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Int'l Organizations & UN News #7/2025

Hanh Minh To - Tuesday, March 4

Events IO/UNS Newsletter

International Organizations and UN News #7/2025 - March 4, 2025

Dear IO/UNS Community,

We hope everyone enjoyed the few days of "fake spring" and the early days of March!

This is a friendly reminder to make sure to apply to our IO/UNS Spring Retreat by Thursday, 6 March at 12pm ET. Register here!

In this newsletter, you will find:

International Organizations News
Podcast
Student Spotlight
Events at SIPA and Beyond ft IO/UNS Spring Retreat
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.

In Ukraine, as the war enters its fourth year, about 640,000 women and girls will be affected by cuts to psychosocial support, gender-based violence services, safe spaces, and economic empowerment programs following the confirmation from US authorities to end practically all financial contributions to the UN reproductive and sexual health agency (UNFPA). Since Russia’s full-scale invasion three years ago, reports of intimate partner violence, domestic abuse, sexual violence and other forms of gender-based violence have increased more than threefold in Ukraine. About 2.4 million people, mostly women and girls, are in urgent need of gender-based violence prevention and response services. Almost two thirds of households in Ukraine report dealing with some form of anxiety, depression or extreme stress, hurting people’s ability to find work or support for family members.
On 3 March, Israel has halted all aid from entering the Gaza Strip after Hamas reportedly refused to accept a plan to continue with phase one of the fragile ceasefire. This has resulted in an immediate impact, including a 100-fold increase in the price of flour and vegetables. The first phase of the Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deals ended on Saturday, initially allowing humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza and in the Strip. Hamas called on Israel to move onto the next phase, but Israel wants to continue with phase one until the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan, following U.S. orders. The UN Secretary-General António Guterres, urges both parties to continue into the next phase of the deal, as the “past six weeks have provided a fragile but vital reprieve, offering a measure of relief to both Palestinians and Israelis.” He further calls for a “permanent ceasefire,” given the end of the six-week long ceasefire between both parties.
On 28 February, world governments reached an agreement on a strategy to raise an additional $200 billion each year to better protect the world’s flora and fauna by 2030. Delegates met in Rome this week for the resumption of the UN Biodiversity Conference to hammer out an agreement at COP16.2 after attempts to reach a deal on financing at COP16 in Cali, Colombia, fell short last November. This decision emerged as an attempt to close the global biodiversity finance gap, and to help protect ecosystems witnessing the effects of increased conflict, deforestation, mining, toxic waste, and other environmental impacts.
Following the U.S. Government’s decision to cut humanitarian and development funding, UN Secretary-General António Guterres states that “these cuts impact a wide range of critical programmes,” in a number of countries worldwide. He further emphasizes the U.S. to reconsider the funding cuts as they may disrupt life-saving humanitarian work, development projects, counterterrorism efforts and initiatives to combat drug trafficking. Millions of people are at risk in several countries, including Afghanistan, Gaza, Syria, Ukraine, South Sudan, and Sudan.
In addition to the gang violence that has displaced more than 1,000,000 people in Haiti, the heavy presence of armed gangs has led to a major surge in child armed group recruitment. Last month, “armed groups destroyed 47 schools in Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince, adding to the 284 schools destroyed in 2024,” according to UNICEF’s representative in Haiti, Geetanjali Narayan. The cuts in humanitarian aid by the U.S. have further impacted children in Haiti, as 60% of funds came from them alone.

Head of UN Peacekeeping: More women peacekeepers means better UN missions

"According to Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the Under-Secretary-General of Peace Operations, there are many good reasons for increasing the number of women peacekeepers in UN Missions.

UN News’s Anshu Sharma spoke to Mr. Lacroix at the first-ever Conference for Women Peacekeepers, held in the Indian capital New Delhi on 24 and 25 February, where he was representing the United Nations.

The Under-Secretary-General argued that changing the gender balance benefits the work environment in Peacekeeping Missions, improving conduct and discipline."

You can listen to the episode here.

IO/UNS Student Spotlight

This week we are excited to introduce Fred Sitorus (MIA, EPD, 2025)! Fred is a second-year Master of International Affairs student deeply invested in private sector financing and global development. His background in corporate finance led to managing corporate social responsibility programs for one of Indonesia's largest private companies, where he extensively collaborated with governments and NGOs on SME development projects in rural coastal areas.

In 2024, Fred interned with the Economics and Finance team at the Executive Office of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, working closely with the secretariat to advance the financing for development agenda. This experience reinforced his belief in the power of multilateral efforts to mobilize resources, including private sector contributions, for global development.

He is committed to multilateralism and strategic public-private partnerships, essential for sustainable development in regions overlooked by conventional financial markets. His focus is on how innovative financing mechanisms can effectively support sustainable development goals.

You can connect with Fred on LinkedIn here.
______________________
We're proud of our great community! Help your classmates get to know you more. Fill out our questionnaire here to be featured in our spotlight here!

The United Nations Security Council’s legitimacy has been repeatedly called into question for its lack of representativeness; its lack of effectiveness and its lack of enforcement. It has repeatedly failed to prevent or to decisively respond to aggression and mass atrocity crimes. However, modern threats to international security require immediate multilateral action. Thus, reforms that require amendment of the UN Charter will not yield change in time to save us from the current scourge of war, terrorism and genocide or from converging existential threats such as climate change, pandemics and nuclear escalation. In Making the United Nations Security Council More Effective Without Amending the UN Charter, Mona Ali Khalil and Floriane Lavaud propose concrete reforms and other measures for improving the Council’s legitimacy and effectiveness without amending the UN Charter. Based on their book Empowering the UN Security Council: Reforms to Address Modern Threats (Oxford University Press, 2024), they suggest six ways to empower the Council in particular and the United Nations in general: from improving the representative character of the Council to restraining the use of the veto; from tapping the full potential of the General Assembly to reinforcing the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court; and from engaging with civil society to coordinating with regional organizations. These practical solutions explore the intersections of international law and international diplomacy to ensure more credible and more successful multilateral action.

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

In case you missed last week's announcement about another great MiA think-piece on 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆: 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 by Professors Nina Hall and Mette Eilstrup-Sangiovanni, check out the full think-piece here, and engage with our announcements on LinkedIn and BlueSky.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfJDmi6FH64hZG9W2xlNQ2WeT10WS26eoH8u_fO7OpgMa8enQ/viewform

Friday, 28 March 2025, ALL DAY

IO/UNS Spring Retreat *Apply by Thursday, 6 March, 12pm*

Off-Campus: Lamont Campus

RSVP | EVENT INFO

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.

26 March 2025
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Employer Information Session
IAB 411

This session will feature Mr. Owen Edwards, who has held several positions in UNDP throughout the span of his career. He will provide a presentation on his career path, introduction to UNDP and career opportunities specifically focusing on entry level opportunities. The presentation will last 20-30 minutes and Q&A for 15-20 minutes.

Mr. Owen Edwards has held numerous Senior Management roles in delivering large scale programmes in the international development context, both at the Country Level and at the Head Quarters of the United Nations Development Programme for over 18 years. He has extensive experience in Programme and Project Management, Monitoring and Evaluation, Results-Based Management, Operations (HR, Procurement, Finance), Change Management, Business Development, Partnership Building, Resource Allocation and Mobilization. He is currently leading the design and delivery of UNDP's Results Based Management Strategy which aims to improve UNDPs ability to achieve and measure the impact of the organizations work.

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

The 63^rd Graduate Study Programme will be held in Geneva, Switzerland from 30 June to 11 July 2025 under the theme: “UN80: United for a Better Future” and will focus on the implementation of the historic Pact for the Future in the year when the United Nations turns 80.The Programme will consist of morning lectures given by representatives of the United Nations, other international organizations, civil sector, and diplomats; workshops; visits to institutions; and work on group projects in the afternoons. Learn more and apply by 28 February 2025.

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.

Communications and Multimedia Content Creator Intern

Application Deadline: 7 March 2025
Location: New York

*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.

Apply Here

Intern - Global Compact Office

Application Deadline: 7 March 2025
Location: New York

*Expected Start Date: April 2025. Expected Duration: 3 Months*

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 here

Apply Here

Intern - Intergovernmental Affairs, Data Science, and Computer Science

Application Deadline: 8 March 2025
Location: New York

The Intergovernmental Affairs intern will support the General Assembly Affairs Branch of the General Assembly and ECOSOC Affairs Division, which serves as the technical secretariat for a number of intergovernmental bodies at United Nations Headquarters. Interns will report to full-time professional staff and will focus on the following work areas, as assigned: AREA 1: INTERGOVERNMENTAL RESEARCH, DATA SCIENCE & COMPUTER SCIENCE - Conduct research on intergovernmental procedure and practice of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council and their subsidiary bodies; - Support the tracking of intergovernmental activity in assigned bodies and maintain the related data sets; and - Support the development of the procedure data model and assist with the integration of reporting tools and technologies. - Have a basic understanding of computer programming, database management, and familiarity with data visualization tools is desirable AREA 2: INTERGOVERNMENTAL SERVICES - Assist in the preparation of procedural scripts for meetings, and undertake other preparatory tasks; - Attend and summarize discussions held in meetings; - Assist with logistics during meetings, including interactive presentations and assisting with the list of speakers; and - Contribute to the preparation of talking points, and other papers and briefing materials. AREA 3: PROJECT MANAGEMENT - Support the day-to-day management of internal databases, including in user acceptance, quality assurance and change management processes; - Support issue management related processes and prepare related correspondence; - Assist in the formulation of project related strategies and policies; and - Prepare meetings with different internal stakeholders. Interns must demonstrate professionalism, communication, planning and organizing, and technological awareness.

Apply Here

Political Affairs Intern - Data Analysis, Mapping, and Visualization

Application Deadline: 14 March 2025
Location: New York

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. Some responsibilities include: 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, supporting the Watch Room in analysis and visualization of structured and unstructured data extracted from UNOCC Data Repositories. Be sure to read more on the intern's responsibilities.

Apply Here

Climate Mobility Fellowship 2025–2026
Application Deadline: 15 March 2025

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.

Fellowship Duration: June 2025 – May 2026

Format: In-Person & Virtual

Eligibility Criteria:

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.

News Writing/Reporting - Public Information Intern - French

Application Deadline: 27 March 2025
Location: New York

*Fluency in English and French is required*

The internship is located in the French Language Unit, UN News Section I of the News and Media Division, Department of Global Communications, which produces news and feature stories on multimedia platforms including radio, video, photo and web. This internship is for two (2) months with an opportunity for extension up to six (6) months, pending the needs of the department. The intern will be working under the overall supervision of the Chief of the French Unit, UN News Section I. It is designed to be an in-person internship. For more information on the Department of Global Communications, please visit: https://www.un.org/en/sections/departments/department-global communications/ The Unit is looking for interns who wish to gain hands-on experience in the UN newsroom, particularly in the production of daily news, in-depth features and other multimedia products in French. The intern's duties will include: drafting French news articles by integrating and translating information from various sources, including reports, press releases, official statements, resolutions, etc; proofreading news articles before and after publication; assisting with fact-checking and background research; and assisting in the production of graphic, visual and audio content. The intern will be encouraged to work on feature stories and conduct research and interviews, and draft feature stories. They will also be reviewing the partnerships database by collaborating with the UN Partnerships Unit and looking for new digital media and other partners, including finding trustworthy entities that work on fact-checking and media literacy. Applicants must be a student in the final year of the first university degree (bachelor or equivalent), Master’s or Ph.D. Programme or equivalent, or have completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s or PH.D. Programme. Do you meet any of the above criteria? If yes, please indicate which one and attach proof to the application. Please note that you will have to provide an official certificate at a later stage. Applicants must have good knowledge of standard software applications, especially MS Word, MS PowerPoint, and MS Teams.Be sure to read more in the qualifications section.

Apply Here

Legal Affairs Intern

Application Deadline: 29 March 2025
Location: New York

*Desired start date: May - September 2025*
The Office of Legal Affairs is recruiting interns for its six (6) divisions and offices located in New York. We are seeking highly motivated graduate or undergraduate students, and recent graduates, who wish to gain professional experience in the legal field within an international organization in order to enhance their educational experience. This internship will include practical educational experience which provides the opportunity to work in a multicultural intergovernmental organization. Under the supervision of legal officers, interns will work on projects and tasks assigned by them, which may include assignments that are relevant to their educational background and interests. The interns will have an opportunity to apply and further develop their theoretical knowledge. The six divisions and offices of OLA located in New York are: the Office of the Under-Secretary-General (OUSG), the Office of the Legal Counsel (OLC), the Codification Division (COD), the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS), the General Legal Division (GLD), and the Treaty Section (TS). It is important that candidates familiarize themselves with the functions of these as described at https://www.un.org/ola/en/mission, and that they make an informed decision as to which division or office would be best suited for their interests and qualifications. The responsibilities of internship positions range widely, encompassing many aspects of OLA's work. These may include, but are not limited to: • Assistance in conducting legal research on issues related to international law, ocean affairs and law of the sea, or other areas of specialization using multiple research resources. • Assistance in the review of legal documents, instruments or other material. • Assistance in drafting and preparing official and legal documents. • Attending and taking notes at conferences and meetings. • Assistance in servicing conferences and meetings. • Working on websites and/or presentations. • Perform other duties as assigned.

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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