Arora Akanksha is a United Nations financial auditor who ran for Secretary-General of the U.N, a role no woman has ever held before. She is also the youngest candidate in history.
Read MoreUN Policy Officer and Climate Specialist Emily Fraser shares insights and lessons learned from her impressive career in International Affairs, which has involved working in several roles across the UN system and driving forward science-based policy and decision making.
Read MoreRukaya has worked for over 15 years in programming and policy support. Her extensive experience covers the topics of women economic empowerment, gender responsive peacebuilding and humanitarian action across Ghana, Liberia, South Sudan, Kenya and UN Women headquarters in New York.
Read MoreDr. Maria Neira, an award-winning medical doctor, has pursued field work and worked closely with health ministers in developing countries. She is now a Department Director at the World Health Organization and focuses on the health effects of air pollution.
Read MoreClare Hutchinson has long been a champion for women’s issues, working with women’s groups for many years and supporting projects for women’s empowerment across a broad spectrum. She worked in the burgeoning ICT industry as a communications expert for internet start-ups and led projects that helped women and young people to utilise technology effectively. She continues to support women-specific technology projects and to mentor young women in the exploration of non-traditional skills.
Read MoreGioconda is a Programme Manager at WPL. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts at the University of Notre Dame in the U.S. with a double major in Economics and Peace Studies. She pursued her Master of Arts in Conflict Studies and Human Rights at Universiteit Utrecht in the Netherlands. She has worked for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in two field offices and one coordination hub. She is the co-author of three studies concerning the fulfilment of children’s rights and has produced more than 10 research studies for UNICEF, WHO, Plan International, among others.
Read MoreLaurel Hart spoke to Women in Foreign Policy about how she found her passion in atrocity prevention, global trends in international organisations and the necessity of putting yourself out there to reach your goals.
Read MoreFrom USAID to World Bank, Charlotte V. McClain-Nhlapo looks back at her work on disability-inclusive development & shares her advice to apply at World Bank
Read MoreFind out how Polina Levina Mahnad got jobs at the ICC and the UN reporting on Human Rights in Syria and then Ukraine after graduating from the LSE.
Read MoreYassamin Ansari talks to Isabela Barriga about being at the heart of the UN climate negotiations.
Read MoreMoved by her commitment to furthering human rights worldwide, Diana Carolina Prado Mosquera left her native Colombia to work on LGBTI rights in Geneva at the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association. She talked to Lauren Chaplin about deciding to become a lawyer, the intersectional elements she's had to deal with in her career and her work with the Human Rights Council.
Read MoreBefore Christmas, Lucie Goulet interviewed Ambassador Samantha Power's senior policy advisor at the UN Lauren Baer. A political appointee, Baer was about to leave her job. She shared her fears and hopes for LGBTQ+ rights under the new administration, explained her journey to working at the UN and why it's important for queer people to be visible and out.
Read MoreWhy did you decide to get into the humanitarian field?
My interest in this field started at a very young age. My family and I were refugees from Sierra Leone, and we moved from there to the UK in 2000, which is when we applied for asylum. I was a refugee, so I’ve always had an interest in these issues.
Read MoreWhat do you do for UNICEF Indonesia?
I am working for the Child Protection cluster. My work revolves around efforts to eliminate any types of violence against children in Indonesia. I am mainly assigned to look into child marriage, which is a cross-section issue. Child marriage cannot be seen only as child protection issue (as how UNICEF defines it); it is also linked to education, health, and gender equality – which makes it a fascinating subject to analyse. I also handle some projects related to other issues such as violence against children, social welfare and juvenile justice.
Read MoreYou are a Public Information and Reporting Officer for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in South Sudan. What does that entail?
My job is to inform people about the humanitarian situation in South Sudan and the devastating impact that war, displacement, hunger and disease is having on people here. In practice, that involves briefing journalists; writing reports, press releases and editorials; reaching out to the public on social media; and supporting fundraising and advocacy by making sure the right people have access to good information about the crisis, when they need it.
Read MoreYou are a PAX representative to the United Nations (UN), focusing on the protection of civilians in Syria, Iraq and South Sudan. What does that entail?
I was hired in 2012 to open the New York advocacy office for PAX, a Dutch peace organisation that works in 15 conflict areas around the world. I translate our local civil society partners’ activities into policy recommendations at the UN.
Read MoreWhat do you do as Executive Director for the United Nations Association - UK?
UNA-UK’s mission is to build support and momentum for an effective UN. The biggest problems we face don’t respect borders. Our lives are influenced by what happens in other countries and they are affected by our choices, as voters and consumers. We need to recognise we are global citizens and invest in global solutions and institutions. My role is to inspire and support my brilliant team in making that case.
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As Head of Communications and Chief Spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), I lead communications efforts around the globe and serve as chief spokesperson. Operating in 120 countries, UNHCR provides help and shelter for over 30 million people who have fled wars and persecution. In my role, I have introduced strategic and crisis communication planning designed to have more impact on the varied audiences, which include media, donors, governments and refugees themselves. I also direct global advocacy campaigns with a strong emphasis on social media.
Read MoreI oversee all external communications for UNICEF Burundi, so I act as a spokesperson and facilitate media visits to UNICEF projects. I also oversee all of our social media. The third pillar of my job is an especially exciting one and has to do with child participation and youth advocacy. In Burundi, children make up the majority of the population, but are among the least quoted in the media. So in order to amplify children’s voices and enable them to advocate for their rights, we run a child journalist programme, in which children in Burundi are trained in basic journalism techniques, conflict-sensitive reporting and child rights. These children then lead child-centred programming on radios stations that have signed partnerships with UNICEF and regularly participate in youth exchanges and social media initiatives.
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