Paola Emerson

Paola Emerson is an experienced United Nations professional with nearly 35 years of service in humanitarian, development, and political roles across various global regions. Emerson has been serving as OCHA's Head of Office in Mozambique since 2022. She has held various roles within the UN, including leadership and advisory roles at UN Headquarters and in operational contexts spanning Western Sahara, Angola, the Great Lakes Region, East Timor, Afghanistan, Yemen, Sudan, South Sudan, and Mozambique. Before joining the UN, she worked for non-governmental organizations supporting international education and enterprise development. Emerson, a US and Portugal national, holds a Master’s degree in contemporary Arab Studies from Georgetown University and a Bachelors in Economics from the University of Massachusetts. She is fluent in English, French and Portuguese.