Hey guys-

Now that we’re moving out of the paper writing process and onto the final prep for RHSMUN, I wanted to take this week's blog post to touch on just how important this is. You’re all already familiar with the great work the UN does in the world, and hopefully through your research preparing for the NGO Forum, you’ve begun to, or increased, your understanding of the critical role NGOs play in this system.

As far back as 1996, the International community began to recognize the changing role and growing importance of NGOs. Financially, NGOs already contributed “between 10 and 15 percent of all aid to developing countries” . This has only become more apparent over time.

As you finalize your preparation for the Forum, take time to mentally step into the shoes of the NGO you will be representing, and begin to understand that the policy decisions you make at the Forum will have an effect on the outcome of any one of the mains committees’ topics. Thus, I urge you to take the time to seriously understand the issues you will be discussing in those committees.

By collaborating with these committees, alone, you are making progress on achieving MDG 8—Global partnership. However, as a representative of an NGO, your job isn’t just to work toward solving issues. Instead, you must also look to the future of your NGO and its mission. The key to the accomplishment of MDG 8 is not just to achieve global partnerships, but to sustain them; and while NGOs do contribute around 15 percent of aid to underdeveloped regions, your NGO can’t fund everything.

It’s important to start looking at these issues now so that you can begin to construct ideas as to how your NGO would react to the issues—not merely you as individuals.

This takes a deeper level of thought. I’m asking you to do more here than just look up facts and memorize them. The funding that NGOs contribute can make or break any endeavor. Similarly, at RHSMUN, the way you distribute your NGO’s resources matters a great deal.

These are things I hope you’re thinking about and discussing with each other. And, as always, if you want to throw ideas around with me, drop me a line (ngo.rhsmun@imuna.org) and I’ll get back to you right away.

-Steven