Germán has nearly a decade of experience working with civil society organizations, local governments, and the private sector in Latin America, USA, Europe, Middle East and Africa. Germán focus has been on developing the institutional capacities of civil society organizations and government institutions to create advocacy platforms for resource mobilization and policy dialogue. Previously, he served as UN Volunteer, Projects & Advocacy Officer for the UNV Support Office at the UN Mission in Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT).

Germán holds a Masters of Science in Peace Operations (focus on Political and Social Reconstruction) from George Mason University’s School of Public Policy (USA), and a Bachelor’s in Arts in Political Science and International Relations from Pacific Lutheran University (USA). He has also participated in several other trainings at American University, the UN Institute for Training and Research and the UN Logistics Base. Germán has been the Programme Officer for the United Nations Volunteers programme in Sudan since 2011 and is a citizen of Mexico.

Photo: Germán, during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Darfur.

What motivated you to apply to the UNV programme?

I have been very lucky. I come from a low-middle class family in northern Mexico and many people and institutions have made a difference in my life. I feel it is my time to give back to society; and for me, UNV represents one of the best platforms to reach out at the grassroots and the policy level.

Could you describe (in a few sentences) a typical day at work?

There is nothing typical. Days should have more than 24 hours. We like to run the UNV Field Unit in “campaign style”: planning and obtaining weekly results on our desired monthly outcomes. As PO, I assess potential opportunities inside and outside UN, design peace/development interventions, seek funding, create partnerships, monitor programme implementation, and produce advocacy materials such as photo-stories to share our work. Then, if we identify another potential opportunity, we repeat the process again. At the moment, we are working in about five different national initiatives in addition to our local activities. So, every day is different, and this is perhaps what makes my assignment very interesting. Our team’s challenge is to empower the ones who empower others.

What has been your biggest challenge?

The empowerment of the ones who empower others is the greatest challenge. It is extremely difficult. We have to increase their comfort level managing the requirements of the project/initiative within a specific time frame. Once you reach a specific level of team empowerment, then it is possible to engage in institutional capacity building for advocacy purposes.  Ultimately, our goal is advise other units/programmes and our local partners on the creation of platforms for citizen engagement. In my view, happy team members perform best, and happiness is based on the results achieved for personal, professional and team growth. That’s the formula for empowerment.

What professional competencies have you gained in your assignment and how will this be of benefit to your future?

Building trust for partnerships and empowering others to manage performance with the highest standards of integrity and client satisfaction in conflict/post-conflict environments. While this might sound like a cliché, those competences represent the core and the principles of our functions as the UNV Field Unit. Those principles govern our interaction with the Sudanese people, our local partners and the UN System in Sudan. As most of my experience has been in Washington DC, the competences I have developed here would allow me to be a part of a team managing a larger portfolio in the field or working on policy analysis bringing my field experience to bear.  

What advice would you give to someone who is interested in being a UNV PO?

I would tell them not to forget that a major part of your role is to inspire others by your actions. People will come to you for encouragement, and you must find a way to channel their energies in action.  Eventually, the results of their actions will inspire others. Our ultimate goal is for people to act and advocate on their own behalf, and this is something you must be interested in to be a successful UNV PO.  Your team in the field and in UNVHQ are your support system: listen to them, care for them. Let your mind and heart guide you in your actions.

About Sudan…

The UN Country Team (2012) identified five areas to address within Sudan’s complex mix of aid requirements, that includes humanitarian response, early recovery stabilization and development. First and foremost is the overarching need to consolidate peace and stability. Second is the improvement of governance to ensure a more accountable and responsive State to the needs of its citizens. Third is the strengthening of the essential health, nutrition, education and other services, which have suffered from long-term underinvestment. Fourth is the development of a private sector that is better protected from fluctuations and provides equal opportunities for new young entrants to the job market, and for women. The final challenge is to manage conflict over scarce national resources amid the increasing threat of climate change and disaster risks.

Read about UNV PO Maria Oset Serra's biography.