ARKANSAS AND THE UN
In 2024, Arkansas companies secured
From agricultural innovation to disaster resilience,
Arkansas plays a dynamic role in international cooperation.
Economic Impact
Arkansas businesses contribute to UN missions worldwide, producing everything from agricultural equipment to logistics services. In 2024, firms across the state secured more than $69,000 in UN contracts, supporting food delivery, shelter construction and clean water programs. Little Rock companies have aided UNDP’s rural electrification efforts, while Delta-based supply chains support World Food Programme (WFP) operations in Africa and Asia.
Agriculture and Food Security
The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture partners with the Food and Agriculture Organization on climate-smart farming, water management and nutrition policy. Arkansas rice has been distributed by WFP in regions facing famine, while UN-backed initiatives in regenerative agriculture and pest control mirror the state’s extension and research priorities.
Disaster Relief and Humanitarian Response
Arkansas National Guard and Air Force units have provided transport and logistics in UN-endorsed missions from Haiti to Africa. Camp Robinson in Little Rock serves as a hub for humanitarian training, and Arkansas contractors supply temporary shelters and water purification systems to UN agencies. The state’s hard-won experience with floods and tornadoes also informs UN risk reduction and early warning frameworks.
Trade and Global Market Access
Though landlocked, Arkansas depends on UN-affiliated trade rules to move its poultry, soybeans and timber abroad. International standards set by the IMO and WTO help shippers navigate customs and safety protocols, while the Port of Pine Bluff and barge networks feeding the Mississippi ensure Arkansas goods reach markets in Europe, Asia and Latin America.
Public Health
Arkansas’s health systems benefit from WHO coordination on outbreaks from COVID-19 to tuberculosis. The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences hosts global research partnerships and physician training programs, advancing evidence-based practices worldwide. The Arkansas Department of Health also works within WHO-aligned frameworks to strengthen disease detection and response.
Education and Global Citizenship
Arkansas students are active in Model UN and UNA-USA programs, while universities host conferences and global development seminars. Through the Fulbright Program — founded by Arkansas Senator J. William Fulbright — thousands of scholars from around the world continue to study and teach in the U.S., cementing Arkansas’s legacy in diplomacy and exchange.
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.