ITS GENERAL ASSEMBLY

POSITION PAPER GUIDELINE

Position paper is the first assignment to be completed by the delegates before the
conference began. In short, Position Paper is an “essay” on the country’s perception
on the specific topic in the committee. After being assigned a country allocation,
delegates will receive Study Guides which gives a brief introduction about the
committee and the topic. In those Study Guides will also be included QARMAs
(Questions a Resolution Must Answer). Having known the core of the issue and also
the QARMAs, the delegates must do further research about the specific country that
was allocated for each of them. Delegates must then make an approximately 500-
1000 words of essay as the result.

Usually, a Position Paper consists of three main parts;

- First, the delegates’ general view of the topic.
- Second, the allocated country’s view of the topic; how it affects the country, as well
as previous international actions on the specific topic.
- Third, the solutions proposed by the country and also a general proposal about
what should be done.

The format of the position paper should be:

1. Times New Roman, Size 12
2. Spacing 1.5
3. Maximum of two pages or 1000 words

Below, you can find examples of what a good position paper should look like. Be
mindful that a position paper does not need to include the council’s logo or the
country’s flag like the examples do. You may choose to include or exclude any
additional formatting as you wish.
TIPS
1. Council logo/country flag is not required.
2. Aesthetic enhancement is recommended (such as stated in tip number 1), but
excessive additional designs are not good.
3. Getting to know your country is important. Everything you write in your
position paper must be aligned with your country’s views in real life.
4. Remember the three-component structure of a position paper as stated
above. Then, look at the examples below. See how the examples correspond
with the aforementioned structure.
5. The more you research, the better your position paper will be, and also the
better prepared you are for the conference.
6. Sources are a must. Use citations and footnotes. Remember to evaluate
sources first before citing from them. (ex: Wikipedia or quora is not a valid
source)

ITS MUN CLUB #OptimumEmpowerment

 POSITION PAPER EXAMPLE #1

Democratic Republic of Congo

United Nations Development Programme
Kita Pritasari Arumdati
“Re-evaluation of the UN-REDD: Is the Global South Losing out?”
“Democratic Republic of Congo offers unique inspiration and experiences in the
world, aimed at building a REDD+ model of excellence that truly transforms and
delivers concrete and sustainable results in the fight against climate change and
socio-economic development.”
- H.E Joseph Kaliba, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo 1
The UN-REDD Programme was set up in 2008 to support developing countries in
their efforts to mitigate climate change. 2 The Programme aims to reduce forest
emissions and enhance carbon stocks in forests. After more than a decade, however,
it is revealed that the mechanism of UN-REDD is not so simple. Conflict of interests
and various challenges that were not anticipated rose up to the surface. It seems that
in some places, the UN-REDD fails to reach the core of the issue and carry out its
good intention.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been a frontrunner in working
towards the realization of UN-REDD. We are one of the Programme’s nine pilot
countries and is currently a Partner Country. REDD+ programs in the country have
successfully gone through the stages set out by the UN-REDD Work Programme and
have surpassed the investment phase. DRC has made REDD+ the center of national
development by creating the National REDD+ Framework Strategy. 3 This strategy is
set out to be the basis for discussion, sensitization and dialogue at all levels and to
deploy REDD+ on a large scale.
Our nation realizes that our civil society and indigenous people lies at the heart of
both the issue and the solution. Therefore, our government have established
management bodies that are actively building platforms and working closely together
with non-governmental groups. However, we are aware that this is not the case in
every nation. In some countries there is still a huge gap between the governmental
stakeholders and the community.
From the aforementioned situation, it is clear the the UN-REDD, along with
countries’ REDD+ programmes, need to be evaluated and improved thoroughly.
Observing the situation in our own nation as well as globally, the Democratic

UN-REDD. 2010. Inventing REDD+. Democratic Republic of Congo

1

2
UN-REDD. 2015. UN-REDD Programme Strategic Framework 2016-2020 Draft for Consultation. Geneva,
Switzerland
3
UN-REDD, FCPF. 2012. National REDD+ Framework Strategy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Doha

ITS MUN CLUB #OptimumEmpowerment

Republic of Congo proposes that these following points be inserted and highlighted
in further implementation of the UN-REDD.
1. Involvement of indigenous people
Indigenous people are those closest to the impacts of deforestation. Their
heritage has kept the forests alive for centuries and their contribution play a
huge role in conservation and sustainable management of forests.
Governments should approach and communicate with communities and
involve them in every stage of the UN-REDD, from planning to
implementation.

2. Integrating women’s empowerment in REDD+ programs

Sustainable development requires participation of not just men, but women as
well and that is why the UNDP works to ensure that women have equal voice
and influence with men in public dialogue and decision-making. 4 Integration
of gender-equality into REDD+ will improve development outcomes and
climate sustainability. Women should be involved in four main components of
REDD+:
a) Stakeholder engagement
b) Property rights, land and resource tenure
c) Ensuring ecosystem benefits of REDD+
d) Management of REDD+ funds

3. Better management of REDD+ funds

To raise confidence in national REDD+ systems, REDD+ funds management
should be transparent, equitable and accountable. In order to achieve this, the
following conditions must be achieved:
a) Detailed budget plan and schedule of activities in its implementation
b) Report that describes specific execution of the activities funded
c) Detailed description of additional funds and contribution given
d) Description of how the government of respective countries follows up
REDD+ with related funding from sources 5
The DRC commitment to REDD+ process and the progress achieved since its
initiation have made the country one of the world’s leader on REDD+. We call upon
the international community to approach the issue of deforestation and forest
degradation from an alternate standpoint, learn from experiences and lessons of the
past decade, and create long-term solutions that reach the roots of the issue, to those
who are most affected—the people.

UN-REDD Programme. 2011. The Business Case for Mainstreaming Gender in REDD+.
4

Kipalu, P., Mukungu, J. 2012. The Status of the REDD+ process in the Democratic Republic of Congo. DRC.
5

ITS MUN CLUB #OptimumEmpowerment

 POSITION PAPER EXAMPLE #2

Japan
United Nations Development Programme
“Aura Fadzila Means of Succeeding
Sustainable Development Goals”
The Millennium Development Goals were first established in 2000, as a means to help
improve the betterment of the international community, and was given a time frame until
2015. The problem that we are facing in the status quo today is upon the fact that we have
arrived at 2015, yet a major effect of MDGs has yet to be seen. This brings us to the issue of
the proposal of Sustainable Development Goals as the “improved” version of MDGs.
Therefore, it is no longer relevant to discuss the effectiveness of SDGs or MDGS, but rather
on the topic on how to succeed SDGs through an innovative financial proposal for post-2015
era.

Japan has been supportive of UNDP projects since 1954, aiding and assisting through
technological support and also financial aid. In the time of 2000-2001, Japan was accounted
for as the largest financial supporter of UNDP by donating over $100 million or 15.8% of the
total funds. Japan has established a much-cherished relationship with UNDP itself, as a
means to raise awareness of the need of developing countries everywhere.

Upon the issue of raising incentive of the developed nation, it would be in the international
community’s best interest to allow itself to be guided by the UNDP in appointing a developed
country to donate towards a certain developing countries, therefore eradicating the apparent
partial feelings of the developed countries in giving aid. The focus should not only be
distribution inside the developing country itself, but also when the countries are dividing the
aid itself. Which is why Japan believes that initiating a buddy system would be a suitable
solution to this problem, with countries such as USA, UK, and also Japan, be appointed
developing and underdeveloped countries to distribute aid to therefore each of the countries
in need get a slice of assistance.

Another main focal point of failure of the MDGs is on how several countries have difficulty
prioritizing between regional and international issues, therefore leading to distinctive
solutions. The necessity of guidelines must be brought out by the General Assembly as means
to sort out and arrange which issues must be tackled with first and means of solving these
conflicts. The terms of the guideline must be agreed upon all the participants Japan United
Nations Development Programme Aura Fadzila Means of Succeeding Sustainable
Development Goals 30 taking part in MDGs and despite being unbinding, must be
demanding and strongly advised to obey.

Means of terms and conditions on the loans itself is still something that will be comprisable,
as we feel that an excessive aid system is rooted inside the lack of incentive from developed
countries. This incentive must be planted and needs to point out on the fall of these
developing countries could lead to the fall of developed countries, which the balance of the
world depends on the contribution of all nations present in the United Nations. Aid and the
terms that come with it must be approved by both sides, and also overseen by the United

ITS MUN CLUB #OptimumEmpowerment

Nations Development Program. This gives the assisting country a means to have money come
back to them, and also a means so the developing countries accepting it will not be overly
dependent towards aid and actually put an effort into paying the developed countries back.

In result, Japan calls upon all the nations to be able to push aside our differences and work
towards the best solutions for the mutual issues we all have today. Despite the fact that many
countries work in its own interest, Japan believes that to reach the ultimate goal of fulfilling
the past MDGs and also the future SDGs, lies upon the shoulders of the entire international
community. We all must work collaboratively for a better world, which will lead to the
betterment of each country itself.

ITS MUN CLUB #OptimumEmpowerment