While the problem of HIV/AIDS among truck drivers has been made widely public in past years, it is also a serious issue among workers in the maritime sector. In this context, the Global Partnership on HIV and Mobile Workers in the Maritime Sector - a new group that brings together eight organizations representing the United Nations, NGOs, unions and employers – set out its strategic aims in London on 29 April 2009...

The Territorial Approach Initiative is a response to the increasing demand from sub-national authorities for assistance in assessing and managing the physical and socio-economic impact of climate change. One of the main objectives of this initiative is to enhance the capacity of regional and local governments to enact regulatory measures, as well as to take advantage of new sources of environmental finance, in order to implement their climate change responses...

UNESCO has teamed up with a popular animated television show about submarines – “Dive Olly Dive!” – to teach children about the world’s underwater cultural heritage...

The Natural Resources Stewardship Circle (NRSC) of the Aromatic, Perfume and Cosmetics Industry, comprised of industry leaders and specialists concerned with natural resources and the industry, adopted a declaration in an effort to support the goals of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the UN Global Compact and the International Labour Organization standards...

The Sustainable Apparel and Footwear Initiative (SAFI) is a coordinated set of initiatives designed to promote rapid responses to the urgent needs presented by the current economic crisis and to orient stakeholders around solutions that will drive long-term, positive impacts and value for the industry...

The Dreams Academy, a project being implemented in partnership with the Vodafone Turkey Foundation, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Turkey and the Alternative Life Association (AYDER) has been granted The Golden Compass Award in the category of best project in the civil society category...

Launched in May 2008, the GET-IT partnership harnesses Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to provide training and skills development to young people aged 16 to 25 who are unemployed or underemployed, and who lack necessary qualifications. The goal is to help young people gain meaningful employment or set up their own business and, at the same time, promote sustainable industrialization in Africa and the Middle East...

Sun Microsystems and UNESCO will promote the use of open source technologies, including OpenOffice.org and OpenDocument Format (ODF) standard, as a low-cost way to improve education with universal access to information and knowledge. They will also support the development of open and inclusive knowledge societies in developing and emerging economies...

Brief descriptions of new partnership initiatives...