GFDD Appointed Vice Chair of UN Association of the USA Council of Organizations

The Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD), represented by its UN Programs & Outreach Manager, Marc Jourdan, was today appointed Vice Chair of the United Nations Association of the United States (UNA USA) Council of Organizations.

For over six decades NGO members have counted on the Council of Organizations to serve as their critical link to the United Nations. Most importantly, the Council provides members with ability to
coordinate their advocacy and education efforts related to US – UN relations to maximize impact.

The Goals of the Council of Organizations are to:

Mobilize: To promote UN policies, effective US policies on the UN, and US compliance with its international commitments

Educate: To provide timely information about the UN to institutions participating in the COO in order to inform their respective
stakeholders throughout the United States about the UN;

Build Community: To encourage organizations to network among themselves

Engage: To participate in UN activities.

With a national Executive Committee guiding the work of the Council at the national, regional and local levels, the Council sponsors briefings featuring UN ambassadors, academics, US government officials, distinguished NGO leaders
and top Secretariat officials which keep the NGO community informed while offering a forum to share educational information and advocacy plans regarding issues on the UN agenda. The Council also works to support the United Nations by educating its members about the UN system through joint community work with 120 UNA-USA chapters and local affiliates of over 90 organizations, some of whom have formed local or regional Council of Organizations.

GFDD’s term of
appointment as Vice Chair of the UNA USA Council of Organizations is for 2 years effective June 11, 2016.

About the United Nations Association of the United States (UNA-USA)
UNA-USA is a membership organization dedicated to educate the American people about the United Nations. For 70 years UNA-USA has worked to accomplish its mission of informing, inspiring and mobilizing Americans to support the principles and vital work of the UN,
strengthening the UN system, promoting constructive US leadership in that system and achieving the goals of the UN Charter. Forming a strategic alliance with the UN Foundation in 2010, UNA-USA continues to pool talents to increase public education and advocacy on the work of the UN.

About the UNA USA Council of Organizations (COO)
The COO is a coalition of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and local groups of organizations with interests
in education, social justice, labor, sustainable development, energy and climate, millennium development goals, human rights, health and women’s issues that all share the common goals of making the American public more knowledgeable about global issues and strengthening the U.S. – UN relationship.

Related links:
http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/
http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/70/1&Lang=E