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Int'l Organizations & UN News #22/2024

Hanh Minh To - Monday, October 28, 2024
 Events   IO/UNS Newsletter 

 International Organizations and UN News #22/2024 - October 29, 2024

Dear IO/UNS Community, 

We hope everyone has been able enjoy the autumn leaves while getting much needed sunshine here in New York! 

In this newsletter, you will find: 

  • International Organizations News
  • IO/UNS Event Recap
    • UN Day Festival
    • Book Panel: The Forever Crisis
    • UN Day Race
  • Podcast - What We're Listening To: Why Actor Edward Norton Champions Biodiversity
  • IO/UNS Student Spotlight 
  • New on Multilateralism in Action
  • 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.

UN DAY Festival

Last Thursday, 24 October, IO/UNS hosted its annual UN Day Festival, drawing nearly two hundred students. Attendees enjoyed the much-welcomed warm, sunny weather while testing their knowledge of the UN, taking photos at the UN-themed photobooth, and entering a raffle for exciting UN-themed prizes. The Fishbowl was abuzzed with discussions on topics such as the recent 16th BRICS Summit, Secretary-General António Guterres and Israel, the war in Gaza, UN voting and veto powers, and our favorite SDGs. It was truly a memorable event, and it was made all the more special with all of you there. Thank you for joining us! If you're on Twitter/X, feel also free to amplify our UN Day tweets here, here, and here. The winners of our raffle will be notified this week.

UN Day Race 2024 NYC 

This past Saturday, 26 October, the IO/UNS team along with SIPA students attended the United Nations Association's Annual UN Day Race, with a special theme on Gender Equality. IO/UNS Director Daniel Naujoks and UN Partnership Initiative program assistant Paloma Camelo ran with more than 15 SIPA students, faculty, and alumni a 5K or 10K loop around Central Park with one another, and also with the members of the UN community in the beautiful fall weather. Thank you to everyone who joined us in this annual race, especially in celebration of UN Day!

Book Panel: The Forever Crisis

This past Thursday, 24 October, IO/UNS and ICR co-hosted a book panel on Professor Adam Day's new book The Forever Crisis: Adaptive Global Governance for an Era of Accelerating Complexity. Day, who also serves as the Head of the Geneva Office of the UN University Centre for Policy Research, discussed how many global issues—such as climate change, pandemics, cyber threats, and AI—are increasingly complex and demand adaptive, systems-based solutions rather than linear approaches. He further offered an innovative approach to global governance in this era of interrelated planetary challenges. In addition to Professor Day's remarks, Michèle Griffin, Director of Our Common Agenda and the Summit of the Future, Executive Office of the UN Secretary-General, as well as professor Jean-Marie Guéhenno, Director of SIPA's International Conflict Resolution provided comments on the merits of the book. You can get a copy of Adam Day's book here. If you missed the event, you can watch the recording here.

Why Actor Edward Norton Champions Biodiversity

“I don't think you can underestimate the capacity of human ingenuity to come up with solutions at a blistering pace.”

Acclaimed actor, filmmaker and three-time Academy Award nominee Edward Norton has long been raising his voice on behalf of the planet and its most vulnerable communities. As a UN Goodwill Ambassador for Biodiversity, he is championing the protection of biodiversity for the well-being of all.

“It’s quite heartbreaking. I started diving, when I was 14, in the Caribbean. The change to the reef environments in the Caribbean in my adult lifetime is staggering and really upsetting. Reefs are in just terrible shape, terrible shape. Bleached, covered with algae, fish a fraction of what they were. What was vibrant and colorful and rich is just sort of denuded. It looks like a burnt forest or something. It’s just not, it’s not as alive.”

Working closely with communities in East Africa and around the world, Edward Norton is pushing for conservation that also tackles poverty by providing sustainable sources of income for local communities. In this special episode, the Hollywood star reflects on his activist upbringing, his hopes for his children, and on balancing a successful acting career with a rich, varied and meaningful life.

You can listen to this episode here.
IO/UNS Student Spotlight 

This week, we are excited to introduce Aaliyah Khwaja (MIA, EPD, 2026)!

Aaliyah's interest in multilateralism comes from her upbringing abroad. Seeing the connections of different cultures and religions raises many questions about the greater effects of globalization and the global environment. The shifting global strategic competition was the focus of her undergraduate honors thesis, and she is especially inclined toward international development. Aaliyah has witnessed firsthand the impacts of the climate crisis on the most vulnerable populations and how this produces millions of climate migrants. Bringing sustainable development to lower income countries is important to her, and this is why she wishes to use her MIA for a career in this field. She is greatly interested in the relationship between climate, conflict, and development and she believes our generation plays an important role to bring our globally connected and culturally rich knowledge to the forefront of our work in global governance.

Aaliyah has traveled to 24 countries (and counting) and just before joining SIPA she taught world history as a high school teacher!  You can follow Aaliyah on instagram @aaliyahkhwaja! 

____________________

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

If you haven't do already, check out our latest two think-pieces on Multilateralism in Action: 

In A Second United Nations Charter: Politically Impossible or Inevitable? Augusto Lopez-Claros, Executive Director of the Global Governance Forum, shares insights from a 2-year-long expert review process and the proposals to amend the UN Charter. Read the full think-piece here and feel free to engage with this think-piece's announcements on X/Twitter and LinkedIn.

In Universalizing UN Development: A Forgotten Task for Effective Multilateralism, Max-Otto Baumann, senior researcher at the German Institute of Development and Sustainability and Adolf Kloke-Lesch, former Director General of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and former Executive Director of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Germany, argue that the UN must build up an operational cooperation function within high-income countries. Read the full think-piece here and feel free to engage with this think-piece's announcements on BlueSky, X/Twitter, or LinkedIn.

Events at SIPA & Beyond

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.

11 - 22 November
COP29 UN Climate Change Conference Baku 
Baku, Azerbaijan & Virtual

The Conference of the Parties (COP) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is held annually, with the Presidency rotating between the five recognised UN regions. This year, Azerbaijan has been selected as the Presidency of the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29), to be hosted in Baku this November. COP has adopted the Paris Agreement and will assess the status of the world's progress toward climate change mitigation and adaptation and adopt new measures and procedures. 

Schedule and Public Webcast, see here
General UNFCCC COP info, see here
Host country website, see here

13 November 2024: 1 - 2:00 PM ET
Department of State - Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration Info Session
IAB 410

This employer information session offers insight on full-time, career employment opportunities within the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM). PRM is a humanitarian bureau of the State Department, which focuses on offering protection, helping those that are forcibly displaced or persecuted, etc. They focus on humanitarian policy and diplomacy, while also working with multilateral organizations to build global partnerships and promoting best practices to humanitarian responses. 

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.

Human Resources Intern
Application Deadline: 30 October 2024 
Location: New York 

This internship is for two (2) candidates who will intern in the Human Resources Unit, Executive Office, Department of Global Communications in New York. Administrative Support: • Review the staffing table and monitor post movements. • Assist with daily administrative tasks, including maintaining employee records, updating databases, and organizing documents. • Support the HR Officer in establishing a time and attendance monitoring system. • Help prepare HR-related reports, memos, and correspondence. Employee Relations and Communication: • Assist in drafting internal communications related to HR processes. • Monitor the completion of mandatory staff trainings and performance management reports. Data Management and Reporting: • Assist in collecting, managing, and analyzing HR data for reporting purposes using tools such as Excel and Power BI. • Assist the HR Officers in building the HR dashboards in Power BI. • Track staff contracts, leave entitlements, and training completion. • Support the HR Officer in analyzing data related to workplace well-being, staff engagement, and diversity and inclusion initiatives. • Provide monthly reports to the heads of divisions on the status of performance management and mandatory training completion. • Perform other duties as required.

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*. 

Department of Peace Operations - Intern 

Application Deadline: 13 November 2024
Location: New York

Supporting the Development and Management of a SharePoint site for the Evaluation Team, DPET, DPO
*Desired start date is 20 November 2024 or sooner*  
The duration of the internship is for three (3) to six (6) months. The internship is UNPAID and may be either full-time or part-time. It should be noted that full-time internship working hours are 35 hours per week, while part-time internship working hours are 20 hours per week. The internship will be undertaken either remotely outside the duty station or in a hybrid working arrangement at the UN Premise, New York, United States. Responsibilities are primarily to assist with the development and implementation of SharePoint Project through the following activities: • Map existing systems, identify needs and gaps, and propose solutions using SharePoint features • Liaise with relevant personnel to collect and review information for SharePoint site input • Develop interactive data, auto-generate reports with Power BI, and enable data export features • Design a user-friendly, dynamic SharePoint architecture • Lead user testing and make adjustments as needed • Prepare guidance notes and document system developments • Support the launch of the SharePoint site and assist with training personnel • Monitor the SharePoint site weekly and provide timely responses to queries • Maintain and update the SharePoint site • Participate in weekly team meetings • Provide weekly progress reports on development objectives and work plan implementation • Organize meeting notes, agendas, and manage the issues list for corrective actions. 

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

Political Affairs Intern

Application Deadline: 22 November 2024
Location: New York

*Flexible (in-person preferred/hybrid)*
*Desired start date 30 December 2024 or sooner* 
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. We seek a motivated intern to support the work of the United Nations Operations and Crisis Centre (UNOCC). The UNOCC is a multi-party entity reporting to the Under-Secretary-General (USG) for Policy in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG) and on peacekeeping matters to the USG for Peace Operations in the Department of Peace Operations. The UNOCC supports UN senior leadership decision-making through the delivery of situational awareness, cross-pillar analytics, preventive engagement, and crisis and risk management. This position is located in the United Nations Operations and Crisis Centre (UNOCC). The incumbent reports to the Head of the UNOCC Watch Room. The UNOCC Watch Room provides rapid situational awareness and analysis of events in the field, in order to enable informed, coordinated and timely decision-making and strategic engagement on operations and crisis management at UN Headquarters (UNHQ) through 24/7 support to senior managers across the UN system. Responsibilities Under the overall supervision of the Head of UNOCC Watch Room, and in consultation with a Coordination Officer, the Intern will over the course of the assignment: • Support the Watch Room in analysis and visualization of structured and unstructured data extracted from UNOCC Data Repositories; • Support the drafting and formatting of meeting minutes, outcome notes, briefings, country profiles, visual aids and/or presentations to UN senior leadership; • Conducting open-source monitoring and research; • Support with the organization of enhanced monitoring and crisis management meetings; and • Undertake other assignments as required. Be sure to read more about this position on the website! 

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