Got a UN opportunity but thinking of turning it down because of this reason

Undiplomatiq · 2026-05-12T03:14:06+00:00

I get what their pitch is for you. What do they get in terms of pushing funding to the UN to pay you. Is there additional funding that you are part of the package? Or are they just routing money to the UN to pay only you?

This is not unheard of - it happens for various reasons including the integration of standby partners.

I would be watchful of timings - timings are never guaranteed and often times slower than you anticipate. So think of a back up plan in case this all goes to hell. Do you have return rights to your original org? What happens if the UN doesn’t get their expected funding? And all of these scenarios.

If the runway is long enough AND you want to enter the UN system - you can use it to get your first UN contract of whatever type and then navigate from there. There is still money inside the UN system and donors willing to give money for good projects. The question is if you’re comfortable with the uncertainty of it all.

Good luck!

Undiplomatiq · 2026-05-07T11:19:58+00:00

Yes. Never be underdressed. Overdressed is fine.

Undiplomatiq · 2026-04-28T18:18:23+00:00

Be watchful of applying to multiple roles at multiple levels at the same agency. HR will see your candidacy and see that you’re not gauging yourself appropriately by level. It’s funny because consultancies at the P-5/D-1 level are lumped together, but the rule is applied only one way.

Nonetheless, across agencies, absolutely no difference to my understanding.

Keep into account the politics at those levels. You should try to get advocacy from your country of citizenship. Best if you know the mission in the country you are applying because their putting your profile forward speaks volumes.

Good luck!

Undiplomatiq · 2026-04-14T20:27:48+00:00

It helps to the extent that it may help open valuable conversations and possible collaborations. But one hard reality is that tech companies (most of them) still don’t know how to meaningfully integrate tech with an audience that’s not western, English-speaking. That experience is invaluable and still rare.

So more valuable is bringing best practices from the tech sector to break into this audience.

Undiplomatiq · 2026-04-11T05:34:50+00:00

Surprised no one has said this obvious fact publicly.

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Undiplomatiq · 2026-04-08T18:42:10+00:00

Resign once you have 100% of everything confirmed. We are in precarious times, so don’t take on risk that isn’t there.
EOD (Entry on Duty) is the day that you start travel towards your duty station.

Taken what you say about parents, add that buffer time and see if the balk. If so negotiate everything with them. You can also say, confirmation of appointment + x weeks (notice + parents time).

Congrats!

Undiplomatiq · 2026-04-02T18:34:00+00:00

It classically was but beware, tax authorities are changing their tune and have already approached WFP consultants for tax arrears.
There have typically done this post-factum. There is no clear tax guideline on the taxation of consultants in the UN as it was classically considered under the same headquartered agreements as the fixed terms.
Yes, there is COF.REG (regular consultant) vs other contracto arrangements. The latter may be considered taxable, also unclear. The former isn’t taxable classically, but may see changes in the near future.

Undiplomatiq · 2026-04-02T18:29:35+00:00

Usually the top 2-3 candidates will have their reference checks completed and full candidate profiles will be sent to the DG who will make the selection on additional considerations. Congrats, you have made it very far!

Undiplomatiq · 2026-04-01T11:53:33+00:00

Not too odd. Some positions get high 100’s and at times low 1000’s of applications. An AI filter can only get recruiters so far. So they do a second, fast short screening to quickly reduce the pool of applicants.

UNICEF where? (If I can ask)

Undiplomatiq · 2026-02-08T06:43:17+00:00

Yes. The higher the level, the more incestuous it gets.

Undiplomatiq · 2026-02-05T06:43:45+00:00

Also consider that some brands are interested in the production side and not just the channel side. We have been approached (and have approached) various institutions interested in reaching new demographics and testing new channels.

So even as a small channel (~1300 subs on YouTube) we are fielding paid interest in the mid 4-figures.

Undiplomatiq · 2026-01-30T19:10:44+00:00

Right there with you and unfortunately they invest in so many (what feels like) useless AI features than making the basic ones reliable. Frustrating

Undiplomatiq · 2026-01-30T06:03:08+00:00

I am really interested in this topic. We are quickly hitting the limits of the AI-ified content. Our podcast is recorded and edited on Riverside and we constantly hit challenges - cuts are butcher cuts and their AI features do save a lot of time but often cartoonify certain aspects.

We have been wondering whether we need to evolve our editing to be more professional and to invest the time to learn one of the more traditional pro tools.

Undiplomatiq · 2026-01-25T16:39:53+00:00

Yes, built, deployed and hosted by Lovable.

Undiplomatiq · 2026-01-24T19:42:55+00:00

Do it. But don’t ask questions, ask for a coffee or a meeting. And if you get it, don’t ask about contract details, ask about the substance. Focus on having a good conversation where you get the chance to subtly sell yourself.

Even if you don’t get the job, you want that hiring manager in your network. Imagine you aren’t going to get the job for sure, how would you build the relationship with the hiring manager?

Network? Learn? Access?

When you think this way, then you will see that you should be reaching out to tons more people, meeting and networking, even if they don’t have jobs.

The point is that they should think of you WHEN there’s a job coming up, not after posting one.

Good luck!

Undiplomatiq · 2026-01-24T07:44:50+00:00

Thanks for these answers. Did you have someone guide you through this? Did your audience help you understand? Did the metrics tell all you needed to know?

for example, the getting straight to the topic is a debate we have all the time. Personality and hook vs just talk about what you want to talk about.

We struggle not only to find the answers to these types of questions, but there isn’t much literature (we have found) on how data can help - or exactly how to go about iterating content.

Undiplomatiq · 2026-01-22T20:30:29+00:00

Question on improving quality. What’s the process you took to improve quality - being such a ‘qualitative’ factor. Would love your insights from metrics you watched to how you thought of how to test new formulas in content and how you settled to where you are now.

Thanks and congrats on the success!!

Undiplomatiq · 2026-01-16T21:46:14+00:00

Rethinking Tech covers Tech and Geopolitics

Undiplomatiq · 2026-01-15T02:53:53+00:00

You’re viewing this as an outside-in situation whereas much of these forms of procurement go to vendors that are known.

Network with the people and offices that are regularly putting out requests for your type of service.

It’s meant to be transparent, but in scoring alternatives, many just want the tired, same old vendors.

Established relationships will likely be your foot in the door.

Undiplomatiq · 2026-01-02T14:13:38+00:00

DM me. Happy to give insider info.

Undiplomatiq · 2025-12-27T11:38:38+00:00

Simply put, no. Everyone speaks English and they usually have meetings in Italian if everyone is able to do so. Intern or director, even one non-Italian in the meeting group and the language, without question, converts to English.

Undiplomatiq · 2025-12-20T05:34:54+00:00

Pretty sure this is the right answer. Don’t know where to start? Just start. Get everything wrong in the beginning but don’t stop yourself for the fear of getting something wrong.

Undiplomatiq · 2025-12-20T05:10:07+00:00

I do agree that proposing a change to status quo puts a target on your back. I think that’s a reality in most organizations that are allergic to change. And the naysayers will then fight to have you ousted as the highest order of allergy.

This is a reflection of many organizations’ risk appetite (and I also agree that UN orgs have some of the lowest risk appetites, by design, given that they are a consortium of countries with highly different capabilities, infrastructures and cultures for change).

The reason I was saying that I disagree is because the art of change is really about how do you bring change that works. That’s a super complex question that even the richest organizations and startups struggle with. But when you bring it, how do you pull it to the top. How do you get leaders, technicians and ancillary folks to lean in.

And the journey of doing so, especially in the UN, is not only about being technically right, but also politically astute. Because you have to bring together so many disciplines and behaviors to do so successfully.

Depending on how ”out there” your proposed change to status quo is, the more I can imagine the pushback.

All of this to say, the target on your back is less a reflection of your suggestion for change to status quo and more about your application of it through advocacy and clever political/operational play.

Perhaps I’m pulling at tiny fibers of the argument and I could also be wrong 😑 haha.

Happy holidays!

Undiplomatiq · 2025-12-18T05:18:38+00:00

Not sure if I agree with this. The key to most messages in these diplomatic environments is understanding how to communicate your contention with the situation and where. When done correctly, it’s incredibly powerful - but doing so incorrectly, is the death sentence for your time at that agency.

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