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IO/UNS Newsletter [09/20/22]

Aurelian Mohan - Tuesday, September 20, 2022
 Events   IO/UNS Newsletter 
September 20, 2022

Dear IO/UNS Community, 

We expect an evenful week at the UN. Therefore, we wish you all the best with your classes and sufficient energy to follow the developments of the 77th Session of the UN General Assembly!

In the meantime, we offer you a summary of the most important news from the UN System. They should provided useful information about the upcoming debates of the UNGA General Debate.

In UN news:

  • World leaders arriving at UN Headquarters for the High Level General Assembly meetings will be greeted by a powerful and striking new mural from renowned Brazilian artist Eduardo Kobra, focusing attention on climate change and stewardship of the planet. Here you can find more infomation about the mural that adorns our newsletter's header.

  • The newly released UNDP Human Development Report, warns that multiple crises are halting progress on human development, which is going backwards in the overwhelming majority of countries. Check out these five things to look out for in the report.

  • How Exactly Does the UN Bring Peace? and What is the UN General Assembly? Ahead of this years UNGA, the UN released a 5-min explainer video about how the "UN General Assembly is like the Super Bowl of global diplomacy." 

  • Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began, exports of grain from Ukraine, as well as food and fertilizers from Russia, have been significantly hit. The disruption in supplies pushed soaring prices even higher and contributed to a global food crisis. The Black Sea Grain Initiative, brokered by the United Nations and Türkiye, was set up to reintroduce vital food and fertilizer exports from Ukraine to the rest of the world. Here are some key points to understand.

  • “We are in a very dire situation [regarding the need to build trust]. And we must acknowledge that the UN is a mirror of the general [state of] the world. But the UN has always had another feature. It has shown solutions. It shown opportunities,” the new President of the General Assembly Csaba K┼ærösi told UN News in an exclusive interview.

  • On average, women globally are paid about 20% less than men, the International Labour (ILO) Organization said on September 18th, the International Equal Pay Day.

  • Achieving a just and equitable energy transition is “one of the biggest challenges facing our world,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres told the Global Compact Board meeting on September 18. He also stated that "leaders in business as well as government must stop thinking about renewables as a distant project of the future".

In this newsletter, you will also find: 
  • The 77th session of the General Assembly
  • What We’re Listening To: UN Secretary General General Debate Interview
  • IO/UNS Student Spotlight
  • Events at SIPA and Beyond
  • Internship Opportunities

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

Daniel, Asha & Aurelian
IO/UNS Specialization Team

What We’re Listening To: UN Secretary General General Debate Interview

Ahead of the 77th session of the General Assembly’s General Debate, Secretary-General António Guterres said that faced with geopolitical divisions, climate change, pandemics and high levels of inequality, “when the world needs to really turn around in all these aspects, we need unity. We need cooperation, we need dialogue”. In addition, on the Transforming Education Summit, taking place at UN Headquarters on the 16, 17 and 19 of September, the Secretary-General said, “when I look to anything that could reduce inequalities in the world, than thing would be education. But unfortunately, we are seeing - with a dramatic situation that we have in the world today, climate, war, pandemics - we are seeing budgets, education budgets being reduced.” On gender balance at the organization, the Secretary-General said, “we have reached parity already in relation to senior management at the UN - about 200 senior leaders ... And we are moving with the objective of reaching parity in 2028 at all levels of the United Nations work.”

IO/UNS Student Spotlight

This week, please meet Josephine Hebling (MIA/HRHP ‘24).

Josephine’s passion for multilateralism is rooted in her academic interests and practical experiences. At the age of 13 and 16 years old, Josephine attended the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child as a representative of the children in Germany. These positive experiences motivated her to further engage with the UN in the future. As the German Youth Delegate to the UN 2019/2020, Josephine represented the voice of the German Youth at the 74th UN General Assembly and the 58th Commission on Social Development. On behalf of the global youth, Josephine also gave a speech in front of the UN Secretary General António Guterres, marking a personal highlight throughout her mandate. For her social commitment on the international level, Josephine has received the honorary “Golden Pea Award”, alongside Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Columbia Law School Alumni ’59).
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We are proud of the views and experiences of our IO/UNS specializers. Don't be shy and please fill out our questionnaire here - we'd love to shine a light on you!
Events at SIPA & Beyond
Spotlighted Events

TODAY Tue, Sept 20, 1:00-2:00 pm ET
IAB 407 & Virtual
Female Yazidi Genocide Survivors as Agents of Change in International Relations – The Responsibility of the International Community when it comes to Genocide

 

RSVP | EVENT INFO
 

Thu, Sept 22, 10:30-11:30 am ET
In person, Rotunda, Low Memorial Library
Entering Overtime: The Race to Deliver the Glasgow Climate Pact 

RSVP | EVENT INFO

UNGA 77 - Highlight on solidarity, sustainability and science

The 77th session of the UN General Assembly opened on Tuesday, September 13th, with its new president urging world leaders to respond to humanity’s most pressing challenges, including the war in Ukraine, by working together and building bridges across what are “deep divides”.

The President of UNGA, Csaba K┼ærösi, reminded delegates that the United Nations was created out of the ashes of war and destruction, with the intention of being “a well of solutions”. Mr. K┼ærösi also warned that conflicts will worsen as our planet heats up and its natural resources grow more scarce.

“The water crisis is poised to become our next greatest threat. Recent weeks have seen record-setting temperatures, raging fires and devastating floods. It looks as if Mother Nature is fighting back”, he said.

The Hungarian diplomat also pointed out that while ‘more manageable’, the pandemic continues to wreak havoc across the globe, along with acute food insecurity, soaring energy prices, record inflation and global supply chain disruptions.

The new General Assembly president highlighted that his tenure would push “solutions through solidarity, sustainability and science”, enhancing the role of science in the UN body’s decision shaping.

“I will work to foster measurable progress in the sustainability transformation – and cultivate the solidarity we need to achieve breakthroughs or to avert future disasters. Taking stock of the Sustainable Development Goals is simply not enough. We need to have more science by our side if we want to realize the Goals by 2030”, he said.

Mr. K┼ærösi also committed to engaging meaningfully with civil society partners, academics, the private sector as well as researchers and practitioners to lend solutions that are rooted in facts, verified information and science.

20 – 26 September 2022
UN General Assembly General Debate

The curtain rises on the busiest diplomatic season of the year at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. In the General Assembly General Debate, starting at 9 a.m. on 20 September, Heads of State and Government explore solutions to the intertwined global challenges under the theme, “A watershed moment: transformative solutions to interlocking challenges.” This year’s General Debate, which runs through 26 September, is expected to be fully in-person. Watch the meeting live at UN Web TV.

21 September 2022
Leaders' Roundtable on Climate Action
In person

Amidst the worsening climate crisis, the Secretary-General, with the President of Egypt, will host a Leaders’ Roundtable on Climate Action, bringing together a small but diverse and representative group of heads of state and government to reboot international cooperation on climate action. This is a closed event, taking place from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m., and aims for a frank and informal exchange in the lead-up to COP27. Comments to the media as well as a Chair’s summary of the meeting are expected to be published immediately following the event.

22 September 2022, 10am ET
Security Council High-Level Debate on Ukraine
Virtual

World leaders, gathering at the United Nations Headquarters, will address the Security Council at 10:00 a.m. on 22 September to discuss the situation in Ukraine. Watch the meeting live at UN Web TV.

22 September 2022, 3.00-4.30pm ET
General Assembly High-Level Meeting on the Sahel
Virtual

For years, the Sahel’s development and economic growth have been overshadowed by complex, multi-dimensional and interlocking challenges, including poverty, insecurity, terrorism, displacement, and climate change.  The General Assembly will convene a high-level meeting on the region from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on 22 September. Watch the meeting live at UN Web TV.

Ten Challenges for the UN in 2022-2023

Yet although the UN system may have shown unexpected resilience in 2022, it has also demonstrated severe and worsening vulnerabilities. While diplomats in New York have concentrated on Ukraine, UN peacekeepers in Mali and the Democratic Republic of Congo have struggled to deal with escalating violence and deteriorating politics. UN humanitarian agencies are under enormous strain, attempting to respond to emergencies such as economic collapse in Afghanistan, while also juggling long-running challenges like assisting civilians in non-government-controlled north-western Syria. The global economic downturn and potential cuts in Western aid allotments in light of the Ukraine war are likely to impinge on UN budgets in the years ahead, perhaps also tipping poorer states into deep recession. Taking a longer view, diplomats and UN officials are conscious that threats ranging from climate change to the weakening of the global non-proliferation regime also promise to increase international instability.

Rather than aspiring to unachievable root-and-branch reforms, the UN and its member states should focus on both applying the organisation’s strengths to complex crises (including aspects of the one in Ukraine) and examining its own capabilities to consider how these can be improved in light of emerging threats.

In this context, the Crisis Group's annual briefing describes ten challenges for the UN in the upcoming year. More details here.

Today Tuesday, September 20. 8:30 AM ET.
Join UNESCO and IEP for Let’s Get Talking: Launch of the UNESCO Framework for Enabling Intercultural Dialogue
Online

We invite you to join us for the virtual launch of the UNESCO Framework for Enabling Intercultural Dialogue and accompanying global report, We Need to Talk: Measuring Intercultural Dialogue for peace and inclusion.

As the world grapples with growing intolerance, discrimination, and social polarization, at a moment when cooperation is needed more than ever to tackle global challenges including climate crisis, COVID-19, conflict, and economic precarity, the urgency of fostering understanding in diverse communities has never been so pronounced.

Transformative communication between different people based in respect, empathy, and openness, Intercultural Dialogue can help us leverage the power of our diversity and address global challenges.

Recognizing this potential, UNESCO, in partnership with the Institute for Economics and Peace, is proud to invite you to the launch of the UNESCO Framework for Enabling Intercultural Dialogue. Including data from 160 countries, the Framework provides the key evidence needed to advance Intercultural Dialogue as a tool for peace, conflict prevention and human rights. More details here.

Register here

Tomorrow Wednesday, September 21. 8:00 - 11:30 AM ET
Financed Emissions: Leading the Transition to a Low-Carbon Economy
In Person, MSCI, 7 World Trade Center, 250 Greenwich Street, 48th Floor, New York, NY 10007

The in-person breakfast will take place during Climate Week NYC, which will bring together policymakers, business leaders and stakeholders from across society in conjunction with the opening of the 77th session of the U.N. General Assembly in New York.ÔÇ»More info here.

Register here

22 September. 
Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA), the World Bank and Columbia University's Climate School host a hybrid event for Climate Week NYC 2022
Hybrid
 
WHERE -- ONLINE & The Forum, 601 W 125th St, New York

Coinciding with the United Nations General Assembly and on the cusp of the UNFCCC COP27 climate change summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, this event provides an ideal opportunity to put climate action in Africa on the global agenda.

Faced with a food crisis driven by conflict, covid and climate change, we as a global community must radically accelerate action for climate-smart agriculture.

Africa has vast amounts of untapped arable land ripe for agriculture. But the continent is also at the forefront of the climate crisis, with temperatures rising faster there than anywhere else on Earth.

Only by rapidly scaling climate-smart agriculture can African farmers produce enough nutritious food that supports decent livelihoods and resilient communities in ways that limit greenhouse gas emissions and reverse the degradation of nature.

By doing so, the world can diversify food supply, limit acute hunger and alleviate inflationary pressures.


More details and registration here.

Friday, Apply by September 28.
Autumn School on Hate Speech - by UNICRI
Online

Hate speech is a growing phenomenon across the world. As a manifestation of intolerance and hatred towards certain groups in society, hate speech is intertwined with hate crimes and discrimination, representing a threat to sustainable peace and social cohesion.

Because of the impact hate speech has on both on victims and societies at large, it is of utmost importance to address and counter it in a comprehensive way, at both individual and State level. Despite growing attention to hate speech, many still underestimate or do not fully grasp the consequences of it.

With these considerations in mind, UNICRI and the Italian Society for International Organization (SIOI) are launching the first edition of the Autumn School on Hate Speech, which will be delivered online, from 3 to 7 October 2022.

The course is intended for university and post-graduate students, Ph.D. candidates, media and other professionals, including United Nations (UN) personnel, as well as anyone interested in gaining an understanding of hate speech, how it manifests itself and what tools are available to combat it. 

Internship Opportunities
UNICEF Intern – Business Administration Internship (Finance Section) with UNICEF's Global Shared Services Centre
Application Deadline: September 23, 2022
Location: Budapest, Hungary
Language: English
Category: Human Resources, Administration, Financial Management

UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child. UNICEF has spent 70 years working to improve the lives of children and their families. Defending children's rights throughout their lives requires a global presence, aiming to produce results and understand their effects. UNICEF believes all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential – to the benefit of a better world.

Established in 2015, UNICEF’s Global Shared Services Centre (GSSC) provides services to UNICEF offices across the world in the areas of Finance, Master Data Management, Human Resources Administration, Payroll, and Customer Care (IT Global Help Desk).

Our mission is to be a centre of excellence for the global delivery of efficient services within a culture of customer service, continuous business improvement, knowledge-sharing and innovation to support the effective achievement of UNICEF's programme results worldwide. ÔÇï

At the GSSC, a global career is built on strong foundations of our core values accompanied by continuous learning and professional development for our staff to become committed international civil servants.

Apply here.
Intern– UN Network on Migration Secretariat
Application Deadline: September 26, 2022
Department: IOM New York
Location: New York
Language: English
Category: Information Management

The IOM Office to the United Nations is tasked with maintaining and strengthening IOM’s relations withthe United Nations, diplomatic missions and non-governmental organizations, including through contributing to improving understanding of migration issues and facilitating international policy dialogues on migration.

The United Nations established a Network on Migration (Network) to ensure effective, timely and coordinated system-wide support to Member States to supporting the implementation, follow-up and review of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM). The Network consists of members of the UN system for whom migration is of relevance to their mandates. It operates with IOM as the Coordinator and secretariat and an Executive Committee (EC) which provides overall guidance and set strategic priorities to support Member States in the implementation, follow up and review of the GCM.

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Liaison and Policy Officer in NY and the overall guidance of the Head of the Network Secretariat in Geneva and the Director of the IOM-UN Liaison Office, the successful candidate will work in cooperation with colleagues in the UN Network on Migration Secretariat in Geneva and New York in support of the follow-up of the International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) and other events related to the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM).

How to apply:

Interested candidates are invited to submit their CV and cover letter saved IN ONE CONSOLIDATED PDF FORMAT saved and labelled accordingly (i.e, JohnDoe-CL & CV) by 26 September 2022 midnight EST at the latest, referring to this advertisement.

Apply here.
UNDP Intern – Communication Intern, Prevention of Violent Extremism
Application Deadline: September 26, 2022
Location: NYC
Language: English
Category: Communication

UNDP’s Crisis Bureau (CB) has corporate responsibility for UNDP’s corporate crisis-related work and driving UNDP’s vision and priorities for crisis prevention, response, and recovery, to support the strategic results, outcomes and outputs of UNDP's Strategic Plan. CB teams provide technical advice to Country Offices; advocate UNDP corporate messages; represent UNDP as required, including at multi-stakeholder fora, public-private, and government-civil society dialogue initiatives; promote and support South-South and Triangular cooperation initiatives; and engage in UN interagency coordination in the areas of work the Strategic Plan – building resilience to shocks and crises, in order to safeguard development gains.

It is within this context that UNDP is seeking a Communication Intern to support the graphic visualisation of operational information, management of websites, communication and outreach efforts, based on the 2023/23 Communication Plan. The intern will engage with the PVE Team in New York as well as colleagues in Country Offices and Regional Hubs to enhance communication across the practice. As such, the intern is expected to be flexible with regards to working hours.

This position will expose the intern to unique insights on implementation of peacebuilding and prevention of violent extremism programmes across the 42 countries in which UNDP implements PVE projects. Furthermore, the nature of the tasks will offer the intern great opportunities to develop analytical skills, strategic writing and communication within international development. The intern will have a unique opportunity to operate in a diverse and dynamic global workspace and expand personal and professional networks. The supervisor will work closely with the intern to identify and track learning objectives, provide quality assurance and feedback.

Please note that this is a paid internship, and the intern will receive a stipend of 1000 USD/month.

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.

Asha Jhanay Richard, Program Assistant, ajr2264@columbia.edu
Aurelian D. Mohan, Program Assistant, aurelian.d.mohan@columbia.edu