Secretariat support and services to UNAs

The Secretariat of the World Federation of United Nations Associations: support and services provided to member UNAs.

1. Conferences, symposiums, seminars and workshops

Throughout the year the Secretariat convenes meetings for UNA members. Preparatory papers are circulated in advance and the reports are made available on the website (in English, French and Spanish) and as appropriate, sent to governments, the UN and civil society groups. The calendar of events includes:

Statutory meetings

Two meetings a year for the Executive Committee, alternatively in New York and Geneva
The Plenary Assembly for all members, at least every 3 years

Regional Meetings

Over the last two years regional meetings have been convened for UNAs in Africa, Asia and Latin America in partnership with UNA-USA, and for UNAs in Europe in partnership with UNA-Switzerland.

Annual meetings

Many UNA representatives attend the annual DPI/NGO conference in New York in September, so the Secretariat arranges for them to meet with each other and exchange information on topical issues.

Educational Programs

The annual Seminar on the Commission/Council on Human Rights is held in Geneva in collaboration with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Under the auspices of the Federation, Model UN conferences are conducted each year by UNAs and open to the participation of all UNA members and their chosen students. For the past 3 years the Federation has convened regional Model UN conferences in Asia and Africa that have benefited over 40 member UNAs and over 500 students.
The World Federation is developing a partnership with ATHGO International (Alliance Towards Harnessing Global Opportunities) for the purpose of conducting student orientation programs at the UN.

Partnership with UN agencies

Meetings are held in partnership with various UN agencies and programs, for example the Geneva office is holding a conference on the UN Global Compact in September 2006.

Commemorative Events

Commemorative events, particularly as the World Federation celebrates its 60^thanniversary this year
Ad hoc seminars and events – e,g, in 2005 for the 100^thbirth anniversary of Dag Hammarskjöld, Conference on the UN and the Future, for UN60
Celebration of International Days, particularly UN Day on 24 October.

2. Connections to what is happening at the UN, within the World Federation and other UNAs

The Secretariat maintains a regular flow of information to UNAs about the debates taking place at the UN, and on request, provides specific documents and messages from the UN.

The website and the monthly newsletter, UN Connections,provide reliable, timely and practical information about events and activities at the UN, at the World Federation of United Nations Associations and about UNAs. UNAs distribute UN Connections to their own members and to community centers. They pick up news items from UN Connections for inclusion in their own newsletters. At the same time, UNAs heighten their own profile by contributing articles about their activities to UN Connections

The Secretariat disseminates information about sources of funding, tool kits and teaching materials to help UNAs build their capacity to promote understanding of the UN.
Information is sent out by mail to all members at least once a month.
The Secretariat requests letters and other forms of support from the UN Secretary-General (and others) for UNA national events.

3. Facilitate networking

Being part of a global network of UNAs is one of the major benefits of membership in the World Federation and the Secretariat does a great deal to nourish networking and information sharing between UNAs. It is creating an online database of all projects being undertaken by UNA all around the world.

In addition, the Secretariat facilitates:

partnership building between UNAs
linkages between UNAs with shared interests, notably through e-groups on specific policy issues, or on a regional basis
linkages between UNAs and other NGOs working on similar projects
letters of support for UNA events
participation of UN representatives in UNA sponsored events.

4. Support the setting up of new UNAs.

Since 2000, new UNAs have been created in the following countries: Afghanistan , Albania , Armenia , Benin , Burundi , Cambodia , Cote d’Ivoire , Comoros , Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominican Republic , Estonia , Guyana , Haiti , Macedonia , Mozambique , Pakistan , Togo, Trinidad and Tobago , South Africa , Suriname , Syria and Venezuela .

5. Publications

The Secretariat produces reports on major events and debates at the UN highlighting the significance of developments for UNAs and civil society. In partnership with the North-South Institute, the Secretariat has produced 4 annual “We the Peoples”reports on global civil society, including UNAs’ engagement with the UN Millennium Development Goals. The reports are based on an online survey in Arabic, English, French and Spanish: for the 2005 report there were over 430 respondents from 116 countries, 66% from developing countries.

6. Funding and logistical support for UNAs attending conferences and workshops

The Secretariat raises and disperses funds to cover travel costs for UNA members from developing countries to the World Federation’s conferences, arranges accommodation for visiting UNAs and as necessary, facilitates visas.

7. Access to the United Nations

The Secretariat arranges for member UNAs to obtain passes and as necessary, the credentials, to attend meetings at the UN, organizes programs of visits to the UN and facilitates UN briefing programs for visiting UNA delegations.

8. Internship Program

The Secretariat has an active internship program, which is open to youth applicants from all over the world. Priority is given to applicants supported by UNAs for project work in either the Geneva or New York office. For more information click here >>

9. Youth

Reaching out to young people is a high priority. In 2003 a new youth network was launched which links the many UN Youth and Student Associations as well as young members of UNAs into a global network. In 2006, WFUNA-youth was adopted into the Constitution: www.wfuna-youth.org.

A Youth Internship position in the New York office promotes networking and support for the campaign to encourage governments to include a youth representative in their delegations to the UN General Assemblies.

10. Fund-raising

In addition to fundraising to cover the operating costs of the Geneva and New York Offices and Programs, the Secretariat carries out fundraising activities in support of UNAs.

To raise funds, the Secretariat drafts and promotes project proposals. These projects, such as the “We the Peoples” reports and the regional Model United Nations Conferences and Seminars benefit UNAs directly.
The Secretariat holds regular fund-raising events, such as lunches and dinners at the United Nations.
There is a kiosk in the Visitors’ Center where funds are raised from the sale of lithographs and other items;half the proceeds are being allocated to the Plenary Assembly.

The Secretariat provides support to the United Nations. This lifts the profile of the World Federation of United Nations Associations, and by extension the status of its members.

1. Representation at the United Nations

The World Federation of United Nations Associations has Category One Consultative Status with ECOSOC, is affiliated with Department of Public Information (DPI) and is a partner organization with the NGO initiative of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) to promote regional level networking among NGOs.
The Secretary-General participates on a regular basis in formal and informal meetings at the United Nations and has close consultative relationships with senior officials in the UN Secretariat, including the office of the UN Secretary-General.
The World Federation has close relations with UNDP, WHO, UNESCO, UNICEF and is formally associated with the UN Global Compact.
The SG regularly attends the civil society meetings convened in Washington at the time of the annual World Bank and IMF meetings.
The World Federation is an active and respected leader of NGO activities at the UN, represented on the Executive Boards of CONGO and the Center for UN Reform Education and has close links with the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the World Council of Churches, the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, among others.
In 2005, the SG was on the Task Force set up by the President of the UN General Assembly in 2005, thus ensuring that UNAs were invited to participate in the historic June Hearings, before the World Summit. The Director of the Office in Geneva , spoke on behalf of Civil Society on human rights and the information society at the World Summit on the Information Society in Tunis in 2005.

2. Support the UN Reform effort

Together with UNA-USA, the Word Federation of United Nations Associations is embarking on a major initiative to bring the expertise and experience of leading UNA members into the negotiations on UN Management Reform.

Paper prepared jointly by the New York and Geneva offices of the World Federation of United Nations Associations.

[1]África: 27, Asia-Pacífico 26, Europa 38, Norteamérica 14, Sudamérica 9