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A global, online, participant-led learning event for UN personnel.
This October, we’re trying something different.
The Blue Line UNconference is not a traditional conference with a fixed line-up of speakers and presentations. It’s a participant-led learning event where you help shape the agenda. The day has a clear structure, but the session topics are proposed by the people participating.
Personnel across all United Nations (UN) agencies are invited to come together to connect, exchange ideas and learn from one another. Bring a question. Bring a challenge. Bring something that worked. Bring something that didn’t. Bring a tool, a case study, a dilemma or an idea you want to sharpen.
Instead of following a fixed programme, you help shape the conversations around the questions, challenges, ideas and experiences that matter to you. You can choose the sessions you want to join, move between conversations, and contribute in whatever way feels useful.
There is no pressure to host a session. You can take part simply by joining, listening, asking questions and sharing your perspective.
The aim is not to have all the answers. It is to create useful conversations, learn from each other and make connections across the UN.
Together, we’ll create the conversations that matter.
Why an UNconference?
Across the UN, many of us are navigating similar questions:
- How do we tackle these big challenges, together?
- How do I build real connections when everyone is busy?
- Where can we talk openly about what’s working and what isn’t?
There is enormous knowledge and experience across our community, but it doesn’t always travel easily between teams, agencies and regions.
The Blue Line UNconference reflects the principles at the heart of the Blue Line community, a value-based learning community providing UN personnel with an opportunity to learn from one another, build new connections, and explore shared challenges through open dialogue, fostering greater collaboration across the UN system.
By joining this experience, you will:
- Connect with colleagues across the UN.
- Hear different perspectives from across agencies and regions.
- Pick up practical ideas and tools you can use in your work.
- Get fresh thinking on a challenge you’re facing.
- Share what you’re trying, learning or struggling with.
- Help shape the Blue Line as a community for learning and connection.
How does the UNconference work?
The UNconference lasts 5 hours in total per day and follows a clear structure, but you help shape the conversations.
Get oriented: At the beginning of each day, we’ll explain how the UNconference works and what to expect.
Pitch sessions: Anyone can propose a topic in a short 60-second pitch.
Build the agenda: Together, we’ll turn the proposals into a programme of parallel sessions. If you want to host a session, you need to attend the start of the UNconference, to pitch your session and add it to the agenda. You do not need to remain online for the whole five hours (unless you want to), but you need to be there for the start, and for your session.
Join the conversations: Choose from four 45-minute session rounds.
Move freely: If a session isn’t useful to you, join another. No awkwardness, no apology.
Dates:
- October 21 | 09:00 CEST / 12:30 IST / 15:00 SGT
- October 22 | 15:00 CEST / 09:00 EDT
You will be able to choose your preferred date directly from the Blue Line platform once you complete the sign up process.
UN only.
Being this the first edition, participation is limited to 500 seats. Participant registration will be managed a first-come, first-served basis.
Free of charge.