How to survive UNGA

The United Nations General Assembly is one of the biggest events in the global development calendar, although it’s now as much about the surrounding side events as it is about UNGA itself. There are literally thousands of events happening, and such huge numbers of people arriving to participate that parts of New York City grind to a halt. UNGA is full of opportunities, but it can also feel overwhelming and chaotic. With that in mind, I asked some of my Devex colleagues, many of whom are veterans of the UNGA experience, for their top tips on how to survive it. Here’s what they said: 1. The basics. You’re going to be out all day, running from place to place, and may not be able to get back to your accommodation easily. Wear comfortable shoes and pack the following in your day bag: snacks, a water bottle, a phone charger, a U.S. plug adapter — if coming from elsewhere in the world — an extra battery pack, an umbrella, and a change of shirt. 2. Getting around. Forget taxis, advises Devex Managing Editor Anna Gawel. You’ll just find yourself stuck in traffic — which is fine if you want some time to decompress in the backseat or get some work done, but not great if you need to be somewhere in a hurry. Take the subway or walk instead. 3. Plan your schedule. Check out the unofficial UNGA guide from Global Health Strategies to get a handle on what’s happening — it’s not completely comprehensive but there are currently nearly 500 events listed in it, organized by theme and date. It can be tempting to overpack your schedule and try to do everything, but it works out better to pick a few events that really interest you and stay at them — otherwise, you'll spend all your time running around and will miss out on the networking opportunities that are right in front of you, says Anna. On that note, Google Maps is your friend, advises Devex President and Editor-in-Chief Raj Kumar. Save the locations for events you want to attend in a list — once you see all the pins on the map, you might realize how unrealistic it is! To make the most of the evenings, it’s worth reserving restaurants and scouting out some UNGA happy-hour events in advance, adds Devex Editorial Director Richard Jones. He particularly recommends Goals House’s nightcaps, if you can snag an invite. 4. Expect disruption. So you’ve prepared your schedule — but don’t expect everything to go according to plan. Gridlock isn’t the only disruption you might encounter. Security for the dozens of world leaders who are in town can also lead to road closures and diversions, particularly in the area around the U.N. headquarters. In particular, I’m told, you might want to steer clear of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s security detail, who have a reputation for causing a scene. If you really need to be somewhere, make sure to leave plenty of time — one regular attendee tells me they leave an extra 30 minutes to get anywhere. You might also find yourself temporarily locked out of the U.N. headquarters, even with a diplomatic pass, if a head of state is arriving. Don’t bother trying to argue with the police officers about it, says Devex U.N. Correspondent Colum Lynch, as unsurprisingly, they won’t make exceptions — you just have to wait and roll with the unexpected. 5. Work out where to network. With so many global development leaders and professionals in one place, many attendees find that meeting people is one of the big benefits of being at UNGA in person. You can start by letting people know on LinkedIn that you’re attending, says Richard. Obviously, we think the Devex UNGA summit is one of the best places to go for networking — it’s free to attend and there’s still time to register — but other top locations include Goals House, which is “always buzzing,” according to Devex Executive Vice President Alan Robbins, and the U.N. SDG Pavilion. Even if you don’t have access to all the events, the hotel lobbies and bars at New York Hilton Midtown, where the Clinton Global Initiative meeting is held, and Sheraton New York Times Square, where Concordia happens, are good places to run into people, says Devex Executive Vice President Kate Warren. Also, consider getting a QR code or some sort of digital business card as a “green” way to swap contacts, adds Kate. It is Climate Week, too, after all.