TheJourneyVolume1 - Book - Page 80
#NextGenUNDP
Alka Bhatia
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 :
INDIA
N A M I BI A
A P R I L 2 019
“IF WE ARE TO TRANSFORM LIVES,
IT IS CRITICAL TO BLUR THE TURF
LINES, AND TO GET THE UNDS TO
WORK COHERENTLY.”
I
was born, brought up, and educated in India’s first
planned city – Chandigarh, at the foothills of the Shivalik
range of the Himalayas. A clean and green place, planned
by the famous French architect Le Corbusier.
As a daughter of a civil servant, I grew up in a vibrant,
multicultural environment, and this confluence of different
cultures and communities, fostered in me a warm and
friendly attitude and a passion for a human-centric
approach towards both, my life, and my work.
My parents, instilled in me a sense of humility, dedication,
perseverance, and respect for the dignity of all people. My
father has been my role model throughout my life, and I
have tried to emulate his attitude – working with passion
and pride to serve society.
Breaking away from the norms of a patriarchal society
where marriage and motherhood is the ultimate goal for
girls, I attained a Master’s Degree from Panjab University
and later pursued International Development, Economics
and Trade at the Graduate Institute of International Studies,
in Geneva, Switzerland.
Having aspired to serve society and make a difference, I
competed to join the prestigious Indian Civil Service and
got married to a fellow civil servant, who has been very
supportive in my professional growth.
BUILDING BLOCKS
I worked with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry
for over fifteen years at the crucial stage of the liberalization of the Indian economy – an era of more facilitation and less regulation, and the growth of the private
sector in the economy.
I also represented India in the WTO in Geneva during
the Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations for
four years, which was an unforgettable and invaluable
experience in negotiations, networking, and coalition
building.
This was the building block for learning about different
perspectives, needs, and capacities across different
countries, yet united by a common purpose to make the
world a fairer place by reducing disparities. I also gained
insight into the workings of international organizations in
my role as Economic Affairs Officer for the World Trade
Organization in Geneva, where I worked on trade-related
development issues.
BROADENING CAREER HORIZONS
Joining UNDP represented a defining moment in both
my professional and personal life. I left the security of my
country, job, and family to challenge myself and further
broaden my horizons. I could not be more grateful towards
my husband and two sons who supported me in my
decision. It has been a blessing that the support provided
by my father in my earlier years has carried through to
my husband, as he was the one who encouraged me to
apply for the UN role. His belief in me, combined with my
passion for development work empowered me not only to
join UNDP as Economic Advisor, but to also aspire to be
a Resident Representative.
As an Economic Advisor in Lesotho, I was confronted
with a new job and unfamiliar surroundings, but it was
the warmth of the Basotho and the UN Staff, which helped
me set up my home away from home. This enriching
experience allowed me the opportunity to witness closely,
the grassroot effects of development. I also worked in
Malawi and Namibia, concurrently, for over three years
and experienced first-hand what it means to straddle two
speed boats and not fall off. Perhaps this set the stage ›
It is only through the
coming together of people, that the
hardest battles can be fought, and
the toughest wars are won.”
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