Int'l Organizations & UN News #6/2025

 International Organizations and UN News #6/2025 - February 25, 2025

Dear IO/UNS Community, 

• Event Recap: UN and IO Roundtable Conversations Networking Event
• International Organizations News
• Podcast
• Student Spotlight 
• New MiA think-piece:  𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆: 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 
• Events at SIPA and Beyond ft IO/UNS Spring Retreat 
• Internship Opportunities

IO/UNS Specialization Team

Transnational activists have played a crucial role in promoting multilateral action on climate change. They successfully lobbied states to negotiate the 2015 Paris Agreement, monitor states’ subsequent actions, “naming and shaming” countries that fail to fulfil national targets and campaign for states to tackle climate change at various international policy venues. In 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆: 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 Professors Nina Hall and Mette Eilstrup-Sangiovanni draw on their new book Climate Activism, Digital Technologies, and Organizational Change (Cambridge University Press, 2024) to show how new digital technologies offer opportunities for activists and international organizations to campaign more effectively for climate action, but also pose significant risks. They argue that technologies such as satellites, social media, and artificial intelligence (AI) offer new opportunities for activists to speed up and make their campaigns more efficient. 

Check out the full think-piece here, and engage with our announcements on LinkedIn and BlueSky.

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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.

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. 

Friday, 28 March 2025, ALL DAY 
IO/UNS Spring Retreat 
Off-Campus: Lamont Campus *Apply by 6 March, 12pm*

Come join the IO/UNS team and your colleagues for our annual retreat at one of Columbia's off-campus centers: the Lamont Campus, featuring the Gary C. Comer building! This event will be all day and will include food, transportation, and lots of fun. Students will have the opportunity to engage with one another, explore the outdoor scenery, and the indoors of the award-winning building. There will further be guest speakers and other fun activities to enjoy! We hope to see you there! 

RSVP Here

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

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.

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 internship is located in the Campaigns and Country Operations Division of the Department of Global Communications, Sustainable Development and Climate Section. The Sustainable Development and Climate Section has a mandate to promote the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that guide the UN’s work to boost economic prosperity and social well-being while protecting the environment. Daily responsibilities will depend on the individual’s background and the internship period. The selected intern may perform some of the following functions, but are not limited to: 1. Tracking, researching and analyzing information on assigned topics, gathering information from diverse sources and helping assess news value and other potential impact; 2. Drafting and compiling a specific type (print, broadcast, social media, etc) of information products for target audiences; 3. Conducting photo and graphic research; designing and preparing multimedia assets by using tools such as the Adobe Creative Suite, and captioning videos and clips; 4. Assisting with the implementation of DGC’s communications campaigns; identifying and proposing information opportunities, activities and approaches while taking into account the topic and target audiences; 5. Assisting with organization of press conferences for communications campaigns on priority development issues; 6. Maintaining and updating media and subscription mailing lists; 7. Media Monitoring.

*3-6 months, starting in June to December 2025*

Responsibilities of the internship position encompass all aspects of the Directorates work. These responsibilities may include, but are not limited to: • Assist in analysing and interpreting international, regional and domestic legal instruments. • Assist in planning and organising meetings, briefings, roundtables, seminars and other CTED events • Assist in preparing documents arrangements for the organization of CTC/CTED meetings, briefings, roundtables, seminars and other events: • Assist in preparing background notes, talking points for meetings, missions and other events attended by CTED staff; • Conducting research to contribute to CTED analytical products on trends and developments in terrorism and counter-terrorism. • Research, draft and update country profiles and other background documents in preparation for high-level meetings and other events; • Assist with preparing infographics and visual aids for CTED documents and presentations; • Attend and take notes at meetings, conferences and other events; assist in the preparation of summaries and reports of discussions; • Assist in other ad-hoc activities as instructed.

*Flexible: Hybrid, all remote, or in-person; Desired start date: 17 March 2025 or sooner*

This internship is in the Climate, Peace and Security Unit within the Policy and Mediation Division (PMD) of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA). The incumbent will report to the relevant supervisor. As part of the Climate, Peace and Security Unit, the intern will provide creative multimedia content and communications support. The candidate may be requested to work remotely for a part or the entirety of the internship in view of constraints regarding visa issuance, international travel and access to UN premises. The intern will work under the supervision of the Political Affairs Officer in PMD's Climate, Peace and Security Unit, and will be responsible for one or more of the following duties: Social media: • Prepare communication and campaigns for various social media channels to raise awareness on the climate, peace and security agenda • Assist in drafting or editing material to promote the activities undertaken by Climate, Peace and Security Advisors and the Climate Security Mechanism • Assist in graphic design for social media and other digital platforms. • Assist in editorial scheduling of social media assets, and social media analytics. Web: • Assist in the creation of new web content. • Translation or editing of contents. • Assist in the drafting of technical and editorial documentation. • Upload content on the website or other content management tools, such as Trello, etc. • Summary/analytical tasks, assessing audience and communications impact. • Web mastering, editing and graphic design. • Assist in maintaining and improving the Web ecosystem Multimedia: • Support the production of general multimedia content, including videos for various audiences • Assist in online podcast interview postproduction. Be sure to read more for any additional tasks the intern may have. 

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

Are you a young leader passionate about climate mobility? Apply now for the Climate Mobility Fellowship (CMF) 2025–2026 and gain the tools, networks, and expertise to drive impactful solutions in the field of climate mobility!
The Global Centre for Climate Mobility (GCCM) is launching this year-long fellowship as part of the Climate Mobility Academy (CMA) for youth from Africa, Latin America & the Caribbean, and the Pacific. This unique opportunity will provide academic & practical training, exposure to international climate mobility forums, and hands-on project experience. Each fellow will receive a stipend to support their participation throughout the fellowship. The 12 selected fellows — including four from Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS) — will develop expertise in climate mobility governance, policy, and research, while actively engaging in global policy processes.

Format: In-Person & Virtual

• Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 30.
• Proficiency in English is required.
• Applicants must be based in or nationals of Latin American, Caribbean, African, or Pacific Island countries.

How to Apply Submit your application via this form by 15 March 2025.
Want to learn more? Join our introductory webinar on 20 February 2025 — register here.
For full details, refer to the Concept Note 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.

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