Ms. Annemiek Verduin
New York,NY
Summary
Accomplished Political Affairs Officer with a proven track record at the United Nations Secretariat, adept in diplomacy and critical thinking. Spearheaded strategic reviews and crisis management in conflict zones, showcasing exceptional negotiation skills and a growth mindset. Fluent in multiple languages, including English, French, and Dutch, with a strong foundation in multicultural teamwork.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Political Affairs Officer (P4)
United Nations Secretariat
New York, NY
10.2018 - Current
- Provided strategic and political advice to UN principals.
- Engaged with members of the UN Security Council on peace process and peacekeeping issues and with UN member States on budgetary and other issues, including in the UN Fifth Committee.
- Provided strategic, political and operational backstopping support to the UN peacekeeping operation in Central African Republic.
- Deployed to Central African Republic at the request of the Head of Mission and Special Representative of the Secretary-General to serve in the front office of the Head of Mission to craft strategic approaches for the UN peacekeeping operation.
- Crisis management as required.
Political Affairs Officer (P3)
United Nations Secretariat
New York
02.2015 - 09.2018
- Provided political advice and engaged in strategic communications as a UN official.
- Accompanied UN principals on high-level visits to Central Africa (Deputy Secretary-General).
- Organization of UN high-level meetings in the margins of the General Assembly at the level of head of state.
- Principal Coordinator and lead drafter of the independent strategic review of the UN peacekeeping operation in the Central African Republic.
Special Assistant
United Nations Peacekeeping Operations
New York, NY
08.2013 - 01.2015
- Served as Special Assistant to the Director of the Africa Division in the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations, the lead department in the UN responsible for the missions in the DRC (MONUSCO), Mali (MINUSMA start-up), Liberia (UNMIL), Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), the Somalia planning team, and the start-up of the UN peacekeeping operation in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA).
- Coordinated office operations to ensure efficient workflow. Monitored deadlines and deliverables from various teams across the division, ensured quality control, and served as point person for politically sensitive matters.
- Performed crisis management as required, including vis-à-vis UN principals and member states.
- Handled (strictly) confidential information and politically sensitive matters in a discreet manner.
- Produced high-quality written communication materials quickly and accurately.
- Acted as a liaison between executives and other UN departments within the Organization.
Special Assistant to Deputy Head of Mission
United Nations Peacekeeping Operations
Bangui, Central African Republic
09.2014 - 11.2014
- Deployed to establish the UN peacekeeping operation in the Central African Republic at the height of the crisis in 2014.
- Assisted Head of Mission with daily operations, including deployments to deep-field crisis areas in Central African Republic.
- Set up front office operations and recruited essential personnel.
Special Assistant & Policy Analyst
United Nations Mine Action Service Somalia
Mogadishu, Somalia
10.2009 - 08.2013
- I served in both the Nairobi and Mogadishu (Somalia) offices of the UN Mine Action Programme for Somalia as the Special Assistant to the Director.
- Responsible for crafting the strategic approach for the successful relocation of the UN Mine Action programme from Kenya to Mogadishu, Somalia, as the first UN agency to re-establish a presence since the Somali capital was overtaken by Al-Shabab.
- Acted as the liaison with the UN Political Office for Somalia (which remained in Nairobi, Kenya) and provided political and security analysis on the situation in Somalia, including on Al-Shabab, Somali clan dynamics, and other relevant developments.
- Maintained strict compliance of all UN Mine Action personnel operating in Somalia with UN rules, regulations, and relevant policies.
- Maintained strict separation of effort between project components to ensure staff safety (the humanitarian component operating in Al-Shabab-controlled areas, the component responsible for supporting the AU peace operation, AMISOM, and the component supporting the Somali government).
- Acted as crisis management liaison, including for asymmetrical/IED attacks, and safety of UN personnel in Somalia.
Education
Master of Science - Political Science - International Relations
University of Ghent
Ghent, Belgium09-2008
Bachelor of Science - Political Science
University of Ghent
Ghent, Belgium09-2007
Skills
- Diplomacy, negotiation, and conflict resolution
- Effective multilingual oral and written communication
- Critical thinking and analytical skillset
- Teamwork and collaboration in a multicultural environment
- Problem solver in a crisis and hardship environment
- Growth and can-do mindset
- Fluent in English, French, and Dutch (mother tongue) Basic knowledge: Arabic (continued study), Swahili, and German
Certification
- Design of peace processes and mediation training
- Conflict analysis and scenario planning training.
- Prince2 project management.
Languages
French
Full Professional
English
Native/ Bilingual
Arabic
Limited
German
Limited
Dutch
Native/ Bilingual
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Political Affairs Officer (P4)
United Nations Secretariat
10.2018 - Current
Political Affairs Officer (P3)
United Nations Secretariat
02.2015 - 09.2018
Special Assistant to Deputy Head of Mission
United Nations Peacekeeping Operations
09.2014 - 11.2014
Special Assistant
United Nations Peacekeeping Operations
08.2013 - 01.2015
Special Assistant & Policy Analyst
United Nations Mine Action Service Somalia
10.2009 - 08.2013
- Design of peace processes and mediation training
- Conflict analysis and scenario planning training.
- Prince2 project management.
Master of Science - Political Science - International Relations
University of Ghent
Bachelor of Science - Political Science
University of Ghent
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