About the agency
One of the oldest non-governmental organisations accredited to the United Nations.
Founded in 1982 and granted Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council in 1995, UTA works through local authorities and national chapters to connect communities across the North and the South.
Who we are
The United Towns Agency for North-South Cooperation is an international non-governmental organisation with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. It operates through country chapters, each led locally, and represents their concerns in multilateral forums including the United Nations Human Rights Council.
The organisation is known in French as Agence des cités unies pour la coopération Nord-Sud.
- Founded
- 1982
- Headquarters
- Geneva, Switzerland
- UN status
- Special Consultative Status, ECOSOC (since 1995)
- Secretary-General
- Amb. Dr. Eya Essif
- Network
- 110 countries
Leadership
Amb. Dr. Eya Essif
Secretary-General · appointed 2017
Based at UTA headquarters in Geneva, the Secretary-General represents the organisation at the United Nations and leads its programme of work across the chapter network.
Governance
Detailed information on UTA’s statutory bodies and international board is being prepared for publication. Chapter-level governance is published on each chapter’s page, beginning with the Board of Trustees of UTA-Nigeria.
Our story
A record of activity
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.
UTA 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.
Nigeria country office inaugurated in Abuja
Secretary-General Amb. Dr. Eya Essif travelled to Abuja to officially inaugurate UTA's Nigeria country office, joined by the chapter's Board of Trustees and Country President.
UTA meets Nigeria Women Football League on gender equality partnership
A UTA delegation met the leadership of the Nigeria Women Football League to discuss a memorandum of understanding covering gender equality, grassroots development, and the use of football for community development and financial literacy.
"SDGs Challenges in Africa" side-event at the UN Human Rights Council
UTA organised a side-event at the 54th session of the UN Human Rights Council, moderated by Secretary-General Amb. Dr. Eya Essif. Speakers included the Libyan Minister of African Affairs and Rossana Roda, President of UTA-Italy.
UTA participates in the World Bank / IMF Annual Meetings
UTA was listed among participating civil-society organisations at the 2023 Annual Meetings, represented by Secretary-General Amb. Dr. Eya Essif.
Nigeria Board of Trustees formally constituted
Members of UTA-Nigeria's Board of Trustees received letters of appointment signed by the Secretary-General, formally constituting the chapter's governing body.
UTA-Nigeria announces rural FCT community project package
UTA-Nigeria announced plans to rehabilitate two hospitals and two primary schools in rural communities of the Federal Capital Territory — the chapter's first rural community project package.