UN – United Nations

Although we may think about specific global issues like health, conflict, finance, and the environment as separate – and perhaps unrelated – challenges to be tackled independently, the reality is far from it. They are actually deeply connected, and our understanding, appreciation, and responses should be shaped accordingly. The fundamental linkages among climate, development, and humanitarian action are apparent this week as the United Nations convenes multiple moments for global progress: the Financing for Development […]

As part of our “Americans in the UN” project to share the stories of Americans who work for the United Nations, we connected with Mary Alice Hayward, the Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Management for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN agency working for the safe, secure, and peaceful use of nuclear technologies. Prior to joining the UN, Hayward was Vice President for Strategy, Government Affairs, and Advocacy for

Four years ago, the deadly Ebola virus surged through the West African countries of Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone, killing more than 11,000 people in the region and devastating the economies of these countries. At the time, there were concerns over the spread of Ebola as the news reported that two American health care workers in Liberia had contracted the disease and were being airlifted to the U.S. for treatment. Fast-forward four years, and I

Women represent $28 trillion in consumer spending and make up to 80% of consumer decisions worldwide; however, they continue to be under-served in the global financial system. While the number of people with bank accounts has increased dramatically, there is still a 7% gap globally between women and men in access to financial services. At the World Bank Spring Meetings, Mayra Buvinic, a Senior Fellow at Data2X, an alliance housed at the UN Foundation, discussed

As part of our “Americans in the UN” project to share the stories of Americans who work for the United Nations, we connected with Sandra Mitchell, who is the Assistant Secretary-General for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). Prior to joining the UN system, Mitchell worked in the legal field where she held senior roles with the American Bar Association and the International Human Rights Law Group. Originally from Seattle, Mitchell

Although we can send a rover to Mars, more than 300,000 women died in 2015 of complications from pregnancy and childbirth – complications that were mostly preventable. It’s simple: No woman should die from giving birth. No matter where mothers live, the United Nations is committed to improving maternal health because it is a fundamental human right and a crucial development issue that is part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which sets a target

As part of our “Americans in the UN” project to share the stories of Americans who work for the United Nations, we connected with Raluca Eddon, the Peace Consolidation and Transition Advisor in the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Côte d’Ivoire. Prior to joining the UN, she was an academic. A resident of New York City, she received her Bachelor of Arts from Bryn Mawr College and her PhD from Yale. What is

Displacement is currently at the world’s highest recorded levels, with more than 65 million people forced from their homes by conflict, violence, and persecution. Over 740,000 refugees – mostly fleeing from violence in Syria – are registered in Jordan. Forced from homes, accessing basic services like food, water, and electricity can be a challenge. The United Nations and partners are leveraging technology to better deliver urgent services for refugees living in camps and urban areas

  By Nicole Savage. Nicole is currently on detail to WHO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Every May, delegates from nearly all 194 World Health Organization (WHO) Member States descend on the mountain-lined city of Geneva, Switzerland for the World Health Assembly. Delegates will review WHO’s lifesaving work and set new goals for the organization. This year’s challenges include improving access to quality medicines and vaccines, helping countries better respond to health emergencies—like the current Ebola