During mission start-up and when United Nations peacekeepers deploy, an important concern is to ensure that we know the various locations of UN camps, the kinds of terrain to be considered in order to effectively conduct patrols, and security flashpoints which may need to be avoided. The detailed maps we produce using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are an essential tool to help the mission deliver its mandate.

I am glad to be able to provide support to the mission as a GIS expert.  GIS work includes various expert functions such as managing advanced technologies using satellite imagery and web applications, which I utilize daily for terrain analysis and incidents reports. The field work is very interesting as I am able to collect data on the ground in liaison with the local population and other key actors.

In 2005, during the start-up phase of the United Nations Mission in the Sudan in Khartoum, I joined as a United Nations Volunteer. This was my first experience in peace operations, and it enabled me to fulfil a teenage dream. Start-up missions offer a really challenging and stimulating environment. You can really make your contributions count. I then became an international staff member and joined the mission start-up team for Darfur in 2009 and Mali in 2013. You have to be prepared to work long hours but it is definitely worth it to see how a mission develops from conceptual to operational phases.

I have also worked at the Headquarters in New York to prepare the reinforcement of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in 2006. I think it is very important to understand how the Organization operates from both a headquarters and field perspective. It is not only a great experience but also an asset to be positioned to better understand the United Nations system. Prior to my current assignment in Lebanon, I worked in the Golan Heights as Officer in Charge of the GIS section. The Middle East is a fascinating region which I have known for some 16 years thanks to both my studies and work. 

I really enjoy my job because it is central to peace operations, especially when security is a significant concern. The information given can contribute to critical decisions on the ground. My role enables me to make three dimensional models and analysis that show the terrain and help the peacekeeper to patrol, providing visibility analysis and coverage of observation points. I make satellite imagery analysis for operations purposes and work with the operations branch and the military information cell. We also streamline services and have developed common applications with UNIFIL. The new web application we developed is now used to report incidents in the mission and provides a good overview of the situation on the ground, which has made this new service an asset to the Organization.