2023 Regional Academy on the United Nations

Crisis management and resilience: responding to future global challenges

Date: September 2023 – April 2024
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Background
While crises create uncertainty and threaten the achievement of important goals, they can also open windows of opportunity for transformation and change. It is not enough to mitigate the consequences of an event and to rebuild the status-quo: Crises require new ways of thinking, the courage to put longstanding habits and patterns in question, and the discovery of new opportunities that can contribute to overcoming persistent challenges.

In a multi-crisis world, it is of the utmost importance to build resilient communities, societies, and economies that can cope with and adapt to extraordinary and dangerous situations and
recover with minimal long-term impacts. Building resilience and effectively managing crises requires a deep understanding of societal processes, the undertaking of precautionary measures, and long-term investments in effective solutions to address arising issues.

The 2023 Regional Academy programme will focus on exploring solutions to build resilience, improve crisis management, and strengthen the governance of global commons and global public goods that deliver equitably and sustainably for all. This includes considering multiple perspectives from different domains and various actors, the comprehensive inclusion of women, youth, people with disabilities, indigenous groups, and those living in conflict affected areas; dialogue facilitation; and the acceleration of global-scale action.

Research, data, and information infrastructures play a particularly important role as a means to strengthen efforts in better predicting and responding to crisis events. Through their research, RAUN 2023 researchers will contribute to the ongoing global discussions, providing evidence and best practice cases that can inform policy-making and help address key challenges faced today. Ultimately, RAUN 2023 aims to contribute to the promise of a world of peace, dignity, and prosperity on a sustainable planet, also in the context of the review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in 2023 and the United Nations Summit of the Future in 2024.

Find more about the 2023 RAUN theme here.

Why participate in this year’s RAUN programme?
  • At a time when our world is at a critical juncture, participants will have the opportunity to participate in one of the most ambitious discussions about our future.
  • They have the unique opportunity to convey their ideas, including critical opinions to world leaders, the United Nations, the academic community and civil society at large.
  • Participants will have an opportunity to learn from the high-ranking UN officials.
  • Participants will present the results of their research at the UN headquarters in Vienna.

Testimonials
Konrad Gertz, Consultant at UNODC in Vienna, RAUN 2021 participant:

"Taking part in the Regional Academy of the United Nations was an invaluable experience that not only broadened my academic horizons but also offered important insights into launching a career within the United Nations system. Through mentorship and collaboration with UN experts, RAUN provided me with a comprehensive understanding of the inner workings of different International Organizations and connected me with other young professionals from different academic fields."

  • 94% of participants say that the RAUN project was a valuable experience for pursuing a career in an international organization. 
  • 81% agree that over the course of the project they learned new soft skills. 
  • 88% of participants confirm that taking part in the RAUN project brings the opportunity of extending your professional network. 
  • 88% of students found new friends through participation in the RAUN project. 

Things that RAUN 2022 participants enjoyed the most (from the anonymous feedback):
  • "I enjoyed the experience gained in research, meeting people from different disciplines, the opportunity to present at the UN, and the day dedicated to learning about how to apply to the UN."
  • "I loved the networking and the idea of contributing to real UN agenda topics."
  • "Opportunity to engage with staff working at UN agencies."
  • "A platform where academia and policymaking meet."
  • "Developing research projects whose output can help improve strategies designed by a UN agency and to be implemented at a domestic level."
  • "Exchange of ideas with young researchers from different disciplinary backgrounds and with different research interests."
  • "I really liked the people I got to meet throughout the months, from the RAUN team, to my project team and other RAUN participants". 
  • "Meeting like-minded people, being confronted with a new challenge, the professionalism in which the research projects were conducted. It was an amazing experience, I really enjoyed working on the project and being part of the RAUN experience."

Dates and duration
September 2023 – April 2024.
 
About the 2023 Regional Academy on the United Nations
The seven-month long program consists of two in-person session and two online sessions that include several lectures and workshops linked to the RAUN theme of this year. 

Participants will have the possibility to work on specific topics from a list suggested by the UN or partner organizations. Once topics have been selected, participants will be matched in small groups of 3 (maximum 4) to work on their chosen topic.

As a final outcome, participants will be required to submit a policy brief/paper of 12 to 15 pages based on desk research of the issues and discussions with experts from the UN and other organizations such as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Ban Ki-Moon Centre for Global Citizens. The policy brief/paper should include background information about the issue, ideas about the kind of future we want to create and common goals, an evaluation of the progress made towards achieving the goals (including milestones and challenges), and effective measures to support the process.

Structure of the Academy
The Academy follows a unique format combining lectures and interactive workshops with practical hands-on experience. The program consists of two sessions in person and several online sessions per academic year (September until April). All courses are given by high-ranking experts and practitioners who share their rich experience with participants in an informal setting.

Apart from coursework during the sessions, participants work on research projects in close cooperation with UN organizations and other international organizations on topics related to the RAUN theme. Through their group work, participants are able to develop their research skills and form strong networks with like-minded peers, academics, and experts from various fields in an environment that fosters diversity, cultural learning, and understanding.

During the program, participants get the opportunity to visit UN institutions in Vienna. The results of the research projects will be presented during the final RAUN session at the UN Headquarters in Vienna in April 2024. At the end of the program, participants receive certificates of successful completion of the Academy.

Expert mentors
Participants will exchange with experts from the United Nations or partner organizations on a regular basis for consultations and discussions. These meetings shall help participants to better understand the issues and provide expert guidance during the drafting of the recommendations. 
 
PEER+
Each group of participants will be assigned a PEER+, someone who has participated in the RAUN programme before, to provide additional support. PEER+ give advice based on their experience with RAUN and help participants by providing feedback on their work.

Sessions
  • 2 main sessions (2-3 days each): 8-10 September 2023 (Barcelona) and 10-12 April 2024 (Vienna) - both dates to be confirmed
  • 2 online sessions (half a day each): dates to be announced

NOTE: For successful completion of the Academy participants are strictly required to participate in all sessions and to fully contribute to the final research outcome.  

Participation fee
One time, non-refundable 200€. Limited number of scholarships is available on a merit basis. See Current Admission for more information.
 
Certificates
At the end of the programme, participants will receive certificates of successful completion.
 
Contact
For more information please contact us at raun-communications@ra-un.org.