AuditaONU Project Brings Brazil's UN Experience to Columbia Students
By Secom / Serint
In New York, the audit directors of the AuditaONU project met with Brazilian students at Columbia University to present Brazil's work within the United Nations Board of Auditors and to broaden students perspectives on career opportunities in the multilateral system.
Led by directors Maurício Wanderley, Ana Paula Sampaio, and Tiago Dutra, the sessions provided an overview of how external auditing operates within the UN system. They highlighted Brazil's key role on the Board of Auditors, particularly in promoting stronger governance, transparency, and sound financial management across the organization.
To enrich the discussions, the meetings also featured Brazilian professionals currently working within the UN ecosystem. Among them was Elizeu de Oliveira Chaves Junior, Chief of Staff at the United Nations Youth Office, who offered a critical perspective on the organization's current moment, addressing the crisis of multilateralism, institutional challenges, and future outlook.
Experience and Academic Engagement
The initiative consisted of two sessions. The first, held on January 16, brought together around 15 students from a range of academic backgrounds. It included the participation of Colonel Luiz Adolfo Sodré de Castro Júnior, advisor to Brazil's Permanent Mission to the UN, who shared practical insights from peacekeeping missions in Lebanon and Western Sahara. The second session, held on March 6, attracted a more specialized audience, with over 25 students from Columbia's LL.M. (Master of Laws) program.
The AuditaONU directors emphasized that, as Brazilians who have had the opportunity to work in a globally relevant international organization, they feel a responsibility to help open doors for future generations. Currently, the number of Brazilian professionals within the UN workforce remains relatively low compared to other countries. Increasing this representation, they noted, would bring strategic benefits both to Brazil and to the organization itself.
The meetings at Columbia University are seen as an important first step. By fostering closer engagement, the initiative helps students better understand the practical role of the UN and identify concrete pathways to enter the multilateral system.