Sara Nyanti joined the UN during the conflict and transitional governments period in Liberia, after holding senior positions in the country’s Ministry of Health. She started her UN career as a national of her own country and completed it having served in leadership positions in multiple countries, including in South Sudan. In 2024, Nyanti was appointed as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Liberia.

In this episode, Sara Nyanti takes us through her career path, from when she applied to the UN as a national officer to how she took up her last leadership post in South Sudan. She reflects how she balanced her personal and professional life as she grew in the system through personal examples and shares thoughts about UN’s efforts to support staff growth.

Disclaimer: The opinions and memories expressed in the “I Was There” podcast series are those of each individual speaker and do not imply the expression of any opinion or responsibility on the part of UN OCHA.