Conference Preparation

Ideally, a successful delegation begins its preparation in the fall. Delegations should begin by conducting research on the following topics: the United Nations, assigned country, agenda items and committee procedures.

Preparation should also include learning the rules of procedure and practicing diplomatic skills, including public speaking and negotiation. Delegates should work with their country teams to adequately prepared in these areas prior to conference. Working cohesively as a delegation is helpful during preparation and is essential at the Annual Session of MUNFW.

MUNFW requires the submission of policy documents prior to conference. Delegations are required to submit a country profile, policy statements as well as draft resolutions. These written materials provide the basis for delegate evaluation and the certificates presented at the banquet. Pre-conference documents can be submitted through the ‘Submit Docs’ link in the website header.

The purpose of simulating the United Nations is to provide an environment in which participants can better understand the structure and procedures, as well as the process which takes place within the UN. MUNFW, in our continuing effort to provide a better simulation for participants during its annual conference, will conduct evaluations of all delegates attending MUNFW’s conference.

There are four areas in which delegates are to be evaluated: country profile, policy statements, draft resolution, and attendance/behavior during committee meetings. The first three areas compose the Pre-conference Documents each Delegation/Delegate must submit prior to conference. The fourth area, committee attendance/behavior, will be evaluated by the chairs. The chairs in each committee will take role in the morning, after lunch and after dinner.

In addition to attendance at committee meetings, appropriate behavior during the committee meeting is expected and deviations from the norm will be noted by the chairs. If there are more than one or two instances of unacceptable behavior noted, points will be deducted from the Delegation total.

Acceptable conference behavior begins upon arrival at an MUNFW conference. Each delegate is the official representative of an assigned country, a citizen of the country. The delegate should properly represent the country in the work to promote the country’s interests and ideals in the effort to achieve its goals. Each delegate is a thinking, innovative diplomat and should maintain the country’s position, but not be stifled into obstinacy or inactivity. A delegate may bend policy somewhat in debate and bargaining for votes, but should not drastically change the country’s policy.

Debate in MUN is between delegations and nations. While a delegate adds their personality, they are a representative of the selected nation and delegates are dealing with nations. Protocol requires that delegates address or refer to other delegates as the distinguished representative of _____ or the delegate from _____. Policy criticism is addressed to the nation, not the delegate. Derogatory remarks directed to a delegate or delegation are unacceptable behavior for a diplomat.

Rules and procedures are to facilitate the orderly flow of business in a committee, council, etc. Use of rules to hinder this flow, if not in keeping with a country’s policy on the issue, will be called out of order. Attendance at all meetings during a conference is vital to achieving the benefits of the MUN experience.

Pre-conference Documents will be evaluated based on the following point breakdown. Please see the MUNFW Conference Preparation for details. Please see the Conference calendar for due dates.

Country Profile – 20 points

Policy Statement – 20 points/per Policy Statement. Each Delegation must submit a policy statement for EACH agenda item for which the Delegation has a seat. If a Delegation does not have a seat on a committee, a policy statement is not required for that committee.

Resolution – 20 points/per Resolution. Each Delegation must submit a resolution for ONE agenda item for which the Delegation has a seat. If a Delegation does not have a seat on a committee, a resolution is not required for that committee.

At each Annual Session of the MUNFW, the total points possible will vary depending on committees and the number of issues. Scores are averaged. A Delegation must have a minimum of 85% to be eligible for an award. Delegations who successfully meet this evaluation requirement will be awarded a certificate.

By way of illustration, a country with 6 seats at conference could be scored as follows: