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United Nations Development Programme Background Guide

Investing in Sustainable Infrastructure

Improving Conditions in Refugee Camps

Combating Gender Inequality

San Diego Regional Junior Model United Nations Session XLI

UNDP Background Guide

A Letter from your Head Chair Distinguished Delegates,

My name is Kelly McCormack, and I’m your head chair for the United Nations Development Programme. I’m a senior at Patrick Henry High School, and I love being involved and helping my community. I’m in many organizations at school, like Environmental Club, Yoga Club, MUN (!!!), Link Crew, water polo, and Peer Mediation. After school, I work as a lifeguard at a San Diego City pool and teach swim lessons. I drive a bright yellow VW bug and my favorite food is peanut butter. On a given day, you can probably find me binge watching Criminal Minds, at the dog park with my mutt Jax, or cooking fantastically delicious cuisine (although I tend to burn anything I put on a stove- oops!). I began my journey with JMUN as an eighth grader at Lewis Middle School. Despite my inexperience being the unworldly youngster I was, I thrusted myself into the international community. Representing the unpronounceable country of Côte d’Ivoire, a nation in West Africa,

I grinded my way through the year pretending to know what I was doing. At the conference, I realized what JMUN was all about: a stimulating program that welcomes young intellectuals to be a part of something bigger than themselves. I found that I loved to feel like a powerful speaker and leader, and while my first year I failed to gain the courage to dominate in conference, you can bet that I came back the following year with an impassioned desire to succeed. I won the Gavel, rapporteur, and outstanding delegate awards my freshmen year representing Germany in the General Assembly (now UNDP), which further fueled my love for this program. I then proceeded to become involved in the staffing of the JMUN conference, experienced being a page as a sophomore, then Head Chair this past year. I am on the cabinet for the MUN club at Patrick Henry and have attended a handful of MUN conferences. My love for this program has stayed strong as I go into my fifth year of involvement in MUN, and my fourth year invested in UNDP.

The United Nations Development Programme advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. It’s fundamental for the international community and is a unique committee with a crucial role in the United Nations. I get so excited thinking about the bright ideas and minds I come across while talking to delegates about their goals for the conference. This committee is continually lively and challenging, bringing new perspectives to issues that you may not have been exposed to previously. Your agenda topics include Investing in Sustainable Infrastructure, Improving Conditions in Refugee Camps, and Combating Gender Inequality. Your job as a delegate here is to provide your most impassioned work towards researching and resolving issues regarding the agenda topics, and to learn as much as you can about the world and its behaviors. JMUN teaches so much about the ways of the world, and how frustrating it is to attempt to create peace. I look forward to reading the works you all create, and seeing the bright shining faces of our future leaders, delegators, and intellectuals.

Best Regards,

Kelly McCormack Head Chair



Investing in Sustainable Infrastructure I. Background

Infrastructure is defined as electricity, gas, telecoms, transport systems, water supply, and sewerage. These facilities are used for the benefit of the people. More infrastructure needs to be built in least developed countries since least developed nations have low levels of infrastructure, nutrition, and have a great amount of poverty. Compared to developed nations, developed countries are able to succeed due to their high level of infrastructure, their substantial economy, and their long-standing institutions. The governments in least developed nations are more likely to be weak or corrupt which means it underestimates the quantity of infrastructure in the country. Infrastructure is important to have in a country because it enables trade, the establishment of businesses connects workers to their jobs, creates opportunities for struggling communities, and protects the nation from an increasingly unpredictable natural environment. Countries that have low levels of infrastructure suffer and fall behind in the international economy. Conversely, a stable economy is required before high levels of infrastructure can be implemented. Without a flourishing economy, it is hard to find/raise money to pay for the development of infrastructure. Another factor that disrupts infrastructure is natural disasters. Natural disasters affect many communities, nations, and civilizations. Due to natural disasters, a bad economy and government, many nations fall into a great amount of debt and from then on suffer financially. The loss of infrastructure deeply affect people therefore, it is hard for them to rebuild infrastructure because of the money loss to redeem recovery especially in least developed nations. For example, nations that have low levels of infrastructure are Angola, Chad, Ethiopia, and a lot more globally. In order for these least developed nations to prosper, more sustainable infrastructure has to be built.

II. UN and International Involvement The United Nations is responsible for resolving international problems one of

which include investing in sustainable infrastructure. The President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Frederick Shava, mentioned that “infrastructure, industrialization and innovation are essential in global efforts to abolish poverty to enable growth and sustainable development.” The ECOSOC then created the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development which included 17 sustainable goals that recognizes the importance of infrastructure, industrialization and innovation for abolishing poverty and expanding opportunities for people, especially the poorest. This agenda highlighted the challenges and different approaches to building and upgrading infrastructure in least developed nations particularly in Africa. Another department under the UN is the Central Emergency Response Fund. CERF develops the fastest and most effective ways to support rapid humanitarian response for people in least developed countries that are



affected by poverty and the lack of infrastructure. To assist, CERF provides voluntary year round funding to assist people anywhere in the world going through a catastrophe and help build more infrastructure to make up for the buildings, roads, and homes lost due to a disaster or that are nonexistent due to poverty and a bad government. With more communities and organizations involved, the more a country can gain sustainable infrastructure.

III. Questions to Consider 1. How long, on average, does it take for a developing nation to complete the

infrastructural transition to a developed nation? 2. What are some success stories? What are some nations that have

successfully, within the last century, gone from developing to developed. 3. How will other organizations actually help with the building of infrastructure? 4. What kind of facilities do nations lack the most? 5. How has government financial aid changed over the last decade in least

developed countries and how is it differentiated with developed countries governmental aid?

IV. Suggested Sites ● https://www.iied.org/transforming-growth-for-least-developed-countries ● http://ecdpm.org/great-insights/financing-infrastructure/support-enhance-private-

investment-developing-country-infrastructure/ ● http://www.infrastructure-intelligence.com/article/jul-2015/infrastructure-economi

c-and-social-development-and-more-sustainable-world ● https://unu.edu/publications/articles/wrr-2016-importance-of-infrastructure.html ● https://www.un.org/development/desa/en/news/ecosoc/infrastructure-developm

ent-industrialization.html ● https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2015/07/how-to-make-sure-developing-countri

es-can-develop/



Improving Conditions in Refugee Camps

I. Background According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), a

refugee is someone who was forced to flee their home country because of internal conflicts, violence, climate change, and persecution of ethnic identity, religion, political affiliation, or societal position. In 2016 alone, 65.6 million refugees were displaced, according to the United Nations (UN). Civilians were forced to flee their homeland in search of safety and a better future for their future generations. Masses of refugees from Middle Eastern and African countries such as Syria and South Sudan fled to neighboring countries for food, water, shelter, and resources. According to the UN, 55% of the world’s refugees came from Syria, Afghanistan, and South Sudan. Refugees continue to flee to neighboring countries, taking a toll on the expenditure of the country’s resources. Refugee camps are overwhelmed by the number of persons urging for admittance. The United Nations also notes that “There are also 10 million stateless people, who have been denied a nationality and access to basic rights such as education, healthcare, employment and freedom of movement,”

With an increasing amount of incomers, refugee camps face shortages of food, potable drinking water, lack of sufficient sanitation, unequitable access to health care and necessary medications, and little to no access to education while in camps. The camps were designed to sustain a population for a short period of time. The basic infrastructure, such as tents, provide refugees with a basic roof over their heads, however offers them little shelter to the freezing cold in the winter months. With the increasing average period of time in which refugees live in camps, infrastructure needs must be able to support large populations for extended amounts of time. Some refugees also face malnutrition and constant hunger due to the insufficient food supply, which further puts them at risk of diseases and illnesses. Lack of sewage systems degrades sanitation levels and can contaminate clean, potable water supplies.

II. UN and International Involvement The United Nations (UN) has contributed vast amounts of resources, workers, and

time into improving conditions in refugee camps. The UN has deployed over 700 staff members to Syrian Refugee Camps, where they distribute food, potable drinking water, tents, bedding, and basic necessities. For more sustainable water sources, the UN Refugee Committee has built wells, such as those in Jordan The staff members work to



provide health services and care, mental support, as well as education. In more established refugee camps, the UN has gradually replaced temporary tents to more sturdy, prefabricated houses, portable bathrooms with concrete facilities with showers, as well as the building of schools to educate the children. Along with resources and amenities, the UN has also deployed peacekeepers to protect the refugees seeking asylum in the camps and to ensure peace. In addition to protection, the UN proclaimed June 20 as World Refugee Day to raise awareness and to raise funds to help the refugees in need.

Along with United Nations contributions, nations and international aid organizations have provided resources, treatments, services, and relief. The Republic of Turkey operates 21 government run refugee camps which temporarily house over 260,000 refugees. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has improved water sanitation and the prevention and treatment of cholera in refugee camps in East Africa and Yemen through the distribution of oral cholera vaccines as well as the implementation of cholera treatment centers. Organizations such as the Syrian American Medical Society and Sunrise USA provide medical treatments to refugees in Syria, Jordan, Turkey, and Lebanon, as well as providing food, education, and trauma support and treatment centers. Doctors without Borders has also treated patients and provided health care in 6 hospitals inside Syria as well as set up clinics. The United Nations, countries, and international aid organizations have contributed various resources for the improvement of refugee camps, however the influx of refugees continues to increase, therefore more relief efforts must be enacted.

III. Questions to Consider 6. How can resources and aid materials be equitably distributed throughout

refugee camps? 7. How should the United Nations or other fellow member states stimulate other

countries to contribute their resources to the improvement of camps? 8. What technologies, expertise, a human resources can member states donate

and invest in refugee camps? 9. How can the UN or member states shorten the duration of resettlement of

refugees in other countries? 10. How can countries facilitate the transition of refugees out of camps? 11. How can the UN facilitate educational programs in refugee camps? Will

refugees leaves camps with skills that will sustain them in a working world?



IV. Suggested Sites ● http://www.un.org/en/sections/issues-depth/refugees/ ● http://www.unrefugees.org/what-is-a-refugee/ ● https://www.worldvision.org/refugees-news-stories/forced-flee-top-5-countries-ref

ugees ● http://www.uniteforsight.org/refugee-health/module3

http://www.un.org/en/sections/issues-depth/refugees/

http://www.unrefugees.org/what-is-a-refugee/

https://www.worldvision.org/refugees-news-stories/forced-flee-top-5-countries-refugees

https://www.worldvision.org/refugees-news-stories/forced-flee-top-5-countries-refugees

http://www.uniteforsight.org/refugee-health/module3



Combating Gender Inequality I. Background

Gender inequality has been an issue for several countries where, usually, women do not get equal power compared to men. The UN addresses this issue by stating that gender equality is considered the same as empowerment of women.Gender equality is considered a fundamental human right that affects female access to health services and education, safety, and their socioeconomic status.

Many countries strive to make this possible to make their country better, hence the reason that as of 2014, 143 countries have included gender equality in their constitution, but many times, the countries do not live up to their constitution, making the 52 countries out of the 143 unequal in their treatment of different genders. Not only does this issue contribute to the unequal jobs and pay for men and women, it also contributes to health issues in women. According to the UN, some countries have a higher mortality rate for girls since they do not get the health care and proper nutrition. Also, gender inequality leads to early child marriage that can be drastically seen more in girls than boys; 15 million girls, who are under the age of 18, are married each year internationally. Early marriage also leads to limited opportunities in the job market and safety issues. In 29 countries in Africa and Middle East experience trends of sexual violence, which can ultimately lead to infection, trauma, death, and is considered common.

Many countries make an effort at achieving gender equality, such as Saudi Arabia who recently, in September 2017, allowed women to drive. However, many countries, especially developing countries, go through harsh gender discriminations that affects their lifestyle. Many women in those developing countries go through the problem of wage gap, which leads to less responsibility and less rewards. In some countries, women also go through strict dress codes, inability to travel without consent from their husband, and often the lack of legal rights.



II. UN Involvement The United Nations try to mend areas of gender inequality. In 1976, there was an

international treaty called the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) that was adopted by the UN to make an attempt at resolving this issue about inequality. Also referred to as the Bill of Rights for Women, CEDAW was signed by 187 nations and eliminates all acts of discrimination against women by “persons, organizations, and enterprises”. In 1995, at the UN’s fourth conference for women, the Beijing Platform for Action was adopted hoping for the empowerment of women. It created a framework to remove all obstacles to women’s participation and create equality. The committee UN Women was created in July of 2010; this served the main purpose of gaining empowerment for women. This organization allows them to work with country’s government and society to create laws and other programs to help ensure the rights of women. This allowed the UN to focus more on the issue and address it specifically by dividing it into four distinct parts: Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW), International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW), Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women (OSAGI), United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM).

III. Questions to Consider 1. What problems will be resolved if we reach gender equality?

2. What further problems will be caused if gender inequality is not solved?

3. What are some things that restrict the countries from reaching gender

equality and why do those boundaries exist? What led to those boundaries

to form?

4. Why do some countries suffer greater from this issue than other

countries?

5. Why do countries often times attempt at gender equality but do not reach

it? How will gender equality improve countries?

6. What issues affect the gender nonconforming community? What rights

are restricted from those who don’t identify with binary gender roles?



IV. Suggested Sites http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/gender-equality/

http://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/10/un-womens-rights-feminism-

equality

http://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2011/7/countering-gender-discrimin

ation-and-negative-gender-stereotypes-effective-policy-responses

http://www.ipc-undp.org/pub/eng/PIF38_Social_protection_towards_gender_equ

ality.pdf

http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/gender-equality/

http://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/10/un-womens-rights-feminism-equality

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/10/un-womens-rights-feminism-equality

http://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2011/7/countering-gender-discrimination-and-negative-gender-stereotypes-effective-policy-responses

http://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2011/7/countering-gender-discrimination-and-negative-gender-stereotypes-effective-policy-responses

http://www.ipc-undp.org/pub/eng/PIF38_Social_protection_towards_gender_equality.pdf

http://www.ipc-undp.org/pub/eng/PIF38_Social_protection_towards_gender_equality.pdf

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