News
The Latest from UNA-NCA
May 19, 2020
On April 27th, the 2020 cohort of UNA-NCA Graduate Fellows completed their semester-long examination of the United Nations system and its role in addressing the pressing global issues of our time. Led by UNA-NCA’s Nancy Donaldson, Tom Bradley, Soonhoon Ahn, and Ed Elmendorf, the 23 Graduate Fellows, hailing from twelve countries and nine universities, examined various global issues from the perspective of the UN, participated in weekly conversations with UN thought leaders, and collaborated with Soonhoon and volunteer mentors on their professional development.
May 18, 2020
Late last year (2019), UNA-NCA’s Board of Directors appointed a Bylaws Task Force to review the organization’s Bylaws and provide recommendations to ensure one of the organization’s governing documents reflected current and best practices (the Bylaws were last amended in June 2015). The review was also necessitated by a desire to update position descriptions and titles of the President and Executive Director to better reflect their roles, as well as reflect practices of similar organizations. In addition, UNA-USA had recommended several changes as part of their chapter review that required updating. UNA-NCA’s Board of Directors reviewed several iterations of the Bylaws revisions, providing feedback and recommendations throughout the process, and strongly endorses the amendments before you.
May 11, 2020
UNA-NCA wishes the best to Global Education Director Nicole Bohannon, and welcomes Jaiya Lalla as Global Education Managing Director.
May 7, 2020
Stephen F. Moseley, UNA-NCA President
Dear UNA-NCA colleagues, supporters, and members,During this difficult time in the face of the global health pandemic and economic crisis, I want to extend my best wishes to and your families for your health, safety and wellbeing.
The dedication of our staff and the many volunteer leaders of our programs drawn from our Board of Directors, Advisory Council, membership, and partner organizations, has made it possible to continue and transform most of our programs through the wonderful virtual platforms that have become almost second nature to many of us.
April 29, 2020
The pandemic has changed how Global Classrooms DC functions overnight. Through the disappointment of having to cancel the Spring 2020 Model UN Conference, our team has been working with various schools to support their efforts to continue Model UN.As an example of how MUN clubs are adapting, Cabin John Middle School hosted its first-ever online conference on Saturday, April 25. After being inspired by the success of the virtual Alice Deal Model UN Conference (ADMUN) on April 4, a fantastic group of parents from Maryland set out to create their own virtual experience with their students. Although they had never hosted a virtual session before, all of the parents – Audré Park, Shreelata Durbhakula, and Bouchra Araji – took on the challenge of hosting a conference with students from Cabin John, as well as Bells Mill Elementary and Alice Deal Middle School.
April 20, 2020
By Ambassador Donald T. Bliss (Ret.)With the rise of nationalism around the world and the closing of sovereign borders in response to the SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) pandemic, global institutions are under attack. News reports and commentators are questioning whether we are reaching the end of the post-world war global architecture created by the United States and its victorious allies to promote peaceful cooperation in resolving conflicts and addressing crises.
April 14, 2020
In its recent report, "COVID-19 and the World of Work," the International Labor Organization detailed that the world of work is being profoundly affected by the global virus pandemic. In addition to the threat to public health, the economic and social disruption threatens the long-term livelihoods and wellbeing of millions. The ILO and its constituents – Governments, workers and employers – will play a crucial role in combating the outbreak, ensuring the safety of individuals and the sustainability of businesses and jobs.
April 13, 2020
Manuela Hernandez is a proud UNA-NCA 2019 Graduate Fellow. She is currently a first-tour Foreign Service Officer with the Department of State in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She will work for the Consular Affairs section for the duration of two years. Manuela just completed her intensive Portuguese language training at the Foreign Service Institute in Arlington, Virginia to prepare for her job overseas.
April 13, 2020
By Richard Seifman, Independent Health Policy Consultant and UNA-NCA Board MemberIt is unfortunate that your newspaper-in editorials and opinion pieces- has chosen this time of national crisis to point out what you perceive as political behavior by the global technical agency that struggles to deal with infectious diseases in an increasingly polarization world, with a Governing Board that brings their displeasure without bringing the resources to allow it to measure up to the challenge. Exhibit A: Forbes on April 8th points out that the Trump Administration’s most recent budget requested a reduction in the World Health Organization (WHO) U.S. assessed financial contributions from $122.6 million to an assessed contribution of $57.9 million. This is more than 50% and before significant recognition of the covid19 threat across the country.
April 7, 2020
By Shayna Vayser, UNA-NCA Advocacy AssociateOn April 7, UNA-NCA membership rallied for a World Health Advocacy Day of Digital Action. As our community has come to understand, the steady regression of US leadership in the United Nations has made it all the more difficult for member states to effectively collaborate in the global response to COVID-19.
