It’s no secret that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can’t be achieved by any one nation or organization. Partnerships are at the heart of the SDGs. SDG 17 itself recognizes that the success of the agenda will be impossible without strong collaboration among governments, the private sector, philanthropy, and civil society. As part of the United Nations Secretary-General’s focus on modernizing the UN to better deliver on the SDGs and the Paris Climate Agreement, the […]

Rarely a day passes without a story on an exciting, or perhaps terrifying, advancement in technology as developers discover new ways to leverage quantum computers, robotics, 3D printing, and artificial intelligence (AI) to solve new and age-old problems alike. One exciting new development that tech watchers may have missed this year: efforts the United Nations has taken to modernize its work and better prepare itself as a platform for global discussions on the promises and

For the past 73 years, the United States and the United Nations have remained essential partners in resolving challenges around the world. As we approach the end of the year, it’s safe to say that 2018 was no different, with the U.S. and the UN collaborating in many important areas despite some challenges. Thanks to the strong partnership between UN Secretary-General António Guterres and U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley, the U.S. and the

2018 was a rough year. Communities across the globe experienced the real and worsening effects of climate change; conflict continued to displace a record number of families; and refugees, migrants, and minorities continued to be scapegoated for economic, political, and social instability. But this year also ushered in some positive developments — and many of these stories didn’t make the headlines. While it may not make the news, time and again, we’ve seen that collective

It’s clear: The world faces complex challenges that extend beyond borders, from disease outbreaks to terrorism to climate change and migration. What’s also clear, but not always recognized is that international cooperation and action through the United Nations is driving progress. Without a doubt, big problems remain, and it can be tough to rally the world around common goals, but important steps are happening and international cooperation is yielding progress. While this is not a

Update: Read 5 Global Issues to Watch in 2020 As expected, 2018 was a doozy for international cooperation and global development, featuring a mixture of highs, lows, and anxiety (at unhealthy doses) all around. Threats to international cooperation posed risks to tackling pressing challenges. But bright spots emerged, including the rise of new and refreshing voices standing up for collective action and global progress. In the face of this uncertainty, 2019 will be a critical year

As part of our “Americans in the UN” project to share the stories of Americans who work for the United Nations, we talked to U.S. Lieutenant Colonel Paul Snyder, who currently serves as a military liaison officer for the Africa division at the Department of Peacekeeping operations. Lieutenant Colonel Snyder has served in the U.S. military for 21 years and has deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, and most recently to Mali with the UN. Originally from