A MUN Position Paper, also known as Policy Paper, is a strategic document that gives an overview of a delegate's country position.
A good MUN Position Paper has three parts:
1) Country’s Position on the Topic
2) Country’s Relation to the Topic
3) Proposals of Policies to Pass in a Resolution
The following guide will show you how to write an excellent Position Paper, make the right impression to your chair and fellow delegates while achieving your overt, and covert, goals.
Table of Contents:
• What is a Position Paper?
• The Sections of a Position Paper
• The PREP Formula
• Types of Position Papers
The Purpose of a Position Paper
Show chairs you’ve researched and successfully turned facts into a strong, country-specific case
Make a first impression with the other delegates, to present yourself in the manner you want to be viewed
For you to sort your thoughts and research
Have a fact and example sheet that you know, available to use in speeches
Read what other delegates wrote to best strategize what course of action will get the best majority to pass your resolutions
What is a Position Paper?
A Position Paper/Policy Paper, is a document, normally one page, which presents your country’s stance on the issue/topic your committee will be discussing. A solid position paper has three parts 1) Country’s position, 2) Country’s relation 3) Country’s Proposal
Great Position Papers require research and strategic analysis to effectively convey your countries position. Most MUN conferences require Policy Papers for a delegate to be eligible to win an award. Having an outstanding Position Paper could be the tiebreaker to win an award.
Why is the Position Paper important?
A MUN Position Paper is important for a wide variety of reasons beyond ensuring that delegates do a basic level of research before the conference. Understanding why a Position Paper is important lays the foundation to help you sort your thoughts as well as delivering your desired message to the chair.
The chairs oversee the committee from start to finish and as a delegate, you will want to show consistency with the principles and values present in your Position Paper.
Goals of a Position Paper
1. Show your country’s unique understanding of the issue being discussed.
2. Show your country’s previous relationship with the topic (preferably with relevant examples).
3. Show policies and ideas that your country would like to see in the resolution.
As most position papers are limited to one page, a minimum of one paragraph should be devoted to each of the aforementioned goals, and there should be clear transitions from paragraph to paragraph. The following position paper outline is universal, with options to expand in specific sections if you see it is needed.
The Sections of a Good Position Paper
A position paper is the result of proper preparation and research for your Model UN conference. Once you finish researching, follow the position paper guidelines (the conference should provide you with these). With the formatting instructions in mind, follow the instructions below to produce a high-quality position paper.
Model UN Position Paper Structure
1) How you / your country sees the situation/problem in general
2) Your country’s relation to the topic
3) What you want to pass in your MUN resolution
1) Your Position on the Topic Being Discussed
To answer the question “how to start a Position Paper’, keep in mind that you are not only sharing your position, but also introducing the reader to see the topic being discussed from your eyes.
To establish your position, start with a brief history of the situation / problem the committee will be discussing (How you see the situation / your position on the topic).
Define what you see as the challenge to the global community (or at least what some of them face). Keep in mind that your goal is to meet this challenge by the end of the paper.
Frame the issue to be discussed as something that does not only pertain to your country but, ideally, also the other countries you would want to support your policy.
It helps to keep in mind that you will not get support for your clauses, or pass a resolution, alone. It is only if other countries see the topic the same way you do, that they will want to join you to implement your solution.