Cherinet Alem Hariffo presenting credentials to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres at the United Nations [X]A former refugee in Kenya has made history by becoming the youngest Permanent Observer of the Intergovernmental Authority of Development (IGAD) secretariat at the United Nations.
Cherinet Alem Hariffo, who
presented his credentials on March 7, 2025, to UN Secretary General Antonio
Guterres, was delighted following his journey that led to him achieving this
accomplishment.
“As I present my credentials
as the first ever and the youngest Permanent Observer of IGAD Secretariat at the
United Nations, I am reminded of the journey that brought me here,” he stated.
“From being displaced as a child to standing among senior diplomats,
this is not what I could have imagined seven years ago as a refugee. But here
we are.”
Originally from Ethiopia, he
speaks 11 languages fluently.
Seven years ago, life was
tough, but he never lost sight of his dreams.
While in Kenya, Cherinet used
to stay with other refugees under the bridge next to Lions Place, Nairobi,
before the expressway was built.
During the day, he would sell
boiled eggs in the streets of Nairobi to make a living.
But now, Cherinet is a policy advisor and
advocate specialising in education, migration policy, and youth empowerment.
In his new role at the UN, he will work to enhance IGAD’s
engagement within the UN system, strengthen diplomatic relations and mobilise
resources to address key regional challenges, including displacement,
education, and development.
Previously, Hariffo served as Advisor to the Ambassador at the Permanent
Mission of the Republic of Djibouti to the United Nations, where he played a
key role in refugee protection, children's rights, and education policy.
His work focused on shaping policies that support displaced
populations and strengthening collaboration between member states, UN agencies,
and international partners.
Beyond his roles with IGAD and Djibouti’s Mission, Hariffo also
previously held leadership positions in various other organizations.
As representative and head of partnerships at the Institute for
Conscious Global Change (ICGC), he facilitated strategic collaborations to
advance the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly
in areas of education, climate action, and youth engagement.
He also served as Youth Representative to the UN Economic and
Social Council (ECOSOC) for the NGO Committee on sustainable development, where
he worked on amplifying youth voices in policymaking and advocating for
inclusive global development initiatives.
Hariffo holds a Master of Public Administration from the
University of Pennsylvania’s Fels School of Government, where he focused on
governance and policy solutions for marginalised and displaced communities.
He also earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a
Minor in Legal Studies from Temple University.
