The Expert Take

From deminers to military gender advisors, environmental engineers to human rights monitors, and cybersecurity analysts to mediators, it takes a diverse team with a wealth of expertise to lead the work of a large international organization like the United Nations in supporting countries and communities as they pave their way to lasting peace.

The Expert Take series looks at the UN’s value and legacy over the last 80 years, through the lens of people committed to helping others navigate the challenging transition from conflict to peace and security. Sharing their vision, aspirations, and solutions, they draw directly from their lived experience of the many complex realities on the ground.

Portrait of Caroline Ziadeh

Caroline Ziadeh: Peacekeeping is not just about presence; it is about purpose

In this Expert Take, Caroline Ziadeh, Head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) reflects on the challenges and quiet successes of peacebuilding since taking up the role in 2019. Drawing on her extensive career in post-conflict diplomacy—including her time as Lebanon’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN—Ziadeh emphasizes the importance of community-led initiatives, the inclusion of women and youth, and trust-building across Kosovo’s divided society.

As she concludes her tenure, Ziadeh calls on the next generation of peacebuilders to embrace patience and purpose, reminding us that lasting peace often begins at the margins, not in the spotlight.

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Portrait of Violet Nasambu-Lusala

Violet Nasambu-Lusala: Inclusion is not just a strategy, it's a responsibility

The UN Interim Security Force in Abyei (UNISFA) was established in 2011 to monitor the volatile border between Sudan and South Sudan. In a region the size of Jamaica, home to diverse communities like the Dinka Ngok and Misseriya, UNISFA's mandate is to protect civilians, deliver humanitarian aid, and provide security where no formal police structure exists.

In this interview, UNISFA’s former Police Commissioner, Violet Nasambu-Lusala from Kenya, who was one of the first senior-level women to serve in the peacekeeping mission, sheds light on the vital role of community engagement in her people-centered policing model.

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Portrait of Lesego Chombo

Lesego Chombo: My youth is my superpower

Today's youth generation is the largest the world has ever seen. Half of the world's population is under 30 and this is expected to reach 57 per cent by the end of 2030. Nearly 90 per cent of the world’s youth live in developing countries. They are often the majority in conflict-affected areas.

However, this demographic reality is starkly contrasted by political representation. Youth make up only 2.6 per cent of parliamentarians worldwide and the average age of global leaders is 62. This disconnect is palpable: the 2021 Be Seen Be Heard Global Youth Survey , conducted by the UN Youth Office and The Body Shop, found that 76 per cent of young participants felt their voices were unheard by politicians.

In this Expert Take, we talk to Botswana’s Honourable Minister for Youth and Gender Affairs Lesego Chombo. As one of Africa's youngest-ever cabinet ministers at 26, her journey showcases the immense potential within younger generations and demonstrates how youth can drive significant political change.

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Portrait of Atul Khare

Atul Khare: Peace and democracy can prevail

“In the aftermath of a deep crisis,” says Atul Khare, a UN veteran, “peace and democracy can prevail as long as there is a strong and courageous local leadership, international solidarity… and a Security Council who is willing to act with unity and resolve.”

As the UN Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support, Khare leads efforts to make the organization more agile, effective, transparent and accountable to better support its organizational and operational activities. In this interview, he talks about the importance of multilateralism and global solidarity in maintaining international peace and security in a changing world.

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Portrait of Zainab Gbl

Zainab Gbla: To foster peace and protect the vulnerable

Chief Superintendent Zainab Mbalu Gbla, a Sierra Leonean UN Police Officer who serves in the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei , is a transformative force in one of Africa's most fragile regions.

Joining the peacekeeping mission in Abyei in 2023, she found a land scarred by conflict—a stark echo of her own post-war Sierra Leone. Where others saw despair, Chief Supt. Gbla saw hope. Her unwavering commitment to making a difference in this decades-long conflict zone, especially for women and children, earned her the 2024 UN Woman Police Officer of the Year award.

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Portrait of John Brandolino

John Brandolino: Making our digital and physical worlds safer

In 2024, with over 60 per cent of the global population connected to the internet, the digital sphere is expanding rapidly. This unprecedented digital expansion unlocks vast opportunities, yet it simultaneously unleashes escalating cybersecurity risks. As technology advances, so too do the sophisticated threats that jeopardize our digital safety.

To navigate this complex landscape and safeguard our connected world, John Brandolino, the Director for the Division for Treaty Affairs at the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, explains why the new international UN Cybercrime Convention is vital for global peace and security.

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