Gaston Djiguemde | United Nations OCHA

Meet Gaston from United Nations OCHA

“From a dream of meeting people, to having a job that brings people together, this is what the Hub has offered me.”

Gaston Djiguemde

Senior ICT Specialist,  United Nations OCHA

Why are you a member of the Hub?

I work at UN OCHA in The Hague and their office is located at The Hague Humanity Hub, it has been here since 2017. UN OCHA is an United Nations organisation responsible for coordinating humanitarian affairs around the world. The Hague office mainly focuses on humanitarian data management.

My job is to connect the data and information between people, automating the process, and streamlining the testing, which needs to be done everyday to make sure people manage to upload or download data during a crisis.

I am from Burkina Faso, and I remember when I was a student, I said that I’d like to work in a place where I could meet a lot of people, like intercultural and international organisations. I like meeting people, talking and sharing information, you always have something to learn from others. I’m quite lucky to be working here, it’s an open place where you can meet a lot of people;

The Hub gives me the opportunity to do it, it’s a dream come true.

From a dream of meeting people, to having a job that brings people together, this is what the Hub has offered me.

What is UN OCHA trying to achieve through its work?

UN OCHA focuses on humanitarian efforts: humans helping humans. The organisation constantly asks how it is going to respond and how it is going to achieve its goals. There are many challenges along the way.

We gather information and communicate clearly by explaining what is happening, what the impact is, and what is needed and where.

Our work also relies on technology, as we have increasingly accurate data and statistics about humanitarian crises, helping us understand how many people died, how many are injured, and what is needed to help them.
Sometimes they forget to bring water to emergencies, and we are the ones reminding them of the needs, quantities, and so on.

What do you like most about your organisation?

What I like the most about UN OCHA is that we work actively for a better world. My work supports others’ work in achieving that big goal. It’s not easy, especially within the current global political challenges.

But being at the Hub, we are supported and connected to an ecosystem of changemakers, a community dedicated for peace and justice right here in The Hague.

What challenges do you face in your field of work?

Our main global challenge is one that many other organisations are facing: lack of resources.

When it comes to humanitarian efforts, you have to act quickly, and mobilise resources. You need to coordinate, you need infrastructure, financial support, you need people to travel. When you have fewer resources and support,fighting calamities all over the world it’s harder.

But UN OCHA is resilient; instead of saying it does not know what to do, the organization stands up and takes action.
It works to make the best out of difficult situations, turning challenges into opportunities to respond effectively. We try to make a sweet lemonade out of sour lemons.

What do you like about The Hague?

In 1982 I heard about the name The Hague, and then in 1985 I said to my mother that I would like to live and work in The Hague. Don’t ask me why.

The Hague has this touch of human freedom. You feel free here. It’s an international city. A lot of UN missions are also based in The Hague. Within UN OCHA we have 100 nationalities!

Recommendations

Favourite place in The Hague: Wassenaar Beach — a place where humanity overcame human barbarity during D-Day.
Book Recommendation: The New Breadline: Hunger and Hope in the 21st century, by Jean-Martin Bauer.

Follow UN OCHA on LinkedIn and check out their website.

Humans of the Hub

The Hague Humanity Hub is at the heart of a thriving community dedicated to strengthening peace and justice. That’s what you read on our website, in our newsletter, and on our socials. But who are the individuals behind the organisations? Behind the initiatives, the research, and the actions striving for a more just and peaceful world?

Humans of the Hub takes you beyond the logos and formal titles to introduce you to the passionate people who form this unique community. It’s not just about the projects or institutions, it’s about the humans who dedicate themselves to peace and justice.