Diego Salama joined UNU-MERIT in 2013, initially serving as a Research Assistant before advancing to Communications Officer in 2015. In February 2022, he stepped into the Acting Head of Communications role; later, in September 2022, he transitioned to Partnerships & Liaison Specialist. In his current role, Diego supports the Director in strategic partnership development, program and project management, and liaising with the UN System. He manages institutional governance tasks and reports directly to the UNU Council and the host country.

Diego completed his PhD in History of International Relations at Leiden University, where his research delved into UN Peace Operations and the organization's history. He is an affiliated researcher at the Institute for History at Leiden University. He serves as Managing Editor for the Journal "Global Governance: A Review of Multilateralism and International Organizations".

	Selected publications by Diego Salama
Book chapters
Salama, Diego, 2023, UNTSO: The Future of UN Peacekeeping in the Middle East, in: Alexander Gilder, David Curran, Georgina Holmes, Fiifi Edu-Afful (eds), Multidisciplinary Futures of UN Peace Operations, Springer, Switzerland, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-38596-4_6, More information
Conference contributions
Merkle, Ortrun & Diego Salama, 2017, Operation Peace: Challenges to Peacekeeping in the 21st Century, Organizer of the Breakout session: “Operation Peace: Challenges to Peacekeeping in the 21st Century” at the Future Force Conference 2017; Organized by the Dutch Ministry of Defense;, More information
Theses
Salama, Diego, 2024, An architecture for peace: deciphering the UN's multidimensional approach to the Israel - Arab Conflict (1967 - 1982), Monograph, Leiden University, More information
Other (editorship, media appearance, keynote, etc.)
Salama, Diego & Ortrun Merkle, 2018, Bystanders for 7 years – is the UN ready for a peacekeeping mission in Syria?, Strife Series on United Nations Peacekeeping; Strife Blog, More information
Merkle, Ortrun & Diego Salama, 2017, U.N. Peacekeeping Cuts Could be a Disaster for Women and Girls, NewsDeeply Women & Girls, OpEd, More information
Merkle, Ortrun, Diego Salama & Khalid Koser, 2016, Challenges to Peacekeeping in the 21st Century: New Series, UNU-MERIT Blog, More information
Salama, Diego, 2016, António Guterres: An SG for All Seasons?, UNU-MERIT Blog , More information
Salama, Diego, 2016, Is Hybrid Peacekeeping a Model of Success? The Case of UNAMID, UNU-MERIT Blog , More information
Merkle, Ortrun & Diego Salama (eds.), 2016, Challenges to Peacekeeping in the 21st Century, UNU-MERIT Blog Series, Peacekeeping is one of the cornerstones of the United Nations and was, is and will be an essential tool for creating lasting peace in war-torn societies. The international system has changed in many ways since the first deployment of peacekeepers in 1948; new actors and challenges have emerged and mandates have evolved. The 21st Century brings enormous challenges to the international community’s peace and security – and peacekeeping will have to address many of these challenges. This series, culminating on International Day of UN Peacekeepers, 29 May, will bring innovative analysis and offer solutions to some of the most pressing issues facing peacekeeping today, More information