How to Prepare for Your First MUN Conference

Introduction

I clearly remember the first day of my very first MUN conference. I was filled with anxiety, panic, and fear about whether or not I would be able to do justice to my portfolio (And yes I might have even cried in the middle of the committee session)

If you are delegating for the very first time in your life, I am sure you must be feeling all of these emotions too. But let me tell you, it’s all normal. Almost everyone walks into their first conference feeling completely clueless. The only difference is that some people are better at hiding it than others.  Nobody wakes up knowing exactly what a GSL is, how to negotiate, what a moderated caucus is, or how an alliance is formed. We all start somewhere.

But the good thing is, preparing for your first MUN is actually easier than it may seem. You aren’t required to be perfect at everything. You just need to participate confidently. And that’s exactly what this guide is for. 

Today in this blog we'll walk through each and every step that are important to understand the working of MUN and by the end of this blog, you’ll be all set to present your portfolio confidently irrespective of it being your first conference. 

STEP 1: UNDERSTAND YOUR COMMITTEE AND AGENDA

One of the very first and arguably the most important things you need to do as a delegate is understand your committee and its agenda. 

A MUN Conference offers a variety of committees, such as UNCSW, WHO, AIPPM, UNGA, and many more. Each committee focuses on a different area of international affairs and you have complete freedom over what committee to choose based on your strength and likings. 

Once you've selected your committee, the next thing you'll come across is the agenda. In very simple words, the agenda is the central issue or topic that the committee will revolve around and spend time discussing. Every speech, debate, negotiation, and draft resolution will revolve around this single topic.

Let's make this easier to understand with an example.

Imagine you've chosen UNCSW (United Nations Commission on the Status of Women), and the agenda is:

"Ensuring Equal Access to Education for Women and Girls in Conflict-Affected Regions."

Now, your research shouldn't cover everything about women's rights or the entire history of UNCSW. Instead, your focus should be on this specific issue. 

You should focus on questions like,

Why is this issue important? Which countries are most affected? What has the United Nations already done to address it?

The purpose of doing so is to have a clear understanding of your agenda which will eventually give direction to all your future research. If you're not clear about your agenda, you'll end up wasting hours reading information which might not be so necessary. 

( If you're wondering where you may do the research from— don't worry, we'll discuss that too further in the blog)

STEP 2: RESEARCH YOUR ASSIGNED COUNTRY’S POSITION

Once you register in a MUN, you’re assigned a portfolio (also known as country ) based on your preference. Throughout the conference you are required to present this portfolio, not your personal opinions and hence you are required to have proper research. 

Researching your assigned country means understanding its basics like its allies, its policies, official stance on the issue etc. 

To present your portfolio well, 

• look into the steps it has taken,

•  the UN resolutions it has supported,

• The statements your country officials have made

The better you understand your country, the more confidently you'll be able to participate in speeches and negotiations. Alongside you'll not have a hard time answering questions from your fellow delegates 

If you're looking for research website, we'll be discussing them further in the blog

STEP 3: WRITE YOUR POSITION PAPER

The very next step would be to write your position paper. 

Many first-time delegates make the mistake of leaving it until the last minute or skipping it altogether because they think it's just another document to submit to the Executive Board. In reality, a position paper is much more than that. It gives you access to deeper information about your portfolio and helps you do it justice well. 

If you're unsure how to write one, don't worry—we've already covered everything in detail in another blog ( We also have attached a sample position paper and a template too)

Read our complete guide to writing a MUN winning position paper:

STEP 4: PREPARE AN OPENING SPEECH

After most of your research is done, it's now time to prepare an opening speech ( popularly known as a GSL i.e. a General Speaker’s list )

Now, for a first time delegate this part can feel the most intimidating. Standing up in front of the entire committee and speaking out loud can feel nerve wrecking but trust me, having a well prepared speech makes a huge difference 

Your opening speech is your country's first impression. It's your chance to present your country's stance on the agenda, what all measures your country has taken regarding the issue and what possible outcomes your country has had.  However your opening speech doesn't need to include every piece of research you've done— rather just keep the important facts and statistics and make sure its all within the allotted time 

Once you've written your opening speech, you must practice it out loud. Time your speech, work on your pace, impact on key words and lines. Doing all of this before the actual day of the conference helps you build confidence, because the goal isn't to memorize the entire speech rather just ensure that what you're speaking comes with some impact 

PRO TIP 1: Sometimes you're allowed to give your GSL twice, so if you get the chance — bag it. It helps you gain points.

PRO TIP 2: While writing your opening speech, start with impactful statements. For example you may use a statistic, a quotation, etc instead of the basic “ Distinguished delegates and Honourable chair “. Trust me, EACH SECOND of your speech MATTERS.

PRO TIP 3: You may also passively target countries without actually naming them. For example: “ one of the most powerful countries in the world —-------------- “ 

This way you get the idea that i am referring to Russia, however the delegation of russia cannot directly blame my delegation for that because i never really named them. 

PRO TIP 4: Do not cram the entire speech. Instead, make it in bullet points and elaborate these points accordingly during the conference. You do not want your opening speech to feel like a declamation ( coming from someone whose first speech was indeed entirely a declamation )

STEP 5: LEARN THE RULES OF PROCEDURE 

One of the other important parts of delegating for the first time is to know the Rules of Procedure Because if you have good research but do not know when and how to speak, you will struggle to participate effectively. 

The ROPs are basically the rule book of MUN. These ROPs cover everything like; how the sessions begin, how the motions are raised, how speeches are delivered, and all of that.

And the good thing is that you do not need to memorize each ROP step by step. You just need to know the basics and understand the purpose, and you will be good to go.

Your focus should be on:

• General Speakers' List (GSL)

• Moderated Caucus

• Unmoderated Caucus

• Points (Point of Personal Privilege, Point of Order, Point of Parliamentary Inquiry/ Point of information,)

• Motions

• Draft Resolutions

• Voting Procedure

A delegate who understands the Rules of Procedure doesn't just know what to say, they know when to say it. And that can make all the difference during committee sessions.

STEP 6: PACK AND LOGISTICS

The last thing you want is to panic on the morning of your conference because you forgot an important document or arrived late. So knowing what essentials you need to pack keeps you away from such last minute panics

So, below is a checklist of all the important things you would require on the day of the conference 

•  A small notebook and some pens

• Printed research notes or a one-page cheat sheet with key facts, statistics, and speeches

• Your personal water bottle and light snacks

• Laptop or a phone WITH a portable charger 

• Your delegate ID and your placard ( on the second day )

• Some spare cash for travel purpose 

• Registration confirmation if required 

If the venue is unfamiliar, estimate your travel time and reach the venue 30 minutes before the conference begins. Arriving early avoids you from getting yourself in panic mode. It helps you complete the registration process on time, settle in, and interact with your fellow delegates 

Being prepared and having your logistics sorted also give you confidence.

STEP 7: RESEARCH WEBSITES

Now like I mentioned before, research plays an important role while delegating in a MUN CONFERENCE, likewise knowing where to research from is also very important because stating incorrect facts can entirely mess your work up. 

So, below i’ve mentioned few of the best websites to research from

1. UN DIGITAL LIBRARY : For Past Resolutions

2.  OUR WORLD IN DATA :  For statistics 

3. REUTERS : For official News reports and facts

4. YOUR FOREIGN MINISTRY : For official stance 

5. GOOGLE SCHOLAR : For basic yet good research referring officially published research papers

Now that we’ve covered how you may prepare for your first MUN conference, there are some things you must not do as a delegate

STEP 8: WHAT NOT TO DO IN YOUR FIRST CONFERENCE  

1. Don’t stay silent the entire session

Even if you think you’re under prepared, do not make the mistake of not contributing to the committee at all. Make sure to participate, ask questions and be as active as possible. 1 point > 0 point 

2. Don’t shout or scream 

As a delegate you must understand that shouting or screaming in the committee does not get you points. What does is your understanding, smartness and your participation. 

3. Don’t go off topic

Another important thing you must not do as a delegate is go off topic. Going off topic and completely neglecting what your agenda is focusing on, makes you irrelevant in the committee and hence you lose points. 

4. Don’t copy paste your speeches 

If you’re copying your speeches from chatbots, your executive board easily figures it out and hence your country loses its relevance in the committee. Therefore, ensure that you write these speeches yourself with proper research. 

Conclusion

Your first MUN conference isn't supposed to be perfect. Trust me, it's not perfect for any of us. Rather your first conference should be all about learning. You must allow yourself to make mistakes, get called out in the committee, fumble while giving your first speech because all of this will contribute to your growth. This guide is to ensure that you don't walk completely clueless into the committee. The rest comes with experience. So if you have your very first MUN CONFERENCE anytime soon, make sure to enjoy every bit of it, make sure to make many memories and friends and have lots of fun. All the best from us!!!!