of integration. It showcases the result from a survey conducted by CIFAL Victoria to understand the landscape of SDG impact on campus.
- Inuit youth climate action summit. A summit of young Inuit leaders from Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories to exchange ideas on how Indigenous practices can both provide solutions to the changing climate and elevate youth voices.
- Local Action for UN SDGs to introduce students to the theory and practice of Community-based Participatory Research with a special focus on addressing community-identified research needs linked to the SDGs.
- Youth Championing the SDGs – Living with Climate Change is a special publication that recognizes student-led initiatives which encourage UVic campus community members to explore creative ways to share their personal experiences living with climate change while identifying possible solutions addressing the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change.
CIFAL Victoria continues to grow with several new partnerships, specialized courses and research initiatives that are catalyzing knowledge into leadership and action for more equitable and sustainable futures. We are excited for our collective work ahead in the pursuit of Agenda 2030. Crystal Tremblay, Director of CIFAL Victoria
