Page 116 - 80 YEARS OF VOLUNTEER IMPACT WITH FAO

Kamila Novak

FROM UN VOLUNTEER TO

REGIONAL MONITORING AND

PLANNING SPECIALIST WITH FAO

Before joining the UN system, Kamila Novak built a career in corporate sustainability and impact assessment, working
at the intersection of academia and the private sector. Kamila re-entered the international development space in 2020,
when she took on an assignment as a UN Volunteer International Specialist with FAO in Sarajevo.

Joining a small, agile country team without formal FAO representation, she embraced a dynamic and multifaceted
role—one that demanded adaptability, initiative, and a deep commitment to impact. She supported a range of strategic
112 and operational areas, from drafting country programming frameworks to helping secure funding from major donors. “I
was always supported and trusted with exploring new responsibilities and new functional areas,” she explains.

Now serving as Regional Monitoring and Planning Specialist at FAO’s Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia,
Kamila continues to apply her skills as a regional focal point for strategic planning and results monitoring. “I try to
always maintain that ‘country-office’ lens by working towards the overall objective of supporting the country teams in
a timely and most efficient manner,” she adds.

Reflecting on FAO’s 80th anniversary, she notes: “This anniversary is a reminder that real change takes time, dedication,
and collaboration. The UN community is currently going through unprecedented pressure requiring us to stay relevant
and fit-for-purpose, and results monitoring is key to demonstrating the organizational impact to external donor and
government partners.”

Kamila Novak, former UN Volunteer, is now an international
consultant at FAO. [Kamila Novak, 2025]