TheJourneyVolume1 - Book - Page 110
#NextGenUNDP
Aissata De
THE GAM B I A
increased my opportunities as I met many inspiring people
across different levels within the organization.
MENTAL HEALTH TRAUMA
Having served in several post-conflict and transition
contexts, one other challenge that I have noticed is
trauma, especially in Country Offices. This issue is
often not considered in assessments, program design,
and human resources policies. There is also a common
pattern which fosters a culture of silence on the issue.
Therefore, how do we perceive and access the untold and
to what extent does it impact office culture? Although
there are recent efforts to provide mental health support,
as we move to greater organizational changes, there is a
need for more in-depth and collective consideration on
the issue.
Another challenge linked to the unprecedented pandemic
situation we are going through, is adaptability and the
ability to bring the team to think about development
differently. UNDP’s integrator role has become a reality
more now than ever. Increasing requests related to the
health sectors are being dealt with in collaboration with
sister agencies. In a context where the pandemic is hitting
hard with limited access to vaccines, compounded with
complex democratic reform processes including elections
and emerging cross-borders concerns, there is a need
for constant analyses, and reading how the situation
is evolving. Improved forecasting capacities must be
promoted in such a context.
Despite the uncertainty and these challenges, I do not
give up on my aspirations, considering the wealth of life
experiences I have had access to. They help me keep a
sense of purpose.
DEFINING MOMENTS
In 2003, I moved to Cambodia after three years in
Mozambique, not knowing what to expect. I was facing
personal challenges and took the decision to discover Asia.
I remember family members being worried because the
only knowledge they had about Cambodia was linked to the
Khmer Rouge regime. It was one of the best professional
and cultural experiences I had.
I went back several times to Angkor Wat and several other
places, and I am still in touch with former colleagues who
are now friends and a part of my life. I also had the chance
to regularly visit Vietnam where my father served under the
French army years before Senegal’s independence.
What I treasured most during my time in Cambodia
On hearing about the UN
Reform, I thought of greater
efficiency, higher impact on
people’s lives, and concrete ways
to achieve the SDGs and the
Agenda 2030”
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was the evidence of UNDP being a truly global network,
providing opportunities to serve in different countries and
connect with people. Another defining moment was my
assignment in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
as Senior Electoral Adviser. This was my first experience
in a mission setting. And being part of the UNDP and
MONUSCO integrated Electoral Assistance Team which
supported the DRC in dealing with 25.7 million voters,
holding the 2005 Constitutional Referendum, and the 2006
Presidential, Legislative, and Provincial elections, helped
shape my career and resilience in working in a complex
setting.
DRC’s integrated electoral assistance program was at that
time, the largest single UNDP and UN intervention with
over US$ 400 million of annual delivery. There were 50045
polling stations, 300000 electoral agents, and 73000 police
officers in charge of the security of the electoral process.
UNDP had 257 project staff on the ground, and with HQs’
support, adapted its internal processes to ensure the timely
holding of polls in a context lacking robust institutional
capacity.
Enduring extremely tough situations and witnessing
voters of all ages heading to the polling stations from dawn
under heavy rain to vote for the first time in their life, is a
historic moment I will never forget. The people came out
and proudly showed their aspiration for change and stronger
democratic institutions. DRC was also where I experienced
the loss of colleagues on duty, which was an indescribable
pain. But my time in DRC strengthened my commitment to
development work. I felt privileged, accessing such a wide
range of activities across several sectors and contributing to
lifting people out of conflict and towards development.
JOINING UNDP AND BECOMING RR
Building on my experience in Mozambique and Cambodia,
and the DRC, I joined the UNDP leadership in peacekeeping settings as Deputy Resident Representative in
Burundi and Cote d’Ivoire. In this role, I had the opportunity to broaden my experience and focus on people’s
resilience to conflict and climate shocks. In addition to
elections and democratic governance areas, I worked on
the reintegration of ex-combatants, returnees, rule of law,
security sector reform, and transitional justice.
The acquired field experience was extremely useful
when I took up the role of Country Advisor, leading the
Central Africa and Great Lakes Cluster at the UNDP
Regional Bureau for Africa, where I provided oversight
and technical support to 12 countries in complex settings.
With this wealth of experience, I felt ready to assume
the duties of Resident Representative to better serve the
people and UNDP in the field.