Inside UN Bonn

The Malian musician Inna Modja is not only a UNCCD Land Ambassador, but also the protagonist of the documentary 'The Great Green Wall'. She takes us on an epic journey along Africa’s ambitious project to plant trees across the entire Sahel region and thereby hold back the expansion of the Sahara desert. The project, which is now being implemented in more than 20 countries across Africa, is a symbol of hope in the face of one of the biggest challenges of our time – desertification.

UN Volunteers is the second largest UN entity in Bonn and promotes volunteerism to support peace and development worldwide. Meet Shirin Abufannouneh from Palestine who is a UN volunteer and serves in the field of human rights in the peacekeeping mission MINUSMA in Mali. 

In 2021, UN Climate Change (UNFCCC) designated its first ever Goodwill Ambassador, Bonn's Beethoven Orchestra. After reflecting on COP26 and its outcomes with Koko Warner of UN Climate Change, we talk to Dirk Kaftan, the conductor of the Beethoven Orchestra. He tells us how music can raise awareness of climate change and the theme of nature in Beethoven's compositions.

Soon, UN Climate Change staff will move into a new building on the UN Campus in Bonn. The architect of the new building, Stefan Lippert, explains the thought process behind its design and how he ensured that the building will be particularly sustainable.

STER snippet

During this years UN SDG Global Festival of Action, the Stand To End Rape Initiative (STER) won the Mobilize UN SDGs Action Award. Hannah Messenger, Global Events Strategist of the UN SDG Action Campaign and Oluwaseun Ayodeji Osowobi, Director of STER, talk to us about the Festival and the fight against sexual and gender-based violence in eductaional institutions in Nigeria.  

COP26 took place from from 31 Octobre to 13 November in Glasgow. We had the opportunity to talk to a few colleagues at COP26 to learn more about their exciting work ranging from speech writing and social media to climate change adaptation and providing professional safety and security services.

Heidi Nabel-Meyer and Audrey Ewert were amongst the founding members of the UN's very own carnival society. They share what motivated them to start the 'UN Funken', what goes on behind the scenes of a carnival society and how they are making carnival in Bonn more sustainable.

Preview: UN Funken

Billy Offland is a graduate of the University of Leeds. After reading the 2019 IPBES Global Assessment Report, he decided to travel around the world to meet conservationists and raise awareness of their work.