Guide to Open Agenda

Hello everyone! NGO Forum has a unique format which some of you may not have seen before. Debate time is going to be split between a more conventional debate on addressing the limits on NGOs, and open agenda where delegates will be traveling to different committees. This guide will be on what the chairs are looking for delegates to accomplish during open agenda.

What is Open Agenda? 

NGO Forum's open agenda is similar in format to the Press Corps committees that happen at other conferences and BMUN in past years. Delegates will be visiting different committees representing their NGOs, and will use their own knowledge of their NGO's work, mission, and goals to contribute to debate.

However, just because debate isn't taking place in one room doesn't mean there's nothing to do! Delegates will be accompanied from committee to committee by chairs, and will be evaluated just like other members of their host committees. There are also a few tasks for delegates to accomplish during open agenda.

What are we looking for? 

We are looking for delegates to contribute to the debate happening in the committee they are participating in. There are a variety of ways to contribute. 

First of all, you can contribute to debate by talking about what your NGO has accomplished in regards to the topic and any policy positions it holds. In particular, you should take the knowledge of the limitations on NGOs discussed in the first portion of debate and bring that along with you into other committees! Oftentimes, people just throw out names of NGOs as solutions without thinking about the practical aspects of NGO involvement, such as lack of budget, inability to scale, and restrictions. You can contribute to resolutions, give presentations, and give speeches and comments during debate.

Certain committees will also be hosting panels of NGOs. Each NGO has been assigned a committee where their own mission statements and expertise will be applicable. During the panel, NGOs will present on what they do and take questions from the rest of the committee.

Finally, we want all delegations to write press releases describing what they've accomplished during open agenda. These press releases will be posted online during conference! 

What is Required?

We are requiring that every delegate:

• Give a presentation in the committee they are assigned to
• Each presentation will be five minutes, with five minutes Q&A
• The topic of the presentation is the work that your NGO does that is related to the topics of the host committee
• The goal is for the other delegates of the committee to understand what you do and how you can help them achieve the goals of the committee
• Participate in a panel 
• NGOs are assigned to groups of four to five, such as development-focused NGOs 
• These groups will hold a question and answer panel in a host committee
• Directives
• Every delegation must write at least one directive (basically a mini resolution) to demonstrate that they are contributing to their committee
• Example of what a directive could do: Initiate a letter writing campaign to pressure the countries in the committee to act, hold a day of recognition, ask for more UN support
• Press release 
• Every delegation must write a press release summarizing what they have accomplished during open agenda. 
• Be creative!! Anything goes and we would love to see some out of the box ideas for open agenda.

We will have guides on formatting the above in subsequent blog posts. 

Questions?

Feel free to email me (jqi@bmun.org), or any of the other chairs if you have questions or concerns about open agenda! We know that this may be a new type of debate for many of you and we hope it's an informative and exciting twist on debate that you will enjoy.