TheJourneyVolume1 - Book - Page 54
#NextGenUNDP
Tjark Marten Egenhoff
G UIN E A-B I SSAU
current undertaking, where I seek to build relationships
beyond the traditional partners for development.
MY INSPIRATION
I draw my inspiration from women and men, who despite
huge adversities, have succeeded in staying true to their
values and acting upon them. They did not do so because
they thought they were eternally right, but because they
were open to constant reflection and intellectual struggle,
felt deeply about others and showed much courage when
they stood up for values and integrity.
I am fortunate to call two mentors my close companions,
both of whom have in very different ways, shown their
courage to not give up in times when common sense and
courage were needed. They taught me how to be institutional, while being outspoken for the greater good.
Fortunately, there are so many testimonies of courageous
human beings around us, people who demonstrate
their humanity every day by not looking the other way.
Additionally, European history also remains a source of
both immense hope and terrifying warning to me.
MY FAVOURITE QUOTATION
“The world is not dangerous because
of those who do harm but because
of those who look at it without
doing anything.”
AL B E RT E I NS T E I N
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I recognize my immense privilege in life. I never experienced hunger, nor did I experience any persecution. Even
in situations of danger, I was institutionally protected. As
for many others, experiencing the power of normativity
had a deep effect on me. Not complying with the norm in
terms of my sexual orientation has been a humbling and
at times painful encounter with myself and society. It took
me long before I would not seek strategies of avoidance or
not speak up when I saw myself and others up against
prejudice, bias, or unjust treatment. This lifelong journey,
however, made me much more aware and sensitive to
structural exclusion, the power of language, and gave me
the opportunity to question my own behavior.
DEFINING LIFE MOMENT
There are many moments in life that formed me as a
human being and professional. Apart from finding love
and long-lasting friendships, I was formed by a series
of events that drew me to international affairs. My
family had to be evacuated once. I even saw military
coups, causing deaths of civilians and fellow high-school
students, and witnessed how acquaintances and friends
struggled to make ends meet due to economic hardship.
This continuous confrontation with the world made me
want to engage and not run from it. It is also due to my
upbringing, and especially by my mother, that I have
learned to not look the other way. My life has been a
constant journey of trying to be as courageous as possible
on the road to being a force for change wherever that
would lead me, while being aware of my own limitations.
Since I came late in life to UNDP and the UN, jumping
the fence from the private sector to multilateralism, I had
no choice but to learn fast. However, I found that much