U.S. Mission to the Organization for American States

The United States Mission to the Organization of American States was formally established in 1948, and is the only embassy located within the Department of State in Washington, D.C. The Organization of American States (OAS) is the world’s oldest regional organization, dating back to the First International Conference of American States held in Washington, D.C. in October 1889. It is the premier multilateral forum for dealing with political issues in the Western Hemisphere. The main goals of the Mission are to strengthen peace and security, promote the effective exercise of representative democracy, ensure the peaceful settlement of disputes among members, and provide for common action in the event of aggression. They also seek solutions to political, juridical, and economic problems that may arise by promoting cooperative action, and economic, social, educational, scientific and cultural development.

2017-08-25T10:20:42-04:00

United States Mission to the UN (USUN)

The United States Mission to the United Nations was established in 1947 by the United Nations Participation Act to assist the President and the Department of State in conducting U.S. policy at the United Nations. The Mission carries out our nation’s participation in the world governing body and recommends what course of action the United States should pursue in the world organization.

USUN/NY Executive office

Interns for the Executive Office of Ambassador Power assist daily operations through a variety of operational and policy-related tasks. Interns gain exposure to ambassadorial-level meetings, note-taking, and correspondence, while also supporting policy advisors through research and the operations team with phone support, document dissemination, and additional administrative tasks. Strong analytical, research, and organizations skills required. Solid work ethic and positive attitude are a must.

USUN/NY Protocol Office

The Protocol intern will work side by side with members of the Protocol department to plan, manage and execute all details for official representational functions for the Permanent Representative and USUN Ambassadors. These events will take place at the Ambassador’s official residence at the Waldorf Astoria Towers, the US Mission building, the UN and other venues in NYC. These functions include breakfasts, luncheons, dinners, receptions and meetings. The intern will assist with events as assigned including the invitation process – create, proof, fax, track responses, etc. She/he will assist with updating contact information as required. The Protocol intern will also assist with managing waiters as needed, coffee service for Ambassadors as needed, faxing, e-mailing, calling and assisting with events before and after hours.

USUN/NY Management Office

The Management Section of the U.S. Mission to the United Nations is a team of approximately 25 people that support the employees and operations of the Mission. We have specialists working in the areas of a) information technology, b) human resources, c) budget, d) logistics and e) research and records management. For example, we assist Foreign Service Officers when they arrive for their New York assignments to find housing, we do all the contracting and procurement for the Mission, we administer the IT infrastructure including BlackBerrys, desk tops and secure communications, we arrange for the credentials for Mission employees to have access to the United Nations and we advertise for and hire new employees. The ideal candidate would have good computer skills and also have an interest in the field of management. Good communications and interpersonal skills will help too.

USUN/NY Budget Office

The Budget and Finance Office (B&F) reviews and approves all travel authorizations and travel vouchers. Purchase orders submitted by the General Services Office (GSO) are recorded in B&F’s accounting system, the Global Financial Management System (GFMS). B&F also transmits claims for commercial payments and employee reimbursements to the Bureau of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services (CGFS). While payments for these types of claims are made through electronic funds transfer, representational claims for entertainment are paid out of the K-Fund via a paper check.

USUN/NY Research Unit

The Research Unit plays two vital roles within the Mission: 1) responding to research requests and 2) managing and maintaining the Mission’s records. Fulfilling both roles entails covering the full spectrum of U.S.-UN relations. Interns assigned to the Unit are immersed in a broad variety of issues dealt with by the UN and will acquire in-depth knowledge and a deeper understanding of the complex questions handled by the State Department. Interns are uniquely placed to work on a wide range of topics and may work on various in-depth research or records management projects that can be tailored to their course of study or professional interests. During the internship, interns have access to an array of information resources, including the Mission archives, numerous specialized databases and the UN Library. They also have the opportunity to attend an extensive range of UN meetings as well as training courses on specialized information resources. By the end of their internship, they will come away with a deeper understanding of how the UN works and how the U.S. Mission maintains its institutional memory for the U.S., in addition to having knowledge of authoritative research tools, resources and techniques that are essential to the execution of U.S. foreign policy. Students of history, regional studies, information science, knowledge management and international relations would be well suited to the Research Unit environment.

UNGA

The United States Mission to the United Nations (USUN) New York is seeking a highly motivated and engaging intern to provide support to the Mission’s dedicated UN General Assembly (UNGA) team. This unique position provides an opportunity to work with a senior policy team of Ambassadors and advisors on a wide range of UN issues before the 71st General Assembly. The General Assembly is the main deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the UN. All 193 Member States of the UN are represented in the General Assembly, making it the only UN body with universal representation. Each year in September the full UN membership meets in the General Assembly Hall in New York for the annual General Assembly session, and General Debate, which many heads of state attend and address. Decisions on important questions, such as those on peace and security, admission of new members and budgetary matters, are made.

USUN/NY ECOSOC Office

The Economic and Social Affairs (ECOSOC) Section is responsible for advising and supporting the Permanent Representative and the U.S. Representative to the Economic and Social Council on all economic, social and environmental policy, humanitarian assistance, global public health, and human rights matters at the United Nations. Organized by thematic/functional area, the ECOSOC Section advances U.S. foreign policy priorities in the 54-member UN Economic and Social Council, as well as the UN General Assembly Second Committee (which covers macroeconomic, environment, and development issues) and Third Committee (which addresses social, cultural, and humanitarian issues and human rights). The Section coordinates the Mission’s efforts related to the election of the United States to UN bodies and commissions, the election of U.S. expert candidates to serve on UN committees and working groups, and preventing human rights abusers from gaining UN leadership positions. The Section manages U.S. participation in General Assembly high-level thematic debates, meetings and UN conferences, which often require the Section’s Advisors to engage in several weeks or even many months of intergovernmental negotiations to produce a consensus-agreed “outcome document.” Advisors in the section manage our relations with all of the New York-headquartered UN Funds and Programs for development, and coordinate U.S. representation on the Executive Boards of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), UN Development Program (UNDP), UN Population Fund (UNFPA), UN Women and UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS). The Section shares responsibility with the Political Section to advance U.S. interests in the UN Peacebuilding Commission. Two humanitarian advisors in the section work closely with the UN Office of the Coordinator for Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA), UN funds and programs, other UN entities, NGOs, and the Political Section as appropriate, on emergency responses to natural and man-made (conflict-related) disasters. Some of the wide-ranging economic and social development issues under the section’s purview include poverty eradication, democratic governance, human rights, public health, climate change, trade, finance and debt, migration and refugees, population, treatment of indigenous people, rights of persons with disabilities and the advancement of the status of women. The Section also advances U.S. interests aimed at promoting children’s health and safety, fighting international crime and narcotics, and promoting internet freedom.

USUN/NY PRESS Office

USUN/Press and Public Diplomacy Office (USUN/PRESS): informs and influences key audiences through outreach to U.S. and international press, interaction on web and social media platforms, and engagement with foreign diplomats, non-governmental organization stakeholders, and youth.

USUN/NY Host Country Office

The United States Mission’s Office of Host Country Affairs assures that the obligations of the United States to the United Nations organization and to the UN community in New York are upheld. The Office also serves a variety of important liaison functions between the world’s largest and most prestigious diplomatic community on the one hand, and federal and local government agencies, businesses, and private citizens on the other. The Department of State has delegated to the United States Mission the responsibility of managing our country’s relationship with the UN community, including the other 192 permanent missions to the United Nations, as well as the UN observer missions located in New York City. Some of the Office’s most important services to the United Nations community include:

  • Facilitating and evaluating registration and accreditation.
  • Acting as a law enforcement liaison to ensure safety, security, cooperation and respect.
  • Providing visa services for registered members of the official United Nations community in New York with a valid visa status.
  • Assisting with legal and/or paralegal problems.
  • Administering the employment authorization program.
  • Serving as primary liaison between the UN community and the City of New York on diplomatic parking and other municipal or local issues.
  • Assisting the diplomatic community with requests for airport arrival or departure courtesies.
  • Serving as the United States representative on the UN’s Committee on Relations with the Host Country.

USUN/NY Political Office

The Political Affairs Section of the U.S. Mission to the United Nations (USUN) in New York is looking for several highly motivated interns to support the political team on a wide variety of cross-cutting Security Council issues. Managing high profile issues ranging from the situations in Ukraine and Syria to peacekeeping in Africa, the political team is at the forefront of multilateral policy-making in New York and provides a unique opportunity for those interested in UN affairs a front seat to highly engaging and interesting issues that affect all 193 Member States of the United Nations. Those selected will serve as note takers, attend negotiations with experts, draft cables, conduct research, create spreadsheets, provide escorts to visiting officials, and support other activities as needed. Applicants should have strong writing skills and be adept at PowerPoint and Excel and other Microsoft products.

USUN/NY MR Office

The U.S. Mission’s Management and Reform (MR) Section serves as the U.S. delegate to the General Assembly’s Fifth Committee and other committees which have responsibility for administrative and budgetary matters. MR works diligently to enhance and strengthen the oversight capacity and functions of the United Nations and other oversight bodies within the UN system. MR coordinates the U.S. position on the United Nation’s multi-billion dollar budgets for the organization’s operations including special political missions and war crimes tribunals as well as peacekeeping operations. MR seeks to ensure United Nations programs and activities are efficient, effective and properly managed. In addition, MR, in cooperation with our Economic and Social Affairs Section, provides oversight of the voluntarily-funded UN Funds and Programs, including the UNDP, UNICEF, and UNFPA.

USUN/NY Legal Office

USUN’s Legal Section provides legal advice to the Permanent Representative, other Ambassadors and the entire Mission staff on legal issues that arise during the course of their work at the United Nations. In particular, the section provides legal advice, both substantive and procedural, relating to United States participation in the United Nations Security Council and General Assembly. The Legal Section’s attorneys represent the United States in the Sixth (Legal) Committee of the General Assembly, which debates and examines international law issues, reviews the work of the International Law Commission and negotiates and drafts international legal instruments. USUN’s attorneys also serve as representatives to various Committees, including the Credentials Committee, General Committee, the Security Council working groups on documentation and procedures and international criminal tribunals, and management committees for various tribunals.

USUN/NY MSC Office

The Military Staff Committee internship objective is to have the intern participate as an active member of the Military Staff Committee of the United States Permanent Mission to the United Nations, in achieving their two fold mission: representing the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff to the United Nations Military Staff Committee and advising the U.S. Permanent Representative and the staff of the U.S. Mission on military and security issues of United Nations peacekeeping operations. Specific duties and deliverables are to be determined at the start of the internship between the intern and their MSC supervisor, as the work in the MSC operates on real time and changes with current events. Likely duties may include assisting the outreach program of the Military Staff Committee, to follow and manage tasks associated with an emerging peacekeeping operation, follow and manage tasks for thematic issues of peacekeeping such as peacekeeping reform and humanitarian issues, and finally to research and develop an end of internship presentation on a topic of the intern’s choosing for the Military Staff Committee and Political Affairs office to observe.

USUN/NY IRM Office:

The incumbent will work within the Information Resource Management Office which is located in the U.S. Mission to the United Nations under the Management Section. The Information Management Office is comprised of three subsections: the Information Programs Center, the Information Systems Center, and the Mail and Pouch Unit. The Information Management Office is responsible for ensuring the confidentially, integrity, and availability of information on both the classified and unclassified networks, to include audio-visual services that are essential in implementing the President’s, Secretary of State’s, and U.S. Ambassador’s Foreign Policy objectives. The section also provides a host of IT goods and services to over 200 permanent users and more than 500 official visitors per year.

USUN/Regional Security Office (RSO):

The USUN’s Regional Security Office (RSO) is responsible for the safety and security of the USUN Mission and its personnel, is the primary liaison for law enforcement issues, and is the principle advisor to the Ambassador on all matters of security. The RSO seeks interns able to work in a dynamic, fast paced environment, who are innovative problem solvers, and interested in the most unique job in federal law enforcement. Interns will help draft intelligence and security related policy, attend meetings, plan and coordinate security operations, create spreadsheets, and conduct research.

USUN/NY Sanctions:

USUN’s Sanctions and Counterterrorism Unit provides support to the USUN Front Office on all issues and meetings related to UN sanctions and counterterrorism policy. It provides strategic direction for the development and improved enforcement of current and future UN sanctions regimes, including on such issues as Iran, North Korea, Libya, South Sudan, Sudan/Darfur, and the Central African Republic. The Sanctions and Counterterrorism Unit negotiates sanctions-related Security Council resolutions, including resolutions to impose new sanctions and to renew/modify existing sanctions regimes. In addition to supporting Security Council meetings involving sanctions and counterterrorism issues, the Unit’s members also represent the United States in meetings of the Security Council’s sanctions committee and the Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC).

USUN/NY Human Resources (HR):

HR office provides the full array of personnel system support and services to Mission employees; oversees recruitment and hiring; manages intern and fellow programs for the Mission; and oversees the awards, EEO, and Federal Women’s programs.

USUN/ROME:

The United States Mission to the United Nations (USUN) Rome welcomes highly motivated and engaged interns in the Public Diplomacy and Political-Economic sections of the Mission’s office based in Rome, Italy. USUN Rome is the link between the U.S. Government and the UN Rome-based food/agriculture and other international organizations (IOs). USUN Rome works with six agencies headquartered in Rome including the World Food Programme (WFP), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT), and the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM). USUN Rome contributes to the IOs and public awareness on issues such as food security, refugee/famine assistance, humanitarian and gender issues, nutrition, biotechnology, access to justice, commercial law harmonization, and cultural heritage.

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Office of the Inspector General (OIG)

OIG inspects each of the approximately 260 embassies, diplomatic posts, and international broadcasting installations throughout the world, to determine whether policy goals are being achieved and whether the interests of the United States are being represented and advanced effectively. Additionally, OIG performs specialized security inspections and audits in support of the Department’s mission to provide effective protection to our personnel, facilities, and sensitive intelligence information. OIG also audits Department and BBG operations and activities to ensure that they are as effective, efficient, and economical as
possible. Finally, OIG investigates instances of fraud, waste, and mismanagement that may constitute either criminal wrongdoing or violation of Department and BBG regulations.

2017-08-08T14:17:43-04:00

Oceans & International Environmental & Scientific Affairs (OES)

OES leads the Department of State’s foreign policy development in the areas of environment and sustainable development; conservation and sustainable management of natural resources; global climate change (in concert with the Special Envoy for Climate Change); oceans and fisheries affairs; marine conservation; international science and technology cooperation programs; bioterrorism and biodefense; infectious diseases and global health; science and technology; and public outreach on
environmental diplomacy. OES advises the Department on functional and technical considerations relating to the development and implementation of policies and programs that fall within the bureau’s responsibilities. OES also represents the Department in international negotiations and interagency policy working groups and committees. OES provides foreign policy guidance and coordination to international organizations that share bureau equities, and sees that such activities are designed and implemented in a manner that advances U.S. interests.

  • Office of Policy and Public Outreach (OES/PPO): fosters the integration of environment, science, technology, health, and oceans and polar issues into U.S. foreign policy and facilitates policy formulation across OES and with the Department.
  • Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs (OES/O/OPA): develops international oceans policy by coordinating interagency action and conducting bilateral and multilateral negotiations involving the Law of the Sea Convention, freedom of navigation and overflight, protection of the marine environment, and extended continental shelf and maritime claims and boundaries.
  • Office of Marine Conservation (OES/O/OMC): develops and coordinates U.S. policy for the international conservation and management of living marine resources, including shared fish stocks, marine mammals, seabirds, sea turtles and sharks, among others.
  • Office of Ecology and Conservation (OES/E/ENC): works to conserve and sustainably manage the world’s ecosystems, including forests, wetlands, drylands and coral reefs. ENC helps address international threats to biodiversity and ecosystems, such as land degradation, invasive species and illegal trade, as well as issues associated with the safe handling of living modified organisms and access to genetic resources.
  • Office of Conservation and Water (OES/E/ECW): Nature provides the resources on which humans depend for our survival and economic growth. OES/ECW coordinates the development of U.S. foreign policy approaches to conserving and sustainably managing the world’s ecologically and economically important ecosystems, including, forests, wetlands, drylands and coral reefs, the species that depend on them, and the world’s water resources.
  • Office of Global Change (OES/E/EGC): Implements and manages U.S. international policy on climate change, and represents the United States in negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and in many other international fora focused on climate change, including the International Civil Aviation Organization and the International Maritime Organization.
  • Office of Environmental Policy (OES/E/ENV): develops and coordinates U.S. international policy on environmental issues in the areas of air pollution; toxic chemicals and pesticides; mercury; and hazardous wastes and other pollutants. ENV advances sustainable development goals internationally through multilateral organizations within the UN system and elsewhere.
  • Office of International Health and Biodefense (OES/S/IHB): furthers U.S. foreign policy goals through global health diplomacy. This includes work on the President’s Global Health Initiative, disease control, pandemic preparedness, and other emerging health issues. IHB brings together international stakeholders to promote strategies and policies which strengthen global health, enhance bio-security, and respond to global health crises.
  • Office of Space and Advanced Technology (OES/S/SAT): develops and implements policy and activities related to bilateral and multilateral international space and science and technology programs and issues, as well as megascience and nanotechnology cooperation.
  • Office of Science and Technology Cooperation (OES/S/STC): facilitates bilateral and multi-stakeholder science engagement to advance American national security, economic, and foreign policy interests. The office manages and oversees more than 55 bilateral science and technology agreements and 2,000 sub-agreements currently in force, which collectively lay the ground rules for science engagement, including the protection of intellectual property. Through the Global Innovation through Science and Technology (GIST) initiative, the office helps direct the technical expertise of young scientists and engineers toward peaceful, commercial applications and opens U.S. market opportunities. The office also deploys pre-eminent U.S. scientists as “science ambassadors” to help support broader foreign policy objectives. These American scientists leverage their expertise, knowledge, and professional networks to increase the reach and influence of the United States.
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Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights (J)

Formerly the Office of the Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs and Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, J coordinates U.S. foreign relations on a variety of global issues, including democracy, labor and human rights, population and the environment, international scientific affairs, migration, and refugees. The Under Secretary oversees U.S. participation in the Community of Democracies, U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council and U.S.-Iraq Women’s Network initiatives. J has direct oversight of five bureaus: Conflict and Stabilization Operations (CSO); Counterterrorism (CT); Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL); International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL); and Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM). Additional offices reporting to J include:

  • Office of Global Criminal Justice (J/GCJ): Formerly the Office of War Crimes Issues, this office advises the Secretary of State on U.S. efforts to address serious violations of international humanitarian law committed anywhere in the world, including the Balkans, Africa and Asia.
  • Office of Global Youth Issues (J/GYI): Oversees the effort to empower young people as economic and civil actors, and directly engage young people around the world.
  • Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (J/TIP): The Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons provides the tools to combat trafficking in persons and assists in the coordination of anti-trafficking efforts both worldwide and domestically.
2017-08-08T14:06:18-04:00

International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN)

The Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN) leads the Department of State’s efforts to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction (WMD)—whether nuclear, biological, chemical, or radiological—and their delivery systems, as well as destabilizing conventional weapons, including guns, tanks and attack helicopters. It does this by:

  • Spearheading efforts to promote international consensus on WMD proliferation through bilateral and multilateral diplomacy;
  • Addressing WMD proliferation threats posed by non-state actors and terrorist groups by improving physical security, using interdiction and sanctions, and actively participating in the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) and other programs to counter nuclear terrorism;
  • Coordinating the implementation of key international treaties and arrangements, working to make them relevant to today’s security challenges and working closely with the UN, the G-8, NATO, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and other international institutions and organizations to reduce and eliminate the threat posed by WMD; and
  • Supporting efforts of foreign partners to prevent, deter and respond to the threat or use of WMD by terrorists.

ISN offices include:

  • Multilateral Nuclear and Security Affairs (ISN/MNSA): Formulates and directs U.S. policy relating to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), safeguards controls on fissile material, and other multilateral nuclear issues pertaining to Nuclear Weapon Free Zone (NWFZ) treaties, the Group of Eight (G8) nations and the European Union.
  • Nuclear Energy, Safety and Security (ISN/NESS): Develops U.S. policy related to peaceful nuclear cooperation, the future of the international nuclear fuel cycle, nuclear safety, nuclear export controls, and the physical protection of nuclear materials and facilities.
  • Cooperative Threat Reduction (ISN/CTR): Engages worldwide with countries, facilities, and scientists to keep weapons of mass destruction (WMD) expertise, materials, and equipment out of the hands of proliferators and terrorists.
  • Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund (ISN/NDF): Rapid-response fund to exploit nonproliferation and disarmament opportunities, circumstances, or conditions that are unanticipated or unusually difficult (e.g., missile destruction, removal of fissile material).
  • Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism (ISN/WMDT): Develops policy and plans, directs initiatives, and coordinates partner capacity-building activities to prevent, protect against, and respond to the threat or use of nuclear, radiological, chemical, or biological weapons by terrorists. Leads the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism, the Nuclear Smuggling Outreach Initiative, the Nuclear Trafficking Response Group, and the Foreign Consequence Management Program.
  • Missile, Biological and Chemical Nonproliferation (ISN/MBC): Combats the proliferation of ballistic and cruise missiles capable of delivering WMD via the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), and impedes proliferation of chemical and biological weapons via the Australia Group regime. Also responsible for coordinating interdiction, sanctions and associated export controls, and direct diplomacy with missile-possessing and technology- supplying countries.
  • Conventional Arms Threat Reduction (ISN/CATR): Leads USG efforts to curb the proliferation of advanced conventional weapons (ACW) such as Man-Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS), major weapons systems (tanks, aircraft, missiles), sensors and lasers, and precision-guided munitions.
  • Export Control Cooperation (ISN/ECC): Helps other countries improve their nonproliferation export control systems, including directly via the Export Control and Related Border Security Assistance (EXBS) program and by coordinating and strengthening nonproliferation export control assistance efforts of other USG agencies and other countries.
  • Biological Policy Staff (ISN/BPS): Leads USG coordination for the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) and related biological policy issues.
  • Counterproliferation Initiatives (ISN/CPI): Develops and implements counterproliferation efforts designed to interdict or deny shipments of WMD and their means of delivery, to shut down illicit procurement and financial networks, and to promote compliance with UN Security Council Resolutions. Leads Department efforts related to the Proliferation Security Initiative and promoting observance of UN Security Council Resolution 1540.
  • Regional Affairs (ISN/RA): Leads the bureau’s work on diplomatic responses to nuclear threats posed by Iran, North Korea, and Syria. Develops and supports strategic dialogues with India, Pakistan, and China. Pursues regional nonproliferation strategies in key areas such as the Middle East and East Asia (including via the ASEAN Regional Forum).
  • Strategic Communications and Outreach (ISN/SCO): Supports the bureau’s interaction with Congress, the media, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and coordinates public diplomacy and outreach efforts in support of nonproliferation.
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Office of eDiplomacy (IRM/EDIP)

The Office of eDiplomacy (EDIP) seeks to promote the creative and innovative use of 21st-century web 2.0 tools to advance U.S. diplomacy. The office imagines, creates, advocates for, and educates on platforms for working collaboratively and sharing knowledge across all of State’s diverse communities. The Office of eDiplomacy uses innovative new media tools to provide creative, lightweight, and user-friendly solutions that are easily adaptable to region-specific needs and job functions. It oversees creative outreach-oriented programs such as the Virtual Student Foreign Service, the networking site for Foreign Service professionals, Corridor, and the Department’s Innovation Fund for promoting creative, high-impact use of existing technology.

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International Organizations (IO)

The Bureau of International Organization Affairs, domestically and through its seven missions, develops and implements U.S. policy in the United Nations, its specialized and voluntary agencies, and other international organizations. Our mission is to enhance U.S. leadership and influence throughout the multilateral system, advance U.S. interests through multilateral diplomacy, and help shape multilateral institutions into more efficient and effective instruments to meet the challenges of the 21st Century.

  • Office of Economic and Development Affairs (IO/EDA): Ensures that U.S. interests are effectively advanced in negotiations and debates on economic and development issues throughout the United Nations system. In doing so IO/EDA works closely with U.S. Missions to the UN in New York, Geneva, Rome, and Nairobi. IO/EDA core issues include those related to economic growth, sustainable development, financing for development, international development goals (such as the Millennium Development Goals and the post-2015 development agenda), food security, global health and population, the wellbeing of children, and urbanization.
  • Office of Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs (IO/HRH): Advances U.S. human rights policy through the United Nations, including the Human Rights Council, UN General Assembly, UN Security Council, ECOSOC, and across its specialized agencies. IO/HRH also reflects U.S. policy and objectives in the UN’s humanitarian system, which includes the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA); it coordinates multilateral humanitarian assistance and addresses global humanitarian crises, including those caused by political conflict. Through its work with the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR), IO/HRH coordinates multilateral responses to both natural and manmade disasters, as well as efforts to mitigate risks of natural disasters. IO/HRH also coordinates U.S. participation in the UN Democracy Fund, an initiative supporting civil society organizations carrying out democratization projects worldwide that the United States helped to create in 2005.
  • Office of International Conferences (IO/C): Accredits, instructs, and manages some 4,000 U.S. delegates to almost 400 multilateral conferences each year, ensuring that U.S. Government representation consists of those whose presence and participation reflect the highest possible value to U.S. foreign policy. The dedicated staff of 15 provides preparatory and on-site logistical support for nearly two dozen large conferences annually, and is committed to conscientious stewardship of the resources funded by America’s taxpayers.
  • Office of Management Policy and Resources (IO/MPR): Develops, coordinates, and implements U.S. policies within the UN system and in a broad range of non-UN organizations as they relate to financial, budgetary, administrative, and management issues. IO/MPR also promotes U.S. citizen employment in international organizations through public outreach and diplomatic engagement.
  • Office of Peace Operations, Sanctions & Counter-terrorism (IO/PSC): Leads the coordination and formulation of U.S. policy on UN peacekeeping operations, UN Security Council sanctions, and UN counter-terrorism activities. This includes active engagement on issues ranging from protecting civilians from lethal violence to counter-terrorism sanctions.
  • Office of Public Affairs, Planning, and Congressional Outreach (IO/PPC): Advances U.S. interests by communicating with global publics about U.S. priorities in international organizations, supporting outreach to Congress on U.S. multilateral activities, furthering the effectiveness of international organizations, and acting as the Bureau’s strategic planning element.
  • Office of Regional Policy and Coordination (IO/RPC): Ensures policy coherence and coordination in U.S. engagement in the multilateral system as a whole, including the UN and regional organizations; supports U.S. engagement in certain global and regional multilateral groupings (e.g. G-7); coordinates U.S. diplomacy on key Israeli-Palestinian multilateral issues; and oversees the bureau’s “Multilateral Moneyball” quantitative analysis initiative.
  • Office of Specialized and Technical Agencies (IO/STA): Handles U.S. participation in over 40 international organizations in order to enhance national security, build economic prosperity, and promote democracy. These organizations include the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the Universal Postal Union) UPU, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UN’s other environmental activities, and the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
  • Office of United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization Affairs (IO/UNESCO): Formulates and implements U.S. policy in UNESCO to contribute to building peace, eradicating poverty, sustainable development, and intercultural dialogue. The office also serves as the headquarters of the executive secretariat of the U.S. National Commission to UNESCO.
  • Office of United Nations Political Affairs (IO/UNP): Provides guidance and support to the U.S. Mission to the United Nations (USUN) in New York on political matters before the UN Security Council and the UN General Assembly (UNGA), and coordinates the State Department’s participation in the annual opening of UNGA.
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Educational & Cultural Affairs (ECA)

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs supports long-term national interest by fostering mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries. Bureau academic and professional exchange programs identify future leaders and build a foundation of trust with current and potential leaders throughout the world. Bureau programs and activities include the Fulbright Program, the International Visitor Program, Citizen and Professional Exchange Programs, English Language Programs, Cultural Programs, Educational Advising, the Humphrey Fellowship Program, undergraduate exchanges including the Gilman Scholarship Program, and teacher exchanges. ECA offices include:

  • Office of Academic Programs (ECA/A): sponsors and oversees all academic programs funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and liaises with the higher education community. Academic Programs is comprised of three offices: the Office of Academic Exchange Programs, the Office of Global Educational Programs, and the Office of English Language Programs.
  • Office of Policy and Evaluation (ECA/P): The Office of Policy and Evaluation includes programs and functions that cut across all ECA programs and exchanges. The Policy Unit represents all of ECA at Department and interagency meetings and discussions, while the Evaluation Division conducts studies and performance measurement of all ECA programs. The Office of Alumni Affairs (ECA/P/A) seeks to engage alumni not only from ECA exchanges, but from other U.S. Government exchange programs as well. Finally, the Cultural Heritage Center (ECA/P/C) supports the foreign affairs functions of the U.S. Department of State related to the protection and preservation of cultural heritage.
  • Office of Professional and Cultural Exchanges (ECA/PE), comprised of two offices: Citizen Exchanges and International Visitors. These offices conduct a broad range of people-to- people exchanges in support of U.S. foreign policy priorities, and reach out to professionals in government, business, education, and nonprofit organizations, as well as high school students and representatives from the cultural and sports sectors.
  • Office of Citizen Exchanges (ECA/PE/C), comprised of four divisions: Cultural Programs, Professional Fellows, SportsUnited, and the Youth Programs. These divisions manage a variety of exchange programs which promote mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries in support of U.S. foreign policy priorities. The programs provide foreign participants the opportunity to enhance their knowledge and understanding of the United States so they can better address the challenges facing their countries, and offer Americans the opportunity to learn about other cultures while sharing their expertise and experience with their foreign counterparts.
  • Office of International Visitors (ECA/PE/V): brings current and emerging foreign leaders to the U.S. to meet and confer with professional counterparts and to gain a more complete understanding of the U.S.
  • Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Private Sector Exchanges (ECA/EC): Three offices for Private Sector Designation, Administration and Coordination and Compliance administer all aspects of the Exchange Visitor Program (EVP) to provide foreign nationals with opportunities to participate in educational and cultural programs in the United States and then return home to share their experiences, and to encourage Americans to participate in educational and cultural programs in other countries. The three ECA/EC offices designate over 1,400 U.S. organizations to sponsor EVP exchange activities in 15 program categories, and monitor the sponsors’ adherence to federal EVP regulations. Designated EVP sponsors include government agencies, academic institutions, educational and cultural organizations, and corporations.
2017-08-08T13:38:07-04:00

East Asian & Pacific Affairs (EAP)

The Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs is charged with advising the Secretary of State and Under Secretary for Political Affairs on matters of the Asia-Pacific region, as well as dealing with U.S. foreign policy and U.S. relations with countries in that area. EAP offices include:

  • Office of Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific Island Affairs (EAP/ANP): informs policy and liaises with U.S. Embassies in Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific nations Papua New Guinea, Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Tonga and Tuvalu.
  • Office of Chinese and Mongolian Affairs (EAP/CM): informs policy and liaises with U.S. Embassies and constituent posts in China and Mongolia.
  • Office of Regional and Security Policy (EAP/RSP): provides the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs with expertise on and coordination of a broad spectrum of functional, global, and trans-border issues pertaining to the Asia-Pacific region.
  • Office of Public Affairs (EAP/P): responsible for and coordinates the bureau’s media engagement and domestic public outreach.
  • Office of Japanese Affairs (EAP/J): is responsible for U.S. policy with Japan, and liaises with the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo.
  • Office of Mainland South Asia Affairs (EAP/MLS): informs policy and coordinates with U.S. Missions in Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam.
  • Office of Maritime South Asia Affairs (EAP/MTS): informs policy and coordinates with U.S. Missions in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Timor-Leste.
  • Office of Korean Affairs (EAP/K): is responsible for U.S. policy toward North and South Korea, and liaises with the U.S. Embassy in South Korea.
  • Office of Public Diplomacy (EAP/PD): integrates public diplomacy planning, programming, and evaluation into the overall work of the EAP Bureau.
  • Office of Multilateral Affairs (EAP/MLA): coordinates policy and liaises with Asia-specific multilateral organizations including ASEAN, CSCAP, and ARF.
  • Office of Taiwan Coordination (EAP/TC): responsible for U.S. policy to Taiwan and liaises with the U.S. Interest Section in Taiwan.
  • Office of Economic Policy (EAP/EP): supports bureau leadership in advancing U.S. economic, trade, security and public health interests in the Asia-Pacific region.
  • Office of the Executive Director (EAP/EX): responsible for resource management, human resources, and other executive functions for the bureau.
2017-08-08T13:32:57-04:00
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