By Alumni Relations Department

Barako Elema is a Humanitarian Affairs Adviser/Humanitarian Diplomacy Adviser at International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) where he leads the ICRC’s efforts as guardian of International Humanitarian Law also known as Laws of war. His role focuses on enhancing wider humanitarian context and engaging with governments, multilateral lateral stakeholders, regional mechanisms, thinks tanks etc. in protecting civilians and victims of war or other forms of violence.

As an alumnus of Master of Arts in International relations, Class of 2012, and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations, Class of 2010, Barako has leveraged on knowledge and skills he gained to make an impact. He played a critical role in the country’s foreign policy agenda during one of Kenya’s significance historical moment, the ushering in of 2010 constitutional order.

Furthermore, he worked at a leading think tank Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Africa with focus on human security and sustainable development which later saw him joining UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Having undertaken a unit called Refugee Studies during his coursework, he had relevant understanding of the theory, refugee protection and regimes which allowed him to apply the same in his line work especially at a time where Kenya was witnessing huge influx of refugees who were displaced by twin catastrophe of war and recurring drought and famine in Somalia.

“What I have learnt through career is when doing a task, put your best foot forward and leave an impact,” says Barako. “When you leave a place, what would you be remembered for? Were you just occupying space?” he concludes. Barako further shares that his previous interactions with stakeholders and the value he adds in these interactions is the major reason, he’s maintained these relationships despite changing roles.

Additionally, he shares his guiding motto that makes his diplomacy work easy, “It’s expensive to keep enemies than to make friends. No place should be your end. You must push the limit, even where the road ends the journey must continue,” he states

Barako prides himself at being a USIU-Africa alumnus and feels joy whenever he comes across fellow alumnus working with in EAC, AU, Governments and other institutions. He argues that, “The multicultural set up at USIU-Arica has particularly been valuable both in building a strong professional network and in adapting to organizations with a workforce drawn from across the globe."