In episode 1 of Global Unity Radio, we feature Helene Papper, director of global communications and advocacy at IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development) , a specialized UN agency and International Financial Institution.

The conversation was originally held in a System-Changer Spotlight room hosted live on Clubhouse, as part of the Global Unity club. 

Prior to her current position, Helene has had a nearly twenty year career in peace and security including leadership roles in several UN peacekeeping operations, working from Africa to South America, to the Middle East to the United States and Europe. She kicked off her career as an journalist to then become a foreign correspondent in conflict and post- conflict zones, worked to establish radio stations in Haiti, Sudan and South Sudan as well as  Mali, giving people the chance to have their voices heard, used recognition of local cultures and identities to bring peace to embattled communities, and worked with former child soldiers, training  them to become journalists. She has also initiated a wide varied of innovative approaches through private sector partnerships and collaborated with Lego for instance to help teach thousands of children about the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Helene was nominated by Ban Ki-Moon, former secretary general of the UN to lead the UN information centre for Columbia, Ecuador, and Venezuela. She was  awarded a Rotary International world peace ambassadorship which led her to the University of Berkeley, and has worked extensively on gender mainstreaming and gender-based violence for which she received several Congressional and state awards in Latin America. 

She very much aims to continue being an advocate and leader in the context of women, peace and security.

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System-Changer Spotlight features stand-out change-makers who have dedicated their lives to making an impact. If you know of a change-maker who should be featured, please email us at [email protected].

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