UN General Assembly

This week and next week (17-30 September), the UN Headquarters in New York hosts the 74th session of the General Assembly. While there is an understandable interest to attend the meetings and deliberations, most of the meetings are not open to the public. 

There are two ways you can experience the proceedings nonetheless. 

1. UN WebTV has a life webcast of most meetings and you can tune in to the discussions of your interest: http://webtv.un.org
 
2. There are a few side events and connected events that take place outside the UN. These give you an opportunity to experience the UNGA atmosphere and connect with some of the main ideas and actors. You can find these events at https://ungaguide.com/  and https://tinyurl.com/y3dfwy4y. Please check requirements to RSVP as early as possible to secure a spot. 

We have selected a few events below:

Sept 19-22
UNDP: Photoville
Brooklyn Bridge Park, New York
UNDP invites you and your guests to Photoville, New York’s annual outdoor photo festival that showcases a cross-section of the world’s photographic community. We have gathered an exciting and thought-provoking selection of prize-winning international photographers who are presenting their work on the theme Inequality and Climate Change: The Double Threat to Life on Earth.
https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/news-centre/news/2019/photo-exhibition--inequality-and-climate-change--the-double-thre.html

Sept 21, 10 am
War and Climate Change, organized by Sustaining All Life & United to End Racism.
4 West 43rd St, Aqua Room
War has caused unprecedented environmental destruction. Preserving the environment is one reason among many to stop war. Racism and Islamophobia against Arabs and Muslims make it more difficult for people to join together in a united response to war and its impact on the environment.
RSVP: https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/9a5b93_0766a36ec29a4385b33ec33bf4616827.pdf

Sept 21, 4:30-8 pm
Peace Day Celebration and +Peace Launch, organized by +Peace, SAP, PartnersGlobal, Generations for Peace, MBC Al Amal, Love for Life. SAP Leonardo Center, 10 Hudson Yards, 10th Ave
Guests are invited to explore the SAP innovation hub; enjoy music, storytelling, a peacebuilding marketplace; and celebrate the launch of +Peace - a new coalition of peacebuilders mobilizing people, governments, and the private sector to reduce global violence and division.
RSVP: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScYF4l__tbmFE9_96HYQk1R04Ospr55Yo-LAJAwB9TWXvqxGQ/viewform

Sept 22, 5-6 pm
IOM-UNDP-Columbia Law School public event on Climate Change and Migration
Scandinavia House, 58 Park Ave

Sept 23, 2 pm
Power, Money and Influence: Tackling the Imbalances at the Heart of Humanitarian Response, organized by Center for Global Development.
Rockefeller Foundation, 420 5th Ave
The event will focus on how to shift power within the humanitarian landscape and how to sustain the political will that will be needed for deeper change.
RSVP: rworden@cgdev.org

Sept 23, 5:30 pm
Free, Safe, Educated: A Youth Uprising for Change, organized by 100 Million.
Japan Society, 333 East 47th St
The event will feature youth activists who are joining forces to change their communities to deliver justice for every child. The event will also launch the 100 Million campaign’s Every Child Community Charter and Report. The report outlines how the same children are being multiply excluded, and the charter details integrated action plans for delivering the rights of the world’s most marginalized children.
RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/free-safe-educated-a-youth-uprising-for-change-tickets-72677200463

Sept 24, 8:15 am
Talking Activism with Lemonade: Business Innovation and Climate Change, organized by Lemonade.
The participants will convene to have breakfast and discuss climate activism in 2019 and the crucial role for-profit businesses should play.
RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/talking-activism-with-lemonade-combating-climate-change-tickets-71618034469

Sept 24, 5:30-7 pm
Society for International Development UNGA "Meet-and-Greet" Reception
150 East 52nd Street, 28th Floor, Suite 28002, New York
RSVP: events@sidw.org

Sept 24-25
International Conference on Sustainable Development (ICSD) 
2019 theme: “Good Practice: Models, Partnerships, and Capacity Building for the SDGs.”
Alfred Lerner Hall, Columbia University
Online registration closes on 20 Sept. (There will be on-site registration.)
https://ic-sd.org

Sept 25, 8 am
Call to Action: Using Multidimensional Poverty Indexes to lead progress in the SDGs, organized by the Permanent Mission of Costa Rica to the UN and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative.
UN Headquarters, Conference Room 1, East 42nd St
The event will highlight the importance of political leadership to end poverty, reduce inequality and leave no one behind. The discussion generated by the event will seek to galvanize action and foster collaboration among institutions and sectors to design sustainable solutions that have a greater impact on people living in poverty.
RSVP: mppn@qeh.ox.ac.uk

Sept 26, 8:45 am-3:30 pm
Engaging India’s Electrification Agenda, organized by the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
The Yale Club of New York, 50 Vanderbilt Ave
This event will feature senior-level Indian central government officials, heads of private companies and philanthropic organizations leading renewable energy transitions in India, and practitioners working to meet energy access needs.
RSVP: SNaimoli@csis.org

Sept 26, 1:15 pm
30 Years of Children's Rights - Opportunities and Threats: Time to Act, organized by ChildFund Alliance, Plan International, Save the Children, SOS Children's Villages, UNICEF and World Vision.
Church Center of the UN, 2nd Floor, 777 United Nations Plaza
The child-focused agencies wish to call attention to the negative impact for children on the current pace of SDGs implementation. In addition, elevate children´s rights in the context of the themes of the Summits Week and propose solutions that can contribute to Accelerated Actions for children in climate action, universal health coverage, financing for development, SDGs and SAMOA Pathway.
RSVP: arelys_bellorini@wvi.org

Sept 27, 9-11 am
Climate Entrepreneurship in Africa, organized by Ghana Climate Innovation Center.
Grand Central Tech @ Company, 335 Madison Ave, New York, NY
Climate Innovation Centres – In Ghana and  Nigeria– promote the success and growth of these climate solutions. They are driving the inclusive green growth that African economies so desperately need – and that can produce tremendous financial, social, end environmental benefits. These centers are building bridges between transformational African businesses, the booming market for their sustainable products and services, and the impact investors whose capital can drive growth.
RSVP: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSczuhzMBChwpMXOcgUnqpA9GffEbVEvkVPBfJLu0fhXLGvNCA/viewform 

EVENTS & TALKS AT COLUMBIA

Sept 24, 1-2:30 pm
UNDP HR Session
IAB 403
Human Resources Manager Georg Peitchev from UNDP will be speaking with SIPA students regarding application procedures, UNDP as a workplace, and the variety of jobs and internships available now and in the future.
RSVP: https://candidate.gradleaders.com/CUSIPA/Candidates/Login.aspx?pid=4170&companyEventID=72107

Sept 27, 12:30-2:30 pm
Rethinking Development in Africa
Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, CEO of NEPAD
IAB 1512
Discussants: Akbar Noman (SIPA) and Belinda Archibong (Barnard)
RSVP: https://tinyurl.com/y6ok8ek9

Oct 2, 1-2 pm
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) HR Session
IAB 403
Representatives from OECD’s Human Resource Management will visit Columbia on October 2, hold career presentations and meet students. Student interested in exploring employment opportunities at the OECD, and hearing about OECD positions and programmes, including the Internship Programme, the Young Associates Programme (for undergraduates) and the Young Professionals Programme, are welcome to attend these events.
RSVP: https://candidate.gradleaders.com/CUSIPA/Candidates/Login.aspx?pid=4170&companyEventID=72187 

INTERNSHIP & JOB OPPORTUNITIES:

Political Affairs Intern, UN Department of Peace Operations 
On Peacekeeping Policy & Best Practices (incl. Child Protection, Conflict-Related Sexual Violence, Protection of Civilians, Drivers of conflict, Peacekeeping Reform)
Deadline: Sept 24
https://careers.un.org/lbw/jobdetail.aspx?id=12050

Intern, United Nations Nations Association of New York (UNA-NY) and Freedom United
Two paid interns to support a project on forced labour around the world & ILO's 2014 Forced Labour Protocol
Start: September
https://www.freedomunited.org/landing/advocacy-and-policy-intern/

International Intern, Obama Foundation (WASHINGTON, D.C.)
Full-time internship, January 6- May 8, 2020. Stipend of $3,000
https://www.obama.org/careers/listing/?gh_jid=4428210002

Communications/Reporting Intern, UN Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC)
Develop high-impact communications materials for UNOSSC.
https://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_job.cfm?cur_job_id=84543

Human Rights Intern, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Researching a variety of human rights themes and related issues, including analysis of information, developments and trends related to human rights; assisting in the preparation of reports, background materials and other relevant documents; assisting with the organization of meetings, seminars, and related events; attending meetings and preparing summaries of the proceedings; assisting in the preparation of outreach material such as talking points, correspondence and presentations.
Deadline: Sept 30
https://careers.un.org/lbw/jobdetail.aspx?id=113316&Lang=en-US

Research Analyst: Research Transparency, Data Ethics, and Governance, Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA)
The RT-DEG Research Analyst will support research teams and projects around the world who perform rigorous studies of interventions aimed at reducing poverty. He or she will join the Research Transparency, Data Ethics, and Governance team and contribute to advancing IPA’s Research Transparency Initiative. 
Deadline: Oct 1
https://www.poverty-action.org/job/research-analyst-research-transparency-data-ethics-and-governance-rt-deg

Commission on the Status of Women Operations Intern, UN Women Civil Society Division
Assist with the strategic outreach to civil society partners (women’s rights organizations, youth-led organizations, men and boys’ groups, grassroots organizations, trade unions, refugee and migrant groups, disability organizations, faith-based actors, etc.), by researching and mapping of CSO partnerships and initiatives around CSW; assist with developing and designing communications and outreach products for CSW (flyers, brochures, tutorials etc.); support NGO online registration for CSW, including by monitoring and responding to email requests as well as following up on specific cases; assist with the scheduling of CSW side events on UN premises. 
Deadline: Oct 18
https://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_job.cfm?cur_job_id=87510

Children's Rights Division Intern, Human Rights Watch
Conduct media research and data analysis on attacks on education globally. The intern may also assist in drafting and revising reports on attacks on education, as well as other related documents.
https://recruiting.ultipro.com/HUM1004HRW/JobBoard/1f3f0ff9-99fb-4df2-8d3b-d832e12107eb/OpportunityDetail?opportunityId=5683849c-f6ad-4310-83dc-63af06a26268

OTHER NEWS & INFO

Highlights of the UN General Assembly’s Opening Session: A Podcast on What to Expect. PassBlue: http://bit.ly/2M0zDbf

Follow IO/UNS Specizalization on CampusGroups, Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp,
and feel free to reach out to us:
Daniel Naujoks, Interim Director, daniel.naujoks@columbia.edu
Nigina Khaitova, Program Assistant, nk2802@columbia.edu
Sasha M. Lagombra, Program Assistant, sl2922@columbia.edu