Harmonization of Language Learning | Language and Communications Training

For the first time in its history, the Organization has a distinctive, coherent and recognized reference for measuring linguistic capabilities across all official UN languages, irrespective of duty station.

Adrian Hills, Chief of the Capacity Development and Operational Training Service, UN DOS

With the vision of supporting multilingualism in the United Nations system, the Language Harmonization Project, recipient of the 2018 UN Secretary-General Award, aimed to harmonize language learning and assessment for the six official languages, and for other languages taught locally.

The project has been successful thanks to a close collaboration between the Language Training Programme (LTP) at the UN Office in Geneva (UNOG), the Language and Communications Training Unit (LCTU) at UN Headquarters and other language programmes in the Secretariat. It has also benefitted from contributions, support and feedback from many individuals of different departments, especially from the focal points of multilingualism.

The project resulted in the creation of a new United Nations Language Framework and UN Levels of language competence, unique to the needs of our Organization, and in line with the most recent research and other recognized frameworks for language learning.

With the release of the Secretary-General’s Bulletin (ST/SGB/2023/2), the Organization has a distinctive, coherent and recognized reference for measuring linguistic capabilities across all official UN languages, irrespective of duty station.

The Framework standardizes how languages are learnt, taught and assessed in the international context of the United Nations. Other potential benefits may be a wider recognition of language skills and smoother transitions in career mobility and development.

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