Int'l Organizations & UN News #4/2025

 International Organizations and UN News #4/2025 - February 11, 2025

Dear IO/UNS Community, 

• International Organizations News
• Podcast
• Student Spotlight 
• First-Year Survey for Capstone Preferences 
• Events at SIPA and Beyond
• Internship Opportunities

IO/UNS Specialization Team

First-Year Survey for Capstone Preferences 

Attention all First-Year MIA/MPA and MPA DP students! The SIPA Capstone Survey will be open for first-year and fall students from February 14-24.
The SIPA Capstone workshop preference survey is intended to be completed by all first-year and fall graduate students in the MIA, MPA, and MPA DP degree program (other than EPD students who have their own survey that will be sent from the EPD Director). This is an important tool that allows students to directly voice their opinion for the development of the next round of Capstone workshops. The survey asks students to rank order their preferences of past Capstone projects and to suggest new clients/topics for the next academic year (Fall Preliminary Short Course and Spring 2026 cycle of projects). 

The survey should take no more than 10 minutes to complete and will be available on the SIPA website from February 14 - 24th. Students are welcome to list any organization or company that is of interest; it is not necessary to restrict your selection to past clients or topics or to those available within your concentration. Students are then asked to consider what organizations and topics would be of interest for a Capstone project in the coming year.  Please be as specific as possible in your responses.  

Please note: we will make every effort to satisfy the demands of the students; however it may not be possible to accommodate every workshop request. Unfortunately, a number of factors in addition to student demand influence whether a particular organization partners with SIPA for a workshop, such as the interest and ability of the organization to engage the time and resources necessary to participate in a workshop.

20 January 2025 - 28 March 2025 
Part I of the Annual Conference on Disarmament 
UNHQ, NY

Part I of the Annual Conference on Disarmament begins 20 January. The Conference on Disarmament (CD), is the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum of the international community. The CD and its predecessors have negotiated major multilateral arms limitation and disarmament agreements such as the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction (CWC) and Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). Learn more and follow the discussions in the 2025 Conference.

12 February 2025, 1 - 2pm *TOMORROW* 
Columbia Impact Investment Initiative (Ci3) World Bank and IFC Internship Panel  
IAB 407

12 February 2025 *TOMORROW*
Civil Society Organization Townhall with the President of the General Assembly 
UNHQ, NY

10 - 14 February 2025
Third Session of the Preparatory Committee (3rd PrepCom) for the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development 
UNHQ

Register here

19 February 2025, 5 - 9:30pm
United Nations & International Organizations Roundtable Conversations
IAB 1501

10 - 21 March 2025
Sixty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women
UNHQ, NY

The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality, the rights and the empowerment of women. The sixty-ninth session of the Commission will take place at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 10 to 21 March 2025. 

15 - 17 April 2025 
2025 ECOSOC Youth Forum 
UNHQ, NY

*DEADLINE TOMORROW*: Applications must be submitted by Wednesday, February 12 2025 midnight ET: https://lnkd.in/dCXXRk5b * 

The UN Youth Office invites young leaders to be a part of the 2025 ECOSOC Youth Forum! They will support up to 15 young persons (18-35 years old) to participate in person at the 2025 ECOSOC Youth Forum from 15-17 April 2025 at the UN Headquarters in New York City (USA).The ECOSOC Youth Forum will focus on a theme that aligns with the 2025 High-level Political Forum (HLPF) on “Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for leaving no one behind.” 

Selected young candidates will:

• Engage directly with decision-makers and policymakers at the ECOSOC Youth Forum.
• Share insights and innovative solutions to advance sustainable development.
• Connect with fellow young advocates from diverse backgrounds and regions.
• Contribute to shaping international policies and commitments on sustainable development.
• Play an active role in driving progress toward the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs within the UN system and beyond.

Eligibility and Selection Process:
Selection of eligible young persons will be made by the UN Youth Office with the support of partners, including its Youth Reference Group, with due consideration to gender balance, geographical representation and other under-represented youth groups.

Interested candidates should review the detailed application guidelines available here:

For more information about the ECOSOC Youth Forum, please visit here

30 June - 11 July 2025
63rd Graduate Study Programme: UN80: United for a Better Future
Geneva, Switzerland

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.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environment sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. UN Environment Programme/New York Office is responsible for strategic linkages with the UN system, key partners, and stakeholders in the context of the interagency and intergovernmental processes based on UN Headquarters. Responsibilities Under the supervision of the Senior Programme Management Officer of UNEP New York Office, the intern will: • Attend and summarize key discussions on interagency meetings in New York and on-line. • Research and summarize key developments related to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and UN Development system reform, including coverage of discussions in relevant UN inter-agency fora such as the High Level Committee on Programs; the UN Sustainable Development Group and others.  • Assist the work of the New York Office to support UNEP in interagency discussions and fora by collecting information and briefing notes that can support the further integration of the environmental pillar of the 2030 Agenda in the work of the UN system. • Assist with logistics and organization of UNEP interagency events and/or side events for the UN General Assembly, follow up on Agenda 2030 and other environment related events at UN Headquarters in New York. • Assist the interagency team with communications, briefings, team organization as needed. • Contribute to the communication activities of UNEP’s New York Office from an inter-agency perspective.

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. This internship is located in the Information Management Unit in the in the Department of Peace Operations at United Nations Headquarters in New York. 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 of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) focuses primarily on five action areas in international peace and security, ensuring sound analysis and early warning, preventing conflict and engaging in peacemaking, managing political crises and violent conflicts, sustaining peace, and enhancing partnerships. The Department's mandate is to prevent and resolve conflict through inclusive political solutions. Information Management Unit oversees the information management systems, policies, and processes for the DPPA-DPO, supporting analysis, solutions development and advisory services. Under the overall supervision of the Chief Information Management Officer, the incumbent reports directly to the Project Manager of the Peace and Security Data Hub. Our interns work as members of the Peace and Security Data Hub team in the IMU, pursuing projects that are designed to make a significant difference in the whole department, and have opportunities to learn about the United Nations overall. We are looking to fill two distinct intern profiles: 1. We encourage applicants with experience in Political, Human Rights, or Humanitarian Affairs, as well as a background in client-facing, user-centric design processes. 2. We are also seeking candidates with strong technical skills to support the operational side of our projects. Both profiles are expected to develop business process solutions that address shortfalls in the peace and security data ecosystem of the United Nations.

This position is in the Intergovernmental Support (IGS) Team of the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA). OSAA is mandated to provide advisory, advocacy, coordination and monitoring services supporting Africa’s development. More information about the Office can be found at www.un.org/osaa. The intern will work under the supervision of a staff member of the in IGS. 1. Support with Document Preparation and Event Coordination: Drafting of reports, briefings, and presentations and help organize technical meetings, webinars, and workshops. 2. Assistance with Conference and Meeting Support: Attend and assist in preparing reports for conferences and meetings. 3. Data and Statistical Analysis: Provide data and statistical support on themes related to financing for development and justice for sustainability, including climate justice 4. Research: Provide a literature review and identify areas for further research and evidence-based policy analysis on the aforementioned research and advocacy themes. 

The Global Strategy and Policy Division of the Office of Human Resources/DMSPC seeks enthusiastic and dedicated interns to join our team. The prospective intern must have a strong interest in diversity, equity, and inclusion, particularly in promoting geographical diversity; excellent research, analytical, and problem-solving skills; effective communication and interpersonal skills; capable of working collaboratively in a team environment; ability to handle multiple tasks and projects simultaneously with attention to detail and proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). The intern will support the workstream responsible for coordinating efforts to increase geographical representation in the UN Secretariat by developing partnerships with Member States, undertaking targeted talent outreach campaigns to draw the broadest pool of candidates for Secretariat positions, and focusing on attracting candidates from unrepresented and underrepresented Member States. The team develops innovative talent outreach initiatives to attract and retain a diverse workforce in the Organization. The workstream also supports the implementation of purposeful partnership arrangements with Member States. The intern will report to the Human Resources Officer. Be sure to read through the intern's responsibilities on the website. 

*Desired Start Date: 1 April 2025 or sooner* 

The duration of the internship is for three months but can be extended to six. 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. This internship is in the South and Southeast Asia Team, Asia and the Pacific Division, DPPA-DPO at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Responsibilities of this internship include, but are not limited to: • Researching on South and Southeast Asia peace and security issues; • Media monitoring and analysis of current events; • Drafting thematic papers, background documents, pieces of correspondence, etc.; • Attending and taking notes at conferences and meetings; • Assisting in the organization of meetings; • Assisting in data collection and information management; • Assisting with project management.

This internship is with the Division for Sustainable Development Goals (DSDG) of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). The Division provides leadership in promoting and coordinating implementation of the sustainable development agenda of the United Nations and serves as the global secretariat for the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and provides substantive inputs to the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. For more information, please visit our website at http://sdgs.un.org The internship is UNPAID and full-time. Interns work five days per week (35 hours) under the supervision of a staff member in the department or office to which they are assigned. The intern will report to a Senior Officer within DSDG. The unpaid internship is designed to be in person and full-time. 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), temporary FWA for the purpose of G-4 visa processing, and/or in part-time. Responsibilities The Division for Sustainable Development Goals (DSDG) seeks to provide leadership and catalyze action in promoting and coordinating implementation of internationally agreed development goals, including the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Despite the COVID-19 crisis, DSDG continues to advance on its work, including by providing support to Member States and other stakeholders in responding to the pandemic. The intern will have the opportunity of learning and working in a very dynamic environment, where new approaches and methodologies are being implemented and tested daily. The intern will be able to contribute to virtual activities, including Webinars and online training. The intern will also engage collaboratively in research and analysis as well as in drafting and reviewing documents on several topics as well as engage with stakeholders from different sectors and parts of the world.

The Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) is responsible for providing leadership, operational support and oversight of the United Nations security management system (UNSMS) globally. As a global leader in security risk management principles, UNDSS enables the safe and effective delivery of United Nations programmes and activities in the most complex and challenging environments, while maximizing precious resources. To this end, the work of the Department is aligned under a clear mission, to enable United Nations system programme activities through trusted security leadership and solutions. This internship opportunity is in the Compliance Evaluation and Monitoring Section (CEMS) of the Strategic Planning Service (SPS) within UNDSS. The role of SPS is to support senior management on key substantive issues related to strategic planning of the Department, including strategic communication, enterprise risk management, gender equality, compliance monitoring, evaluations, lessons learned and oversight coordination. SPS contributes to the UNDSS' efforts to enable the implementation of the United Nations mandate while ensuring the safety and security of United Nations personnel. Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of Programme Management Officer, the intern will work in close collaboration with the CEMS Team, ensuring timely support in carrying out normative work of the Team which includes the department's monitoring and evaluation activities, as well as other cross-cutting areas of programme management, research and document and data analysis.

The United Nations Global Compact Office (UNGCO) is offering internship opportunities with its New York office. The UNGCO is the entity responsible for the overall management and coordination of the Global Compact initiative, including the management of the Global Compact’s name and logo, and the Global Compact Integrity Measures. Available internship opportunities in 2025 include the following period: - Spring internships: commencing April 2025 - Summer internships: commencing July 2025 Kindly indicate clearly in your application which period you intend to start your internship. The United Nations Global Compact Office pursues two complementary objectives: (1) making the Global Compact and its principles part of business strategy and operations everywhere; and (2) facilitating cooperation among key stakeholders by promoting partnerships and other collective action in support of United Nations goals. To promote its 10 principles, the Global Compact also undertakes work on a range of corporate sustainability issues. Internship opportunities are available in the following teams. Please indicate clearly which team(s) you are interested conducting an internship with. You may select more than one team of interest. - Global Operations - Programmes - Principles for Responsible Management Education - Communications and Media - Participant Outreach and Engagement - Marketing - Government Affairs - Strategic Events - Integrity - Partnerships and UN relations - Intergovernmental Relations and Africa To learn more about these teams visit: https://www.unglobalcompact.org/docs/about_the_gc/Global_Compact_Internship_Opportunities.pdf 

Apply Here

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.

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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