On September 22, American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) and the Quaker United Nations Committee in New York announced that Sarah Clarke will be the next director of QUNO New York starting November 1. In this post, Clarke will lead QUNO’s work with UN agencies, multilateral organizations, state diplomats, and civil society representatives to bring Quaker insights and practice to the work of the UN system and promote transformative means of addressing conflict and building peace.
Clarke brings over 20 years of experience working on peacebuilding and conflict transformation in international settings. She previously served as a Quaker representative at QUNO from 2002 to 2014. Over recent years, her work has focused on peacebuilding efforts in Myanmar. As a consultant, she provided analysis, training, and facilitation support to the UN Country Team, the British Embassy in Yangon, the U.S. Institute of Peace Burma Program, and to a range of Myanmar civil society organizations.
“Quaker engagement at the UN is more important than ever as we face planet-wide challenges that need global solutions,” says Clarke. “QUNO brings the unique Quaker approaches of listening to and engaging all, providing space, and seeing beyond borders. We stand at a juncture in time when these simple gifts are needed more than ever to support the UN to fully live into its mission, and I am excited to take on this important responsibility.”
Clarke holds a master’s degree from the London School of Economics and has spent most of her adult life living in the United States and Southeast Asia. While she will take up her position in New York, Sarah lives with her family in Philadelphia, Pa. Originally from Canada, Clarke is a member of Ottawa Meeting. She is an active supporter of Quaker education initiatives and currently serves on the Board of Greene Street Friends School in Philadelphia.
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