Efficient Research

The one thing that trumps eloquent public speaking skills at an MUN conference is research. The
Executive Board takes special note of substance in the arguments made rather than superfluous
speeches weaved to please the crowd. Since there is no way around it, it does a delegate good to
learn the trade of efficient researching for an MUN conference. Here are a couple of flash points to
get you started on research:

1) Know the RoP - If a delegates research is strong but they are not well versed with the rules of
procedure of the conference, their ability to participate in the conference is severely hindered.
Knowing the rules of procedure by heart, and the changes made in them specific to a conference
(according to the discretion of the Chair) is a must for any MUN conference.

2) Read the Mandate - Many a time, the speeches a delegate makes contains issues and suggestions
that are not within the purview of the committee and are thus futile to be discussed in the said
committee. It is advisable to read up on the committees functions, provisions, mandate and powers;
especially the Charter of the UN.

3) Identify Ally Nations - Research on the issue at hand and recognise the nations that have the
largest stake in the issue, and your own nations foreign relations with them. The geopolitics of your
country decides the voting bloc it falls in. To make use of this, one needs to know the geographical
location of their country, its neighbours, allies, enemies as well as treaties, conventions and
committees that it is a part of.

4) Foreign Policy is Key - Your countrys foreign policy is the central aspect of research for any
conference. Taking a stand on the agenda and supporting other countries at the conference is
primarily influenced by your countrys actual position on the matter in reality. Going against it can
heavily backfire in the conference, if the other delegates identify the factual inaccuracy in your
stand.

5) Strengthen Knowledge of Paperwork -The knowledge of the format of position papers, working
papers and draft resolutions is another thing that a delegate must be equipped with. After writing a
working paper or a draft resolution particularly, it has to be ratified by the Chair.

6) Over time, a delegate may decide to specialise in a certain committee and as a delegate of a
certain country. In such a case, it is greatly useful to document and organise the research that one
does for MUN conferences so that research articles and papers might be used again and adding to
the file may refine and evolve ones research horizon to be employed during numerable
conferences.