In an important move, the United Nations Security Council recently authorized an arms embargo banning all countries from selling weapons to South Sudan until May 2019. This represents the best hope for the country to move toward peace since the civil war began. The action taken by the Security Council – at the behest of the United States and U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley – is a strong sign from the international community […]

Reaching global solutions may seem impossible as the world confronts a myriad of challenges – from conflict and disease to environmental crises. However, success stories of global cooperation are out there. And they offer valuable lessons learned for the issues we face today. In this podcast, UN Dispatch host Mark Goldberg unravels the story of one of the greatest global successes of our time: how the world came together through the UN to heal the

What does a story about global progress look like? Now, how do you tell that story in eight minutes or less?  More than 700 filmmakers across the globe tried to answer these questions as part of this year’s Picture This Festival for the Planet, a short-film competition for emerging filmmakers hosted by Sony and the United Nations Foundation.  The ultimate aim? To illustrate and inspire action for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  This week, finalists

This September, thousands of global leaders from businesses, civil society, government, the art community, and more, will come together in San Francisco for the Global Climate Action Summit. Why? To achieve the goals of the landmark Paris Climate Agreement and stop runaway climate change, we need bold action. That requires innovative solutions across every sector and at every level – from sustainable agriculture in local communities to major investments in renewable energy. As the impacts

Alexandria Lafci was 24 years old and stuck in a job she hated when she decided to pursue an unlikely dream: Building homes for families in need around the globe. She had learned so much in her first job out of college and now she wanted to apply that experience: The Teach for America alumna had seen firsthand how homelessness affects a child’s mental, emotional, and physical well-being: Nearly one-third of the students she taught

Fragility presents a major threat to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), according to new research from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The OECD’s 2018 States of Fragility report, released last month, describes fragility as “an intricate beast, sometimes exposed, often lurking underneath, but always holding progress back.” This year’s report provides new insights into how to understand, measure, and respond to fragility. It also includes analysis on 58 different fragile countries

You’ve likely seen the news about war in South Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. But what about drought-stricken farmers in Mauritania, cyclone survivors in Madagascar, or displaced families in Angola? When a crisis fades from the headlines — or never makes the news — it can be difficult for the international aid community to raise money to respond. Because most of the UN’s funding is earmarked by donors for specific operations or countries, under-reported emergencies often

Today’s youth generation is the largest the world has ever seen. There are 1.8 billion young people between the ages of 10 and 24. And, they will soon be responsible for a world with rising global challenges like hunger, climate change, and conflict. It’s challenges like these that are motivating young people around the world to take action. Not only are they raising their voices, they are also stepping up in their communities and showing