IPI’s twelfth annual New York Seminar, Improving the International Response to Armed Conflict and State Fragility, took place at the Tarrytown Estate, New York, on May 5-8, 2008. This meeting note examines the key suggestions that emerged from the seminar, including those on improving the UN system’s political-analysis capacity and incentive and accountability structures, as well as rebuilding trust among member states and harmonizing procedures across departments, agencies, funds, and programs.