Cherinet Alem Hariffo presenting credentials to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres at the United Nations [X]
Cherinet Alem Hariffo set a milestone by becoming the youngest Permanent Observer of the Intergovernmental Authority of Development (IGAD) secretariat at the United Nations.
Cherinet, 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 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.”
Cherinet Alem is a policy advisor and advocates for 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.
