EAST LANSING, Mich. — To celebrate the 65th Anniversary of the United Nations, Michigan State University and the United Nations Association-USA, Greater Lansing Chapter, are sponsoring a special program on October 25 for the MSU and Greater Lansing community.

Keynote speaker Dr. Amson Sibanda, Social Affairs Officer in the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs in New York will present at 10:30 a.m. in the Kellogg Conference Center, Lincoln room. His presentation will focus on the UN's recent study and report entitled "Rethinking Poverty."

Sibanda is a development practitioner who uses training and experience in the population field to address a broad array of social and economic development issues that are at the core of the UN Millennium Development Goals.

The report Sibanda will discuss addresses policies and UN efforts to partner with universities to reduce poverty. The Report has been a foundation for intergovernmental discussion and decision-making since its first publication in 1952. Since 2001 the Report has been prepared on a biennial basis by the Division for Social Policy and Development of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

In addition to the keynote address the program includes a panel discussion moderated by James Pritchett, professor of anthropology and director of the African Studies Center at MSU. Panel participants include experts in food security, climate change and MSU’s liaison with the New Partnership for African Development.

For more information on the Report or Sibanda's presentation, contact International Studies and Programs at 517-355-2350 or visit http://www.isp.msu.edu (http://www.isp.msu.edu).