The United Nations remains one of the world’s most influential multilateral institutions, operating across a wide range of thematic areas peace and security, development, human rights, climate change, education, health and humanitarian assistance. For many students and young graduates, building a career at the United Nations or any other multilateral institution is the most impactful and meaningful profession they may ever have envisioned. However, the U.N. recruitment processes are very competitive and to get your application shortlisted, you have to follow a clear U.N. career pathway including the application system, specific strategies and techniques.
The objective of the event is to provide clear and practical guidance on building a career at the United Nations or working in the areas related to the UN. Our speakers will focus on the step-by-step instructions for applying for the UN jobs or finding creative ways to engage with the United Nations.
Objectives:
- To equip students and early career professionals with practical skills and strategies for pursuing careers at the Untied Nations.
- To provide clarity on different UN career pathways, and how to choose those best aligned with one’s academic background an professional interests.
Key Questions for Discussion:
- How to find a UN career that best aligns with your academic background, skills and interests?
- What are the Do’s and Don’ts when preparing applications for United Nations Positions?
Speakers
Nanaho Yamanaka brings over ten years of work in the peacebuilding, mediation, and women's rights space spanning Somalia, Mali, South Sudan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and New York, and most recently served as the Head of Sub-Office for UN Women in Afghanistan (currently on Special Leave). She previously worked for five years in the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, where she engaged in work on arms sanctions, security sector human rights due diligence, WPS strategies for UN political missions, and support to the executive office of the Under-Secretary-General of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. Earlier, with the Japan International Cooperation Agency, she supported humanitarian programming for Rohingya women in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, and contributed to peacebuilding and transitional justice initiatives in South Sudan.
Ambassador Adela Raz served as the last Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the United States. Prior to that Amb. Raz served as the first female Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Afghanistan to the United Nations. At the U.N., Amb. Raz was the Vice President of the 75th session of the General Assembly, and was also appointed by the President of U.N’s General Assembly to serve as the co-coordinator on COVID-19-related initiatives.
Before her arrival at the U.N. Amb. Raz was the Deputy Foreign Minister in Afghanistan. At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA,) she managed the regional and economic cooperation portfolios and led the two major platforms: the Regional Economic Cooperation Conferences on Afghanistan and the Heart of Asia – Istanbul Process. On behalf of MFA, she helped to manage and coordinate the Brussels (2016) and Geneva (2018) Donor Conferences on Afghanistan and led the negotiations on the outcome documents.
She began her career with the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and for two years she worked with the Central Regional Political Office of UNAMA. She also recently got appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to the Independent High-Level Panel on the Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI) for the 2026–2030 term. The panel aims to provide evidence-based assessments of structural vulnerabilities in developing nations .
Amb. Raz holds a Master of Arts degree in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School at Tufts University, and a Bachelor of Arts, with honors, with triple majors in International Relations, Political Science, and Economics from Simmons University in Boston. She also earned a certificate in International Development from the Fletcher School at Tufts University.
Sponsorship of an event does not constitute institutional endorsement of external speakers or views presented.