Young Professionals for Sustainable Development Goals
Seminar Series

A joint program of the United Nations Association, San Francisco Chapter (UNA SF) and the  University of San Francisco Master of Arts in International Studies Program (USF MAIS)

YPSDG Website Impge Fall 2019 (1).jpg

If you would like to learn more about the program to decide if it’s right for you or to offer a similar program through your organization, you can download the latest version of the program toolkit available under the Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0) license.

Overview

Young Professionals for Sustainable Development Goals Seminar Series is a professional development program for young professionals looking for opportunities to align their careers with the UN Agenda 2030 or make a career transition to a different sector or industry while focusing on some or all of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This program has been offered in San Francisco at the historic War Memorial Veterans Building where the UN Charter was signed in 1945. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this time we are offering a unique opportunity for young professionals across the world to experience this program online at a reduced registration fee.

Time commitment: 45-135 hours
Reduced registration fee: $150 (full and partial scholarships are available)
Session dates for Fall 2020: September 5,  October 3, November 7, December 5
Application form: https://goo.gl/forms/sKXtojJSxdn7DGLV2

This program was first offered in 2018. Participants included Global Disaster Response and Relief Lead from a top-tier tech company aspiring to work for the United Nations, a recent graduate of a Masters Program in Public Policy looking for a position in Corporate Social Responsibility, a healthcare professional planning to start her own nonprofit, and other talented and highly motivated young professionals with diverse backgrounds and a shared passion for creating a better world.

Most of the participants reported that making useful professional contacts with mentors and panelists, building long-term peer support relationships, learning about relevant networks and opportunities, and feeling supported, inspired, and more confident integrating UN SDGs into their work as hallmarks of the program that they found genuinely helpful. The overwhelming majority of past participants gave the program the score of 8-10 out of 10 for being extremely helpful for their personal and professional development.

Program Format

Taking the present uncertainties in public health in San Francisco into consideration, the program format of the Fall’20 session will be completely online. We had to transition our last cohort from in-person to online in a very short notice as the COVID 19 crisis unfolded in San Francisco rapidly. In the online sessions that we’ve hosted since sheltering in place began, we found participants engaged, eager to learn, connect, and find new ways to support their peers virtually. We are confident about being able to co-create a similar wonderful and engaging  experience for the next cohort as well.

Program Structure & Objectives

The program consists of 4 monthly virtual sessions, 3 cohort-wide check-in calls, and 30+ hours of self-study. Through panel discussions, a dialogic process called World Café documented with the Collective Narrative Methodology, and curated self-study and peer learning participants deepen their understanding of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, explore possibilities to contribute to UN Agenda 2030 in different sectors and industries, work on developing the right mindset and the appropriate skills to contribute to real change, learn about relevant tools, resources, and networks, and develop a relationship with a mentor who is well-positioned to support specific career aspirations of the mentee.

Mentoring

Past participants in San Francisco were mentored by Mark Ward, a former Senior Advisor to the head of the UN Mission in Libya, Kate Arcieri Walter, Senior Foreign Policy and Diplomacy Services Officer at the Consulate General of Canada in San Francisco, Mary Elizabeth Steiner, President of the United Nations Association of the USA, San Francisco Chapter, and Dr. Marco Tavanti, Director of Nonprofit Administration at the University of San Francisco among others. We work with each participant individually to find an appropriate mentor based on the specific background and career aspirations. 

Additional Training

There will be an optional opportunity for additional training in World Café facilitation and Collective Narrative Methodology. Such participants will be called Hosts-In-Training and they will participate in the planning and facilitation of program sessions. This additional training requires a 90-hour commitment to participate in Zoom calls, study training materials, process data harvested from program sessions to create collective narratives, communicate with internal and external stakeholders and co-facilitate World Café dialogues at program sessions.  This is a great opportunity for young professionals to get leadership experience, receive professional recommendations from the Program Director, and get this training acknowledged on their certificates of completion. Hosts-In-Training will be appointed after the first session of the program through a collaborative process.

Admission Process

We admit candidates on a rolling basis. Strong applicants are invited to have a 30-min video call with members of the Hosting Team. Additional interviews may be scheduled if the Hosting Team decides that it would help with the evaluation of a specific candidacy. Admission decisions are made by the Hosting Team and confirmed by the President of the United Nations Association, San Francisco Chapter and the representatives of the University of San Francisco Masters of International Studies Program and are typically communicated within 2-7 days after the interview. Strongest candidates receive an admission letter, candidates who are not considered a good fit receive a rejection letter, and other candidates are put on waitlist. If the class is not full before August 20th, 2020, the remaining slots will be offered to the strongest candidates from the waitlist.

Admission Criteria

Our Hosting Team works on creating a balanced class of up to 25  participants to maximize the benefits of peer learning and peer support in the program. We are looking for candidates who:

  • Are passionate about building a better world in alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (alignment of passion).

  • Demonstrate the potential for leveraging the program to significantly increase their tangible contribution towards the SDGs (alignment of aspirations).

  • Are seriously committed to completing the program and co-creating a great program experience together with their fellow participants and the Hosting Team (alignment of priorities).

Certificates

Participants who attended all 4 sessions and successfully completed all program assignments receive certificates of completion from the United Nations Association of the USA, San Francisco Chapter (UNA SF) and the University of San Francisco. Hosts-In-Training have their facilitation training mentioned on their certificates.

Scholarship opportunities

  • Fee waivers for qualifies past participants (must apply before August 1st, 2020)

  • Full scholarships for veterans of US armed forces (must apply before August 1st, 2020, subject to availability)

  • 50% scholarships for students/alumni of the University of San Francisco (must apply before August 1st, 2020, subject to availability)

  • Full and partial scholarships for regular candidates (must apply before August 1st, 2020, subject to availability)

  • Total amount of fee waivers and scholarships granted cannot exceed $750

  • Fee waivers to qualified past participants will be granted on August 1st, 2020 on a first come first serve basis

  • Full and partial scholarships that are still available after fee waivers are granted will be offered to admitted veterans and USF students on a first come first serve basis (based on the date and time of the application).

  • Full and partial scholarships requested by other app

  • licants will be granted on a first come first serve basis (based on the date and time of the application) if scholarships are still available after August 10th, 2020.

  • All scholarship recipients must be admitted through the standard admission process to qualify; waitlisted candidates are not qualified for scholarships

Sponsorship opportunities: if your organization would like to sponsor additional scholarships, please contact us at una.usa.sf@gmail.com.

What Participants Say

Participants of the first cohort in San Francisco were asked in a follow-up survey what they would say to their past self who was just considering joining this program. Here are some of their responses:

  • “I think you took a very wise decision to join this program”

  • “I would say it was such a right decision to ‘just do it’”

  • “Absolutely attend every seminar and don't stress about it. It is going to be a significant learning experience.”

  • “Yes, join. An opportunity to learn, connect, gain support, be understood, find a mentor and learn new skills.”

  • “Definitely join the program, you will answer questions for yourself you never even knew you had.”

Session Dates

Saturday, September 5, 2020 | Session 1: Peer Learning & Peer Support Networks for Young Professionals 

Saturday, October 3, 2020 | Session 2: Sensing the Big Picture & Developing a New Global Mindset to Address SDGs

Saturday, November 7, 2020 | Session 3: Skill-building for Young Professionals: What Skills to Have and Where to Get Them

Saturday, December 5, 2020 | Session 4: Where to Start: Immediate First Moves to Shift Your Support of the SDGs to the Next Level