The United Nations tends to create symbiotic chains of events that come full circle. I am a living example of this phenomenon. Without the influence of the Organization, I would not have received the education I now possess. I received a scholarship from the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to study Economics at university in the Ukraine.

I developed an interest in economics at an early age. My brother was an international economics business reporter, writing for internationally-renowned publications like The Economist and African Business as well as The Herald, a Zimbabwean newspaper. He would have me proofread the articles he wrote, and I gained a significant appreciation of how the state of economies can directly impact the quality of life for an individual worldwide.

Having obtained a high quality of education, I came out of school wanting to test my new knowledge at an international level. Of course, the United Nations was the one organization that symbolized everything I aspired to stand for: promoting economic stability and peace worldwide. Today, I am proud to say the Organization that provided an opportunity for me to become more educated is now the entity I work for.

When you work in procurement, you basically find ways to get the best value for money in the process of purchasing goods and services. I oversee seven staff members. We deal with vendors who are not only from the African continent, but from all over the world as we seek out the best products and services to fulfill our current needs at the United Nations. While our primary business is to source vendors, we also interact with other United Nations missions, and build a rapport as we make a combined effort in finding the best bang for our buck.

One of the most rewarding things about working in procurement is you have the ability to re-invigorate a local economy that may be dying. The money we infuse into local businesses provides more jobs for communities. Work is then created for local people who may not have many opportunities. Procurement essentially creates a domino effect by sparking a chain of events that ultimately lead to better local economies. This synergy is constant; the circle is always in motion.

This work can be intense. Working until 3 a.m. to meet a tight deadline, navigating through complex business arrangements with suppliers, and at times receiving the wrong product can definitely create some interesting dynamics in the office. The reward we get, however, when we make our end-users happy is incomparable. Knowing our products are helping United Nations staff members to better serve their people is priceless.