01
Decentralised cooperation
Building direct partnerships between towns, cities and local authorities across the North and the South, so that cooperation is carried by the communities that live with its results.
Special Consultative Status · UN ECOSOC
Cooperation between towns, built to outlast the meeting room.
The United Towns Agency for North-South Cooperation has worked since 1982 to connect local authorities and communities across hemispheres, and to carry their case into the institutions that shape global policy.
110
Countries reached by the UTA network
1982
Founded, with headquarters in Geneva
since 1995
Special Consultative Status with UN ECOSOC
The work happens where the people are.
A UTA team during a community visit
“Our mandate, amongst others, include championing and promoting human rights in all ramifications, especially through humanitarian activities; ensuring that every human being has the right to all the basic necessities of life; encouraging the support of the less endowed nations by the more endowed nations and encouraging peaceful relations amongst communities.”
Our work
Four areas, one method: work through the people already there.
02
Sustainable development
Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals through chapter-led work on access to water, energy and basic services, alongside advocacy at the multilateral level.
03
Dialogue and advocacy
Representing the interests of less-resourced nations in international forums, including the UN Human Rights Council and the institutions of the multilateral system.
04
Humanitarian action
Championing human rights through humanitarian activity, on the principle that every person is entitled to the basic necessities of life.
In the field
Delivery, not announcements.
Distributing meals during a community visit 
Speaking with residents during a community visit 
Handing over programme documents
Chapters
Local chapters, accountable to the places they serve.
Nigeria
Amb. Abigail (Chinyere) Amalaha
UTA's Nigeria chapter was formally inaugurated in Abuja in November 2023, with a Board of Trustees constituted the previous year.
View chapterItaly
Rossana Roda
UTA-Italy is an active chapter, confirmed through its participation in the organisation's 2023 programme at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
View chapterLibya
Details to be confirmed
UTA maintains a presence in Libya. Chapter leadership and programme details are being confirmed and will be published here once verified.
View chapter
Latest
News & activity
- Upcoming
UTA to confer International Humanitarian Award 2026 in Abuja
UTA will confer its International Humanitarian Award 2026 on the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service at a World Humanitarian Day event in Abuja. A UTA headquarters delegation from Geneva, led by Secretary-General Amb. Dr. Eya Essif, is expected to attend.
Read more UTA addresses the 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council
Secretary-General Amb. Dr. Eya Essif spoke on behalf of UTA in meetings of the Human Rights Council's 60th regular session, contributing to interactive dialogues on economic, social and cultural rights and on the rights of peasants and rural workers.
Read moreUTA leads Libya-Nigeria economic cooperation delegation
UTA accompanied a visit to Nigeria by the Libyan Minister of African Affairs, Issa Majid Mansour. Discussions between UTA, Libya and Italy addressed a tripartite arrangement on irregular migration deaths in the Mediterranean and skills-training programmes for Nigerian artisans.
Read more
Work with UTA
We work with local authorities, foundations, institutional donors and volunteers. Tell us what you are trying to achieve and we will point you to the right part of the network.