Information for Participants

The Geneva International Conference Centre (CICG)

Rue de Varembé 17 
1211 
Genève 
Switzerland 
welcome@fipoi-conferences.ch 
+41022 791 91 11 

The International Conference will open on Monday, 16 November 2026, at 10 AM. The doors of the Conference Centre will open at 8am on Sunday 15th November. Further information on the tentative schedule of work can be found on the Conference Schedule webpage. Please note the schedule is subject to change. 

Note: Sunday, 15 November 2026, is reserved for Briefings, Regional Meetings and Forums.

Registration for the conference is open to all relevant stakeholders. For details of registration please visit our registration page.

Security identification badges are issued to participants upon arrival at the meeting following completion of the relevant registration procedure. Meeting participants may collect their security identification badges at the registration desks upon presentation of one of the following identification documents:

• Valid national passport issued by a government recognized by the United Nations;
• Valid national ID card issued by a Schengen State;
• Valid travel document recognized by the United Nations.

Security checks will be carried out at the conference center each time you enter the venue. For identification and security reasons, all participants are requested to always wear their meeting badges at the center. The loss of a meeting badge should be reported immediately to the registration counter.

Financial support for travel is limited to one participant per developing country, under certain rules specified in the invitation letter and limited to resource availability. In addition to registering online through the link provided above, any participant requesting financial support for travel and daily subsistence allowance is requested to fill out the relevant travel form through the link in the registration form and attach the documents listed below:  

• Signed letter from the organization in PDF nominating the delegate who should be receiving the travel funding.
• Passport copy, valid for more than 6 months from the travelling date (bio-page).

For the necessary travel arrangements to comply with the United Nations rules and regulations, nominations or replacements of delegates received after the initial deadline of 10 July 2026 cannot be guaranteed consideration for funding support. Final decisions on travel requests will be subject to available financial resources. 

It is the responsibility of each participant to apply for the required visa. Visas must be obtained prior to arrival. UNEP does not guarantee visa issuance or visa processing.

The meeting will be paperless, and printed documents will not be available at the meeting. Pre-session and in-session documents will be made available on the meeting website. 

Making a meeting paperless considerably reduces costs and the carbon footprint. A paperless meeting also makes it easier for participants to access documents and allows for faster preparation and distribution of conference room papers.

To facilitate the paperless nature of the meeting, participants are requested to ensure the following:

• Each participant should bring a laptop computer containing basic applications, including Microsoft Office Word, Excel and PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat Reader and updated antivirus software.  
• Laptops should be pre-checked for viruses and confirmed as virus-free prior to arrival at the meeting. Virus free laptops are crucial to the success of a paperless meeting.
• Participants should bring a memory stick that has been pre-checked for viruses for the purpose of transferring documents.  
• Participants should bring an appropriate adaptor to enable laptops to be connected to power sockets.
• When completing the registration form for the meeting, participants should include a current e-mail address, so that they can be sent correspondence relating to the meeting.  

Free internet access will be provided at the meeting venue.

Participants are responsible for making their own arrangements for accommodation. The Secretariat encourages all participants to make such arrangements at the earliest possible opportunity.

Most participants may find it more convenient to arrive at the Geneva airport.

The metropolitan area of Geneva is well connected to the rest of the country by a modern transportation system that includes trains, buses, taxis etc.

Participants may purchase food and drink through the catering services available at the Conference Centre.

The United Nations does not cover medical or life insurance of participants. Medical costs incurred in Geneva will be borne by the participant. It is, therefore, strongly recommended that participants arrange their own travel health insurance that covers both health and accident prior to departure from the country of residence. The United Nations Environment Programme will not be responsible for travel or health insurance coverage.  

The local emergency number is 112.  

The following local hospital/medical centre in the proximity of the meeting venue open 24 hours a day.

Emergency Adults Hôpitaux Universitaires
Rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil 2, 1205 Genève  
 

The residential voltage in Geneva is 230V/50Hz. You will need a transformer in order to use your portable devices if they do not run on 230V/50Hz. Please make sure you bring one along or purchase one if you need it. Plug types in Switzerland are C and J. 

Bank notes are available in the following denominations: CHF1,000; CHF1200; CHF100; CHF50; CHF20 while the coins are available in these dominations: CHF5, CHF2, CHF1, CHF1/2.  

Switzerland imposes no restrictions on the import or export of any local or foreign currency. There is only an obligation to declare sums greater than 10,000 CHF or equivalent https://www.bazg.admin.ch/en/cash-foreign-currency-securities.  

There are many banks and exchange offices where you can exchange dollars, euros, and other currencies in Geneva.

Geneva is a city located on the western side of Switzerland close to the Alps. In November mean temperatures range between 1 and 11°C.  

The organizations of the United Nations system are committed to enabling events at which everyone can participate in an inclusive, respectful, and safe environment. UN system events adhere to the highest ethical and professional standards, and all participants are expected to demonstrate integrity and show respect towards others attending or involved with any UN system event.

Prohibited conduct includes harassment: any improper or unwelcome conduct that might be expected or be perceived to cause offense or humiliation to another person. Harassment in any form, because of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, physical ability, physical appearance, ethnicity, race, national origin, political affiliation, age, religion, or any other reason, is prohibited. We encourage reporting any incident directly to any badged UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) officer.

Sexual harassment: any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might be expected or be perceived to cause offense or humiliation. Sexual harassment may involve any conduct of a verbal, nonverbal, or physical nature, including written and electronic communications, and may occur between persons of the same or different genders.

Further information on the Code of Conduct to prevent harassment, including sexual harassment, at UN system events may be found on the UN Code of Conduct web page.