ARIZONA AND THE UN
In 2024, Arizona companies secured
From the Grand Canyon to the U.S.-Mexico border, Arizona’s global connections run deep.
Economic Impact
In 2024, Arizona businesses received $5.27 million in UN contracts, supporting development, health and logistics operations worldwide.
Environmental Leadership
Arizona’s universities are global leaders in climate resilience — a top UN priority. Researchers at Arizona State University and the University of Arizona partner with the UN Environmental Program (UNEP) and the and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on drought, wildfire and desertification studies.
Border and Migration
As a border state, Arizona is on the frontlines of international migration. Local groups in Tucson work with IOM and UNHCR to support asylum seekers with shelter, legal aid and family reunification. Hospitals and nonprofits also take part in WHO-guided cross-border disease surveillance, ensuring public health systems stay prepared and coordinated.
Cultural Heritage
The Grand Canyon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, draws more than four million visitors each year, boosting Arizona’s economy while recognizing the cultural ties of the Havasupai and Navajo peoples. The state also hosts UNESCO Biosphere Reserves such as Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and Sierra del Pinacate, celebrating ecological significance and Indigenous stewardship.
Public Health
Arizona’s health institutions contribute to WHO frameworks on vaccine equity, tuberculosis and heat-related illness. The University of Arizona’s public health school collaborates on global research, while tribal and rural responses to COVID-19 drew on WHO guidance. Tucson researchers also support WHO surveillance of vector-borne diseases like dengue and West Nile virus.
Education and Global Citizenship
Arizona schools and universities foster global leadership through Model UN and UNA-USA chapters. The Arizona Council for International Visitors partners with the UN and State Department to bring global leaders to classrooms. Peace Corps alumni and Fulbright scholars also enrich local communities, underscoring the state’s commitment to international engagement.
Want to work with the UN?
Learn more through the United Nations Global Marketplace (UNGM) —
the official portal connecting companies with UN agencies worldwide.
The UN supports Americans. Ready to support the UN?
The UN makes a difference right here at home. Imagine the impact we can have when more Americans step up. Connect with our sister organization — the UN Association of the U.S.A. — to find a local chapter of UN champions and help strengthen the UN’s work in our communities and around the world.