TheJourneyVolume1 - Book - Page 108
#NextGenUNDP
Aissata De
Coun tr y o f O r igin :
UNDP Co u n t r y O f f ic e :
Date o f Ap po in tm e n t :
S E N E GA L
T HE GA M BI A
A P R I L 2 019
“CONTRIBUTING TO PEOPLE’S
LIVES AND GOVERNMENT
DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS REFLECTS
WHAT I HAVE GONE THROUGH.”
I
have always been passionate about development, and
have a keen interest in people’s needs and aspirations. This led me to be an activist for the promotion
of gender equality and human rights. I started my
career advocating for women’s human rights at a very
young age, participating in several sessions of the African
Commission on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR). I
took part in the drafting of the Maputo Protocol which
led to broader perspectives for gender equality and the
application of human rights principles as women’s rights.
Later, I led a joint UNDP/ UNIFEM (now UN Women,
Initiative promoting greater women’s participation and
representation in politics in West and Central Africa.
I focused on electoral processes and how to support
women’s political participation and representation
within electoral management bodies while supporting
Country Offices in strategic design and implementation.
EARLY LIFE AND INSPIRATIONAL PARENTS
Supporting and contributing to people’s life and
government development efforts reflect what I have
gone through in my social environment. I was born and
grew up upcountry, in Diourbel, located 200km away
from Dakar, the capital of Senegal. Although I lost my
father when I was just one and a half years old, I lived in
a happy home and neighborhood. Ours was an inclusive
and diverse household with many people and visiting
relatives. I enjoyed being with people and we just appreciated being together. This sense of closeness to people
108
remains with me and has shaped my career path.
Meanwhile, my mother was a teacher and director at a
primary school until she lost her husband when she was
just 28 years old, and while expecting her second child.
My mother was an extremely generous, good and humble
person with a great and progressive vision for women and
youth. She began her political activism in her 30s, at the
grassroots level with the Mouride - a powerful religious
community in West Africa.
Later she moved to Dakar where she became the first
female in the Presidential Cabinet and was elected a
Member of Parliament in the 80s. She later became both
the first woman Mayor in Senegal, and the vice-president of the National Assembly where she served until she
passed away in 1992. Losing my mother changed my life.
The pain and helplessness of grieving the most important
person I had, was incommensurable. The recognition of
her contributions across party lines, communities, and
generations, however, helped to move on.
Likewise, my father also left a mark on Senegal’s
military and political history, although we lost him too
early at the young age of 38.
The main lessons I learned from both my parents is the
importance of building a legacy and being dedicated to service.
CHALLENGES ALONG THE CAREER PATH
The main challenge, which I later transformed into an
opportunity, was dealing with society’s preconceived
notions of what women should do. My family expected me
to settle down as soon as possible, whereas I felt a sense of
duty to build on the legacy I had inherited and wanted to
continue serving my community. It took me many personal
sacrifices to be where I am today. Although it took time to
be able to combine my family and career lives, I am happy
with the wonderful journey I am pursuing today, and I
make sure that every step is a learning experience - both at
professional and personal levels.
Going to university gave me the opportunity to further
connect with people from different cultural backgrounds. It
is also where I had my first contact with the United Nations
when I participated in the National Model United Nations. I
later got an internship at the Center for Human Rights Office
(now OHCHR) in New York, covering the Third Committee
and General Assembly in the late 80s. This profoundly
shaped my career path, combined with my passion for
gender equality and development while growing up.
Joining UNDP and serving in different countries ›