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Int'l Organizations & UN News #27/2024

Hanh Minh To - Tuesday, December 10, 2024

Events IO/UNS Newsletter

International Organizations and UN News #27/2024 - December 10, 2024

Dear IO/UNS Community,

Happy Human Rights Day - which is is observed annually around the world on 10 December. It commemorates the anniversary of one of the world's most groundbreaking global pledges: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). In the events section of this newsletter, you find a few resources about coverage of the event which this year focuses on the theme Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now.

When you have a minute from hitting the books or typing that essay for finals, please take a look below at the upcoming courses for Spring 2025.

It was an absolute pleasure meeting all the new students and welcoming back the old ones at last week's end-of-the-year social. We hope you all have a wonderful winter break to rejuvenate and renew and happy holidays!

In this newsletter, you will find:

International Organizations News
Podcast: Arif Husain | How Much Does it Cost to Feed the World
IO/UNS Spring 2025 Courses
Student Spotlight
Spotlighted Events
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.

After 14 years of brutal war and the fall of Bashar al-Assad's dictatorial regime, today the people of Syria can seize an historic opportunity to build a stable and peaceful future, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Sunday. He added "the future of Syria is a matter for the Syrians to determine." He noted there is much work to be done to ensure an orderly political transition to renewed institutions, and that his Special Envoy, Geir Pedersen, will be working with all Syrians towards this end.
On Friday, December 6, Mohamed Al Hassan, the UN Special Representative for Iraq expressed in his first briefing to ambassadors in the Security Council, "Iraq is not the same as the Iraq of 20 years ago, or even five years ago. Iraq today is more secure, stable and open, despite the many obstacles facing the country." There are some indicators that Iraq’s population has nearly doubled over the past 30 years, surpassing 45 million, and “decisionmakers will now be able to plan based on reliable facts and figures.”
In addition to recent discussions on the climate crisis, the issue of desertification, drought and land restoration are being addressed at a global meeting of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, until 13 December. About one billion people globally under the age of 25 live in regions where they depend on the land and natural resources for jobs and livelihoods, according to the UN, but their future is increasingly under threat due to desertification and land degradation.
On Friday, December 6, the Regional Inter-Agency Coordination Platform for Refugees and Migrants from Venezuela (R4V), co-led by the IOM and UNHCR, announced the 2025 - 2026 regional response plan to support over 2.3 million vulnerable individuals, including host communities, in 17 countries. Migrants and refugees across Latin America and the Caribbean are facing challenges in accessing basic needs, formal employment, and safe living conditions, UN agencies reported, launching a $1.4 billion regional plan to address their urgent needs. Since 2019, more than 4.5 million Venezuelan migrants and refugees have obtained regular status in 17 countries.

Arif Husain | How Much Does it Cost to Feed the World (Season 10, Episode 1) - Awake at Night, Podcast with Melissa Fleming

“I tell my colleagues … as humanitarians, our jobs are bigger than us… We don't do our job, we lose people. So every time you feel like you don't have to do 100 plus percent, just think about that.”

Arif Husain has spent the past decade raising his voice on behalf of those struggling to get enough to eat. Now Chief Economist at the World Food Programme (WFP), he is calling for the world to put a stop to mass hunger.

“We want people to scream at the top of their lungs saying enough is enough […] We as humanity will not tolerate this, regardless of what and where it is happening. It's just not right if you are hurting women, children, innocent people.”

There is no shortage of food in the world, yet the WFP says the number of people going hungry has more than doubled in the past five years. In this episode, Arif Husain reflects on how the deadly trio of conflict, climate change and economics conspire to breed hunger, and offers listeners hope from a surprising source.

You can listen to the podcast here.

IO/UNS Student Spotlight

This week, we are excited to introduce Yuri Furukawa (MPA, HRHP, ISP, 2025)!

Her interest in multilateralism and global governance stems from her belief that sustainable peacebuilding requires grassroots efforts and the inclusion of local voices. Multilateral platforms are essential for amplifying these voices and fostering collaborative, inclusive solutions to global challenges.

During her time with UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Arab States (RBAS), she organized the regional Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) dialogue in Amman, Jordan. Youth representatives from countries like Palestine and Syria demonstrated remarkable resilience, advocating for transformative change despite systemic challenges. Their determination seen as active decision-makers rather than victims, reinforced her commitment to a bottom-up approach that prioritizes local ownership and meaningful participation.

Additionally, her capstone project with UNICEF ROSA in Silchar, India, emphasized the importance of community-led initiatives in building disaster resilience. These experiences have strengthened her passion for developing expertise in conflict analysis, crisis response, stabilization, and post-conflict processes, enabling her to contribute effectively to multilateral efforts that promote peace and social cohesion.

Before SIPA, she worked at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) as a strategy consultant, collaborating with private companies and government agencies. She joined BCG to develop practical skills before pursuing my passion for multilateral work.

During her undergrad, she studied Data Science and interned at UNEP GRID-Geneva as a data scientist. While at SIPA, she gained experience with the UNRWA Representative Office in New York, the Permanent Mission of Japan to the UN, and UNDP RBAS.

Originally from Japan and raised in China, she is currently learning Arabic and French to strengthen her ability to work in diverse international settings!

You can find her Instagram at @yuri_lily33.
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Help your classmates get to know you more. If you would like to be featured in our spotlight, please fill out our questionnaire here!

Event Recap: End-of-the-Year IO/UNS, ICR & UNA Social

On December 5th, IO/UNS joined forces with ICR and UNA to host our End-of-the-Year Social in Publique! In celebration of the last week of class of the Fall 2024 semester, students got to de-stress and catch up with one another and Professor Daniel Naujoks and the IO/UNS team over some mouth-watering vegetarian Chinese food from Happy Hot Hunan. Thank you to everyone who stopped by before the hectic finals week begins. We loved having you there!

New 2025-2026 United Nations Association Board

Thanks to everyone who applied for the UNA Board positions. Thank you to the current UNA Board members for their time and efforts this past year. We wish you the best of luck!

We are excited to welcome your new UNA board for the upcoming academic school year:

President: Rustam Baratov
Vice President: Camila Balcàzar
General Secretary: Garima Sahni
Treasurer: Isis Hernandez Moreno
Alumni Chair: Alei Rizvi
Events Chair: Xinyue Wang

Be on the lookout for their upcoming announcements and events next year!

Registration for Spring 2025 SIPA courses will continue until Friday, January 31. At this link, you find a list of classes accredited by the International Organization and UN Studies specialization, that we hope can help you decide the final composition of your next semester.

We'd like to specifically highlighted the following course: UN Development System in Action: Governance, Funding and Country-level Results (INAF U6341, 1.5 credits). Professor Gülden Türköz-Cosslett, a SIPA alum, has 30 years of experience in the UN Development system, most recently, as Deputy Director of UNDP’s Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy and as Regional Director of UN Women. Her short course in the second half of the Spring semester has students work with the UN on specific projects and is a great opportunity to learn about the intricacies of the UN’s work to promote sustainable development.

Wednesday, 11 Dec 2024, 12-1:30 PM ET *TOMORROW*
UNDP: Women in Leadership During Crisis
Online (Zoom)

RSVP | EVENT INFO

2 - 13 December
COP 16 of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia & Virtual

The 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 2 to 13 December 2024. The conference will highlight the interconnectedness of the three Rio Conventions—on climate change, biodiversity, and desertification—underscoring that combating land degradation is crucial for achieving broader climate, environmental, and Sustainable Development Goals. Visit the website to learn more.

More information here

10 December 2024, *TODAY*
Human Rights Day
Online

Human Rights Day is observed annually around the world on 10 December. It commemorates the anniversary of one of the world's most groundbreaking global pledges: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

2024 Theme: Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now. Human rights can empower individuals and communities to forge a better tomorrow. By embracing and trusting the full power of human rights as the path to the world we want, we can become more peaceful, equal and sustainable. This Human Rights Day we focus on how human rights are a pathway to solutions, playing a critical role as a preventative, protective and transformative force for good. As UN Secretary-General António Guterres has said, “Human rights are the foundation for peaceful, just, and inclusive societies.” This year’s theme is a call to acknowledge the importance and relevance of human rights in our everyday lives. We have an opportunity to change perceptions by speaking up against hate speech, correcting misinformation and countering disinformation. This is the time to mobilize action to reinvigorate a global movement for human rights.

Follow the coverage of Human Rights Day 2024 here

Watch the video message by UN Human Rights Chief, Volker Türk here and by UN Secretary-General António Guterres here.

10 December 2024, starting at 10am *TODAY*
High-level pledging conference for CERF
Online

The annual high-level pledging conference for the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) will take place in New York at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 10 December, at UN Headquarters.

Watch the livestream here

11 December 2024, 12–1:30pm ET *TOMORROW*
UNDP virtual brown-bag lunch: Women in Leadership During Crisis
Online

This session will feature an exceptional panel of distinguished women leaders from the United Nations system:

Marta Ruedas, former DSRSG/RC/HC, United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI)
Sophie Kemkhadze, UNDP Resident Representative, Libya
Shoko Noda, Director, UNDP Crisis Bureau

These accomplished leaders will share their personal experiences, insights and strategies in addressing complex crises and fostering resilience. The discussion aims to inspire and provide actionable takeaways for participants interested in advancing women’s leadership and effective crisis management. This event is open to all, and we encourage you to join us for this enriching dialogue. Whether you are passionate about leadership, crisis response or gender equality, whether you are in or out of the UN system, whether you belong to the next generation or not, this session promises to offer valuable perspectives and we welcome your thoughts from all over the world!

12 - 13 December 2024
Second Civil Society Organization (CSO)-United Nations (UN) Dialogue on Peacebuilding
UNHQ NY

On 12 - 13 December 2024, at the UNHQ in NY, the 2nd Annual CSO-UN Dialogue on Peacebuilding will be co-chaired by the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) and Interpeace. The Dialogue will convene various civil society actors and focus on thematic priorities leading up to the 2025 Review of the UN Peacebuilding Architecture, with conflict prevention as the overall theme and three sub-themes: financing for peacebuilding, meaningful civil society inclusion, and Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS).

For more information, click here

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.

11 December 2024
2025 Max Thabiso Edkins Climate Ambassador Program Application
World Bank Group

Apply now to be a 2025 Max Thabiso Edkins Climate Ambassador!

For who? 18-35 years old, fluent in English, internet-savvy, and committed to taking action for the planet in your community, this could be the perfect opportunity for you! The program is a six-month online program that catalyzes youth climate leadership. Please read carefully and consider this opportunity by the World Bank Group.

More information and application form here .

Public Information: Communications and Social Media Intern

Application Deadline: 12 December 2024
Location: New York

*Desired start date: 6 January 2025*
This internship is designed to be full-time and in-person, in New York, but could be adjusted based on the request of the successful candidate. This internship announcement is valid for one (1) candidate who will intern in the Public Inquiries Unit (PIU), in the Visitors Services Section. Visitors Services is part of the Outreach Division, Department of Global Communications in New York City, which engages and educates people and their communities worldwide to encourage support for the ideals and activities of the United Nations. The Visitors Services Section interfaces directly with the general public to offer guided tours of UN Headquarters in New York and briefings with UN expert speakers, as well as a Public Inquiries counter where visitors can obtain information materials and ask questions. Please visit: www.un.org/visit for more information about Visitors Services. This internship is designed to be full-time and in-person in New York but could be adjusted based on the request of the successful candidate, the nature of the tasks, needs of the Units and/or Section, and the discretion of the manager. Full-time interns work five days a week (35 hours) and part-time interns work less than 34 hours a week. This is under the supervision of a staff member in the Unit(s) within the Visitors Services Section to which they are assigned, although they also support the operation as a whole. Be sure to look through some of the intern's responsibilities!

Apply Here

Journal of the United Nations Intern

Application Deadline: 19 December 2024
Location: New York

*Start Date: 24 February 2025*
The United Nations Secretariat is seeking motivated interns to support the work of the Journal Unit of the Central Planning and Coordination Division of the Department for General Assembly and Conference Management in New York. The Journal Unit is responsible for the daily preparation and publication of the Journal of the United Nations. The Journal of the United Nations is a complete picture and historical record of the life of United Nations Headquarters on any given day – what meetings are being held, when and where, what topics are being discussed and what documents are the basis of those discussions. The internship is for a period of six months. Internships are unpaid and full-time (40 hours per week). Interns work directly with and for the member(s) of the Unit to whom they are assigned. Interns' responsibilities will depend upon the nature of the project(s) undertaken, the background of the intern, and the duration of the internship. Daily responsibilities might include, but not necessarily be limited to: • Providing assistance in the publication of the Journal of the United Nations. • Providing assistance in the maintenance and update of the Journal Unit databases and 2024 planning dashboards. • Providing assistance in the compilation, review and analysis of data and other information needed for the publication of meetings and events. • Providing technical assistance in the Journal Content Management System (JCMS). • Providing assistance in attending to queries from submitters and secretariats regarding the programmes or summaries of the Journal of the United Nations. • Providing administrative assistance to the Unit. • Performing any other related duties, as may be assigned.

Apply Here

Digital Communications Intern

Application Deadline: 30 December 2024
Location: New York

The internship is located in the Chinese Language Unit, Social Media Section, Campaigns and Country Operations Division of the Department of Global Communications. The section is responsible for social media activities of the Department of Global Communications and the integration of social media platforms, including social networking tools such as Facebook, Twitter, WeChat, Weibo, Tumblr, Flickr and YouTube, which are critical component of the Department's communications. The services of the interns align closely with the Social Media Section's mandate by supporting the creation, adaptation, and dissemination of engaging content tailored to the Chinese-speaking audience. Interns will contribute to enhancing the visibility of the United Nations' campaigns, initiatives, and key messages, ensuring alignment with the Department's broader objectives of fostering awareness, engagement, and advocacy on issues of global importance. Through activities such as content curation, audience engagement, and analytics, the intern will directly support the Department's efforts to leverage social media as a vital tool for global communication and outreach. We encourage candidates who can ideally commit to a full-time schedule for a minimum duration of three months and work with us in person. However, interns can begin working remotely until they successfully obtain a G4 Visa and all necessary travel documents. Within delegated authority, the public information intern may be responsible for the following duties: - Research, compile, draft and edit basic information (text, images, videos, infographics) for use in the preparation and production of Chinese social media content, often under tight deadlines. - Monitor and analyze statistics related to social media content, including Engagement Metrics (Likes, shares, comments, retweets, and saves; Click-through rates on links in posts; Video views, watch time, and completion rates); Audience Analytics (Demographics such as age, gender, location, language; Audience growth and Audience activity such as peak engagement times, device usage); Content Performance (Post reach and impressions; Top-performing posts based on engagement; Content types and their effectiveness); And Platform-Specific Metrics. - Create content by capturing highlights from special events promoting UN mandates held at the UN Headquarters in NY. - Develop engaging and creative content tailored for platforms like Weibo, Kuaishou, and Bilibili to effectively communicate the UN's core priorities—such as the Sustainable Development Goals, climate action, and peacebuilding—while reaching younger and broader audiences in the Chinese-speaking world.

Apply Here

Geographical Information Systems Intern

Application Deadline: 30 December 2024
Location: New York

*This is a job opening used to build a pool of qualified candidates and will be used to fill internship vacancies between 1 December 2024 and 31 December 2025.*

They seek motivated interns to support the work of the United Nations Operations and Crisis Centre (UNOCC). The interns take up assignments within the Data Unit of UNOCC. The Data Unit conducts integrated analysis, modelling and data engineering that informs senior UN leadership and decision-making fora on country risk outlooks, crisis developments, as well as and predictive and historic trends. The UNOCC is a multi-party entity reporting to the USG for Policy in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG), through the Strategic Planning and Monitoring Unit (EOSG/SPMU) and, on peacekeeping matters, with oversight from the USG for Peace Operations, through the Director for Coordination and Shared Services (ODCSS). The UNOCC also receives strategic oversight from a Client Board of principals from each of the client entities. The UNOCC provides global situational awareness, crisis and risk management, as well as facilitates cross-pillar analysis and decision-making in the UN. The UNOCC is operationally positioned under the ODCSS between the Department of Political and Peace building Affairs and the Department of Peace Operations. The intern will support the team in the Production of GIS maps for a variety of purposes and users, including for operational support, advocacy, awareness-raising and strategic planning. *Be sure to also review the "Qualifications/Special Skills" section for more information.*

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

Environmental Affairs Intern

Application Deadline: 30 March 2025
Location: New York

The Intergovernmental Policy and Review Branch (IPRB) in the Office of Intergovernmental Support and Coordination for Sustainable Development (OISC), Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) is accepting applications for internships. The prospective intern should have a background in international relations, economics, sustainable development, or a related and relevant social science, including web-based applications. The selected intern(s) will be responsible for one or more of the following duties in general for specific activities. The intern(s) will provide substantive support and assistance to OISC/IPRB's support to United Nations intergovernmental deliberations of the General Assembly (GA), Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) especially to sustainable development and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Apply Here

Economic Affairs Intern

Application Deadline: 13 April 2025
Location: New York

This internship is with the Regional Commissions - New York Office under the Economic, Social, and Development group. Daily responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:-Attend (in-person) and take notes of intergovernmental and UN inter-agency meetings; (e.g. meetings of the General Assembly Committees and of the Economic and Social Council);-Draft official documents (e.g. background papers, analysis, sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc.) and weekly reports to be disseminated to the Regional Commissions;-Conduct analysis and research of regional trends and regional dimensions of sustainable development;-Logistical assistance during conferences/meetings of the Regional Commissions; -Any other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

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

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