Call for Proposals
Deadline: May 31, 2026
Submit proposals using this Google form
Aim ∙ Scope ∙ Types
We invite scholars and practitioners at the intersection of communication and international relations to submit their
research, communication proposal, or poster/video for the first conference exclusively dedicated to communication around UN system organizations and the issues they seek to address.
Aim
The conference seeks to explore how UN organizations—and their stakeholders—can communicate to strengthen the institutions and advance solutions to global issues.
Scope
We welcome submissions related to all communication aspects related to the United Nations, organizations and campaigns of the UN system, and the global issues UN system organizations address. We encourage submissions that are relevant for UN system organizations, including those with practical policy recommendations. (See examples below, here.)
Type: Paper
Original research that could be published as a paper. The paper will be presented on a panel and circulated among conference participants before the conference.
Type: Communication Proposal
Submit creative ideas about how UN organizations and their stakeholders could communicate.
(See more guidelines below, here.)
Type: Poster / Video
If your insights and ideas can be displayed in a visually engaging fashion, consider submitting a poster or multimedia/video proposal. Selected submissions will be displayed during networking events. (See more guidelines below, here.)
Scope
UN System Organizations
The United Nations and UN system consist of many different actors, including the UN Secretariat, the Security Council, and the General Assembly. It also includes many independent organizations, such as UNICEF, the World Food Programme, UNESCO, the World Health Organization, or the International Atomic Energy Agency. — See UN system Chart for an overview.
Global Issues
The United Nations serves as a global forum for addressing issues that cannot be resolved by individual countries acting alone, such as issues related to peace and security, human rights, and development. The scope of accepted submissions includes all these issues, including those that are addressed through the Sustainable Development Goals (see image, and here). (The UN’s website includes a list of such global issues, here.)
Communications-Related Disciplines & Themes
We welcome submissions related to all aspects and disciplines of communication (see image), provided they contribute to strengthening the United Nations, organizations and campaigns within the UN system, and the global issues these organizations address through international cooperation.
Guidelines for Submission Types
Communication Proposal
Communication proposals offer reflections and recommendations to United Nations stakeholders—such as UN officials, member states, or NGOs working with UN system organizations—on how to address a specific communication issue.
A communication proposal should:
- Identify and analyze a concrete communication issue.
- Highlight relevant research, evidence, or observations related to the issue.
- Present and discuss one or more options that could address the issue, including the expected benefits and potential drawbacks of each option.
- Offer a clear recommendation or suggested course of action for stakeholders.
Communication proposals are shorter than standard academic papers and should be written in a clear, accessible, and non-technical style suitable for non-academic audiences, including policymakers and practitioners.
Poster & Multimedia
Select submissions in the form of visually engaging poster or multimedia presentations (e.g., a short video) will be showcased during networking events (i.e., not during the regular academic panels). If you have a background or expertise in visual arts or graphic design, and your topic lends itself well to visual representation, you may wish to consider this submission format.
Please note that we are not seeking traditional academic posters. Instead, we encourage creative formats that provide insights into the visual aspects of UN-related communication (e.g., branding, graphic design, and visual touchpoints), present UN-related data, systems, and progress in visually compelling ways (e.g., information design and data visualization of the UN system’s work and organizational structure), or offer research insights in formats that are visually engaging, accessible, and compelling.
When submitting your proposal, you may select the poster/multimedia option. We strongly suggest to include a link showcasing the current state of your submitted work or to previous visual work that demonstrates your experience in creating visually appealing materials. Please specify the exact type of submission, e.g., a poster or a video.
If your proposal is selected, you will be required to submit the final submission in a specified format approximately 1.5 months before the conference.
While this option may be particularly suitable for contributors with experience in visual arts or graphic design, everyone is welcome to choose this format.
Submit your Proposal
Deadline: 31 May 2026
(11:59 pm Eastern Time / NYC)
Keep Me Informed
We will keep you posted on speakers and program details.