A DONATION TOWARDS A NEW UN GENEVA VISITOR CENTER

The Portail des Nations represents the creation of a new facility spanning approximately 3,500 m² (including indoor and outdoor areas) within the Palais des Nations, designed to accommodate up to 250,000 visitors annually. Situated beneath the Alley of Flags, this space will be exclusively dedicated to educating the public on the practice of multilateralism by the UN and its affiliates in Geneva.

The new UN Geneva Visitor Center will provide a contemporary, interactive multimedia experience. Its objective is to foster a greater sense of involvement among visitors in the deliberations and resolutions conducted by UN entities in Geneva to tackle global challenges. Moreover, it aims to bolster Geneva’s appeal as a tourist destination, renowned as the birthplace of multilateral diplomacy and a prominent global hub of international cooperation, unparalleled in the world in its density.

The brainchild behind this informative and educational endeavor, situated near the Place des Nations, is Genevan banker Ivan Pictet.

Hailing from a renowned banking lineage, Ivan Pictet has been deeply committed to championing International Geneva, notably serving as the head of the Foundation for Geneva, which has undertaken this initiative. He is widely acknowledged by both the United Nations and Swiss authorities as a respected figure and partner.

Observing the absence of an attractive facility dedicated to promoting widespread awareness of the ideals and advantages of the multilateral system, he established the Pictet entity for Development in late 2008, affiliated with the IHEID, funding several chairs dedicated to the research and teaching of finance for development.

He also conceived the concept of a Portail des Nations, envisioning a space bridging the Maison de la Paix campus and the Place des Nations, conducive to fostering meetings and interactions among IHEID students, international dignitaries, local communities, and serving as a showcase for International Geneva. However, this project failed to materialize.

In 2017, at the behest of the former Director-General of UN Geneva, Michael Moeller, Pictet agreed to consider the idea of a Portail des Nations within the Palais des Nations itself. Under the auspices of the Pictet Foundation for Development, he conducted a feasibility study. Subsequently, in 2019, he established the Fondation Portail des Nations and signed a framework agreement with UN Geneva to develop and actualize a new concept for a United Nations Visitor Center in Geneva.

Founded in 2019 by Ivan Pictet, the Fondation Portail des Nations aims to advance the Portail des Nations project, a proposal for a Visitor Center for the United Nations in Geneva. Implementation is carried out on behalf of and for UN Geneva, with the Foundation serving as the designated project overseer.

The Nations Gateway Foundation pools funds provided by both public and private partners, with contributions taking the form of services rendered to the United Nations Office at Geneva (including construction of infrastructure and realization of the visitors’ experience).

The Foundation’s Board comprises:

Philippe Burrin
Member

Lorenzo Peddrazzini
Member