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Int'l Organizations & UN News #21/2024

Himadri Ratnayake - Monday, October 21, 2024
 Events   IO/UNS Newsletter 

 International Organizations and UN News #21/2024 - October 22, 2024

Dear IO/UNS Community, 

We hope midterms have been going well for everyone and that you are able to get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather this week! We have some exciting events happening later this week, so be sure to sign up and attend. And fresh off the press is our latest MiA think-piece A Second United Nations Charter: Politically Impossible or Inevitable? (Or read last week's think-piece on Universalizing UN Development.)

In this newsletter, you will find: 

  • International Organizations News
  • Podcast - What We're Listening To
  • IO/UNS Student Spotlight 
  • New on Multilateralism in Action: A Second United Nations Charter
  • SIPA Capstone Workshops on IO/UNS
  • Events at SIPA and Beyond
  • Internship Opportunities
Daniel, Laura, Angela & Himadri 

IO/UNS Specialization Team

**Please note this message is clipped. You can open the message in a new browser to see full event and internship listings.
 

Are Sudan's "Emergency Response Rooms" the Future of Humanitarian Assistance?

"When Sudan's civil war erupted in April 2023, something extraordinary happened. Neighborhoods, mostly in and around Khartoum, began setting up what they called "Emergency Response Rooms." This name is somewhat of a misnomer because, while some Emergency Response Rooms do provide medical assistance, others serve as communal kitchens, day care centers, or offer maternal health services. In each case, they were created by the community in response to its own needs. This so-called mutual aid happens across cultures and around the world.

What is profoundly unique about mutual aid in Sudan is that these Emergency Response Rooms have organized themselves into a coherent network that connects very local, neighborhood-level humanitarian responses to international donors. They have done this through a homegrown system of oversight and governance, providing a revolutionary new model for humanitarianism.

Joining to discuss Sudan's Emergency Response Rooms, how they work, and why they represent such a departure from more conventional approaches to humanitarian relief, is Alsanosi Adam. He is the external communications coordinator for the national umbrella group that supports the work of over 700 Emergency Response Rooms throughout Sudan.

You can support their work here:  https://mutualaidsudan.org/

You can listen to this episode on Apple Podcasts here or Amazon Music here.
IO/UNS Student Spotlight 

This week, we are excited to introduce Megan Wu (MIA, HRHP, 2025)!

Through first-hand experiences, Megan became jaded with how unsustainable humanitarian aid and disaster relief can be both domestically and internationally. She strongly believes that, if utilized meaningfully, multilateralism can efficiently help teams adapt systems to fit a variety of needs. With a special interest in coordinating aid distribution to conflict zones, Megan hopes to return to the field with a renewed understanding of how to better serve diverse communities. She knows that there is no universal answer to sustainability, but is truly inspired to learn from the wealth of experiences that the professors, the speakers, and the students all bring SIPA.

After graduating from UT Austin (hook em'), Megan left to serve in Peace Corps Moldova in development work, served in AmeriCorps NCCC in wildfire mitigation and food security, and taught English for two years in South Korea. She just finished a summer internship at the UN Headquarters working between the DPPA and the DPO.

____________________

Help your classmates get to know you more. If you would like to be featured in our spotlight, please fill out our questionnaire here!

Do the UN Security Council, UNGA, ECOSOC, ICJ and other organs of the UN need reform? A crucial question for major global and regional challenges is: what is the role of the UN and how should the UN be made ‘fit for purpose’? 

Over the past two years, the Global Governance Forum organized a group of scholars, experts, practitioners, and former senior government officials, with deep knowledge of the United Nations, to work on the draft of a potential revised UN Charter. In A Second United Nations Charter: Politically Impossible or Inevitable? Augusto Lopez-Claros, Executive Director of the Global Governance Forum, shares insights from this review and the proposals to amend the UN Charter. The suggestions include increasing the number of Security Council members, adding a Parliamentary Assembly that would turn the UN from an organization of states into an organization of states and peoples and thus enhance its representativeness and democratic legitimacy; and creating an Earth System Council tasked with environmental governance. Reviewing the UN’s collective security mechanism, the proposed second charter would review the need for rapid reaction capacities to minimize extensive and ongoing civilian harms, develop a more robust system of arms control and disarmament, and establish non-consensual collective enforcement means. Lopez-Claros suggests specific reforms for ECOSOC and suggests that the International Court of Justice be given compulsory jurisdiction, including a review function (akin to that of a constitutional court) for the UN itself. The think-piece calls for a UN Charter Review Conference and emphasized that the benefits of a fundamental UN reform outweigh its cost. The Second Charter initiative offers hope through sober, careful, tempered, and timely proposals for the next stage of global governance. 

Read the full think-piece here and feel free to engage with this think-piece's announcements on X/Twitter and LinkedIn.

Spring 2025 Capstone projects are now available online for students to view and apply! Below is a list of Capstone projects that specifically focus on IOs/UNS. You can watch a recording of the Capstone Information Session here. The information session covers important information about the application, workshop placement, etc. 

*The application deadline is TOMORROW, October 23rd at 12:00 PM ET* 

Capstone Client Project Title Faculty    Advisor     

 
International Criminal Court Diplomatic Strategy Development for ICC Engagement with a Non-Member State Kirsti Samuels  
International Labour Organization Fostering Growth and Sustainability in the Fishing Supply Chain by Enhancing Decent Work: The Case of South Africa Scott Martin
International Peace Institute The Women, Peace, and Security Agenda at 25 Gizem Acikgoz
UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia Youth Engagement and Mobilization: Disaster Management For and By Children and Youth Suzanne Hollmann
United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) Empowering Cities to Build and Manage Resilient Infrastructure in Support of the SDGs Isabelle Delalex
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP): Mayors for Economic Growth (M4EG) Building Assessments for Twin Green and Digital Transition Readiness in Europe and Central Asian Cities Nilda Mesa
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP): Sustainable Finance Hub Partnership for Action on Climate Transition: Modeling Private Investment Needs for NDC Success Ingrid Dyott
World Bank Group (2030 Water Resources Group) Scaling Water Reuse in Cities Daniel Shemie
World Bank Group (Finance, Competitiveness & Innovation Global Practice) Drivers of Sustainable Investment from Domestic Institutional Investors in Emerging Market Fernando Sotelino
World Bank Group (International Finance Corporation, Financial Institutions Group) What Questions Need to be Asked for Monitoring and Evaluation of Agricultural Insurance to Assist Smallholder Farmers and Humanitarian Funds? Daniel Osg
Events at SIPA & Beyond

Spotlighted Events

 

UN Day Festival
IAB Fishbowl 
Thursday, 24 October 2024, 12-2 PM ET

United Nations Day, on 24th October, marks the entry into force in 1945 of the UN Charter. Join our UN Day celebration with food and drinks, games, prizes and a photo booth!
RSVP | EVENT INFO

The Forever Crisis: Adaptive Global Governance for an Era of Accelerating Complexity
1302 IAB & Online
Thursday, 24 October 2024, 6:15-7:30 PM ET

RSVP | EVENT INFO

United Nations Association Annual UN Day Race: Gender Equality
*If interested, please join SIPA's UN Day Race 2024 NYC WhatsApp group here*
Central Park (E 60th St & 5th Ave)
Saturday, 26 October 2024, 11:00 AM ET

RSVP | EVENT INFO

24 October 2024: 6:15-7:30 PM ET
The Forever Crisis: Adaptive Global Governance for an Era of Accelerating Complexity
1302 IAB & Online

Today’s polycrisis means we are locked in perpetual battle against risks that feel one step ahead of us. Whether the accel­erating impacts of climate change, newly emerging deadly viruses, fast-spreading wars, or artificial general intelligence, our responses are slow and often poorly fit to the problem. On UN Day, join us for a book talk with Professor Adam Day on his new book The Forever Crisis that offers an innovative approach to global governance in an era of interrelated planetary challenges. Day, who also serves as Head of the Geneva Office of the UN University Centre for Policy Research, argues that the complexity of today’s risks requires a complex, adaptive response. Drawing from complex systems like ant colonies, central nervous systems, galaxies, and markets, The Forever Crisis offers concrete, actionable proposals for evolving our global governance system. It provides scholars and policymakers with a dynamic approach to addressing the systemic risks facing the planet today and tomorrow.

RSVP here

24 October 2024: 6:00 - 8:00 PM ET
The Right of Self-Determination of Peoples Under Foreign Occupation - Munir Akram, Ambassador of Pakistan to the UN 
Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN: 8 E 65th St, New York, NY 10065

Munir Akram, Pakistan's Ambassador to the UN, has extensive experience on international diplomacy and human rights issues. He has been a major advocate for the rights of peoples under foreign occupation. It is an amazing opportunity for students interested in internationa relations, human rights, and global governance.

RSVP here

25 - 26 October 2024
21st Annual Columbia Africa Conference 
Columbia Business School 

Over 2 days, the Columbia Africa Conference brings together 70+ speakers on 15+ panels, including H.E. Special Envoy of the Paris Pact for Peoples and Planet (4P) and President of Senegal Macky Sall. 

RSVP here 

28 October 2024: Conference: 10 AM - 1 PM, Networking: 1 PM - 2 PM
Carbon-Free Cities: Climate Action in the Built Environment 
UN HQ 
*Must register by 10 AM on 23 October* 

*SIPA students are highly encouraged to attend this FREE event* 
This half-day conference, hosted by the Consortium for Sustainable Urbanization in Partnership with the American Institute of Architects NY, CSU, UN Habitat, and the Permanent Mission of Uruguay, will focus on the latest technological advancements and practice, as well as revival of traditional approaches. Its goal is to prepare urbanization professionals and policymakers with the strategies they need to achieve net-zero urban development. 

RSVP here 

30 October 2024: 1 - 2:00 PM ET
Careers in UN and UNDP hosted by GPC Global People Culture Consulting Employer Information Session
Virtual

During this virtual session, Georg Peitchev, the founder of Global People Culture (GPC) and Prachi Paliwal, a Research and Statistics Coordination Analyst at the Human Development Report Office, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), will be addressing career opportunities at international organizations such as the UN. They will further cover jobs, application processes, etc. at the UN. 

Register on SIPAConnect here.

2 December 2024
Call for Panels: Financing for Development Dialogues: From Evidence to Action
UN HQ New York, NY

As part of the preparatory activities for the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), to be held in Sevilla, Spain, from 30 June to 3 July 2025, we invite think tanks, universities, research networks and other relevant academic stakeholders to submit proposals for panels to be presented during an Academic Day on Monday 2 December 2024 at UN Headquarters in New York. The event will take place immediately before the second session of the preparatory committee for FfD4, and will bring together academic researchers, think tanks, and delegates to discuss evidence-based solutions and innovative ideas on financing for development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The academic day will include high-level discussions between researchers and policy makers alongside more technical sessions focusing on specific financing policy issues. The event will also serve as a platform to present initial findings from the report of the International Commission of Experts on Financing for Development.

More information, please go here.

Internship Opportunities

Most SIPA students are not only required to participate in a specialization-related internship, UN-related internships are often critical to further develop skills and knowledge, build a hireable CV, and create or expand a meaningful professional network. Feel free to consult this document for tips and tricks for Sourcing Internships.

Economic Affairs Intern - New York

Application Deadline: 24 October 2024
Location: New York

The position is located in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), Office of Intergovernmental Support and Coordination for Sustainable Development (OISC), in the Inter-organizational and Inter-institutional Support Branch (IISB). OISC, under DESA, provides substantive support to the work of the United Nations General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the High-level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development. For more information, please visit our website at https://www.un. org/ecosoc/en.

Duties may include, but are not limited to: Following inter-governmental meetings of ECOSOC and the General Assembly, other relevant meetings/briefings, on various economic and social issues, in particular the 2030 Agenda, and preparing summaries of their outcomes;  Following and reporting on Member States' negotiations on draft resolutions; Assisting in the substantive and organizational preparations of the ECOSOC Coordination Segment, the ECOSOC Youth Forum; and the High-level Political Forum; Supporting the organization of panel discussions, roundtables, special meetings and briefings for the membership of ECOSOC; Following the work of the ECOSOC functional commissions and expert bodies to identify key issues and trends and assisting in facilitating their engagement with the Council's work; Undertaking research on trends and key issues for the consideration of ECOSOC; Assisting in the Branch's work on interlinkages between peace and development, as well as on the Ad Hoc Advisory group on Haiti; Providing inputs to statements, speeches, briefing materials, talking points and background notes; Assisting in the Branch's work on communication (maintenance of ECOSOC and HLPF websites; social media; video production; media alert/press release; and news article); Providing support to the Branch’s work on the engagement of the regional commissions in the work of the ECOSOC as well as in supporting countries in special situations (Least Developed Countries, Land Locked; Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States); Undertaking other tasks as required This position reports to an assigned staff member at IISB. 

The internship is UNPAID and full-time. The unpaid internship is designed to be in person and full-time at the New York duty station. Depending on the situation of the successful candidates, the internship may also offer a Flexible Work Arrangement to be conducted fully remote, hybrid (in-person and remote), and/or in part-time.

Apply Here

Innovation and Programme Management Intern
Application Deadline: 26 October 2024 
Location: New York 

The internship is for a minimum of three (3) months and up to a period of six (6) months. This internship is UNPAID in person and full-time (35 hours per week), on the United Nations premise working arrangement from (New York, USA). This internship is designed to be full-time and in-person but can be adjusted based on the needs of the successful candidate to part-time (20 hours per week) and/or remote. The Digital Enablement Team (DET) is tasked with driving the implementation of the Strategy for Digital Transformation of UN Peacekeeping (DTS), which envisages technology as a transformative enabler to directly enhance the safety and security of peacekeepers and improves mandate implementation. The Department of Peace Operations (DPO) provides political and executive direction to UN peacekeeping operations around the world and maintains contact with the Security Council, troop and financial contributors, and parties to the conflict in the implementation of Security Council mandates. The Department works to integrate the efforts of UN, governmental and nongovernmental entities in the context of peacekeeping operations. DPO also provides guidance and support on military, police, rule of law, mine action and other relevant issues to other UN political and peacebuilding missions. This role is located in the Digital Enablement Team (DET) for UN Peacekeeping in the Office for Coordination and Shared Services (OCSS) in the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Department of Peace Operations Shared Structure (DPPA-DPO-SS).

Apply Here

Intern - United Nations Sustainable Development Group System - Wide Evaluation Office

Application Deadline: 2 November 2024
Location: New York

*In-person or remote, full-time and part-time will be considered* 
The Secretary-General established the United Nations Sustainable Development Group System-Wide Evaluation Office to strengthen the oversight, transparency, accountability, and collective learning across the United Nations Sustainable Development Group. The System-Wide Evaluation Office commissions a small number of independent system-wide evaluations on strategic development issues to provide a credible evaluation input to system-wide policy and agenda-setting, as well as operational implementation and decision-making. Ongoing evaluations include Evaluation of the Spotlight Initiative; System-wide evaluation of country programme derivation from Cooperation Frameworks and UNCT configuration; Evaluation of the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy. The Office also has a key role in mapping the availability of evaluation evidence to enhance collective knowledge sharing and promote learning through the production of syntheses and summaries of evaluation evidence. Further priorities include consolidation of the foundations of the office, including guidance, governance mechanisms, systems development and communications. Internship Duties The System-Wide Evaluation Office is seeking graduate students who wish to gain professional experience in an international organization to supplement their studies. The internship provides practical educational experience working in an independent evaluation office in a multicultural and intergovernmental organization. Under the supervision of experienced managers, interns are assigned projects and tasks that are relevant to their educational background and interests and provided with the opportunity to apply and further develop their theoretical knowledge and gain exposure to the work of the United Nations Secretariat. Interns report to full-time professional staff in the System-Wide Evaluation Office. Desired start date: November. Duration: 2-6 months

Communications and Design Intern

Application Deadline: 10 November 2024
Location: New York

*In-person, full-time and part-time will be considered* 
The mission of the United Nations Department of Operational Support (DOS) is to help Secretariat entities, including peace operations, departments and offices, succeed by providing rapid, effective, efficient and responsible support services. Its core services include supply chain management, operational human resources management, health-care management, support for uniformed capabilities, support to entities in special situations, information and communications technology (ICT) support, and UNHQ facility management. The Office of the Under-Secretary-General of Operational Support provides direct executive and management support to DOS leadership. Our work covers DOS strategy, performance, and analytics; as well as communication, coordination, and external relations. The internship is unpaid and full-time. Interns work four to five days per week (20 to 35 hours), with supervision and support of a staff member. Interns are expected to come into the office at least three days a week, in keeping with UNHQ-NY hybrid working policies. *The preferred start date of the Communications and Design internship is mid-January 2025 with an initial duration of three months, which may be extended depending on the needs of the office, to a maximum duration of 6 months*. 

UN Affairs and ITC New York Office Intern

Application Deadline: 15 November 2024
Location: New York

The International Trade Centre (ITC) is a joint development assistance agency of the United Nations (UN) and the World Trade Organization (WTO). ITC is the only international agency fully dedicated to the development of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises through aid for trade. Working with partners to strengthen the competitiveness of MSME exporters, ITC helps to build vibrant, sustainable export sectors that provide entrepreneurial opportunities, particularly for women, youth and vulnerable communities. ITC’s representative office to the United Nations in New York works to: raise the visibility of trade as a driver of inclusive growth and sustainable development; deepen ITC's partnerships within and beyond the UN system; and raise the profile of ITC at the UN headquarters. DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES: Under the overall supervision of the Head of the ITC Office to the United Nations in New York, the selected intern will: • Undertake research and policy analysis on trade and international development issues in ITC priority areas, especially the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. • Track intergovernmental meetings on trade and economic development issues, including entrepreneurship, green and resilient economic recovery, women’s economic empowerment, and other topics in ITC priority areas. • Support ITC engagement with Permanent Missions of Member States to the United Nations: analyzing country information, identifying development programme activities related to ITC strategic priorities. • Contribute to talking points, meeting notes, and reports relevant to ITC’s priority areas. • Provide administration and communication support (including social media). • Assist in the planning and hosting of events. • Undertake any additional duties as required. Be sure to read more about what you may gain through this internship.

Apply Here

Intern - Department of Economic and Social Affairs

Application Deadline: 16 November 2024
Location: New York

*2-6 month duration*
The Statistics intern positions are in the various branches within the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), based in New York. Statistics interns typically report to the Chief of a Section or to a Statistician. The DESA/SD internship is for two months with an opportunity for extension, depending on the needs of the department. For more information about the Office, please visit https://unstats.un.org/home/. The internship is UNPAID and full-time. Interns work five days per week (35 hours). The unpaid internship is designed to be in person and full-time at the New York duty station. Depending on the situation of the successful candidates, the internship may also offer a Flexible Work Arrangement to be conducted fully remote, hybrid (in-person and remote), part-time, and/or temporary FWA for the purpose of G-4 visa processing.

*Be sure to read more about the responsibilities of this position* 

Apply Here

United Nations Population Fund - Global Internship Roster (Multiple Locations)

Application Deadline: 31 December 2024
Location: New York

The UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

Apply Here

Follow the IO/UNS Specialization on
CampusGroups, Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp.

Feel free to reach out to us:
Daniel Naujoks, IO/UNS Director, daniel.naujoks@columbia.edu
You can book office hours here.

Laura Mercado, IO/UNS Coordinator, ld3071@sipa.columbia.edu
Angela To, Program Assistant, hat2123@columbia.edu
Himadri Ratnayake, Program Assistant, hr2574@columbia.edu