Locations
Luciana Mermet (center) in conversation with Dr. Mandeep Dhaliwal, Director, HIV and Health Group at UNDP (Right) and Mark Edington, Head of Grant Management Division at the Global Fund (Left) on Global Fund priorities and outlook (May 2024)
It is never easy to summarize one’s role in a couple of sentences, but a day as Manager of the UNDP-Global Fund Partnership & Health Systems sometimes looks a lot like the movie Everything Everywhere All at Once—a whirlwind of moving parts, challenges, and high-stakes decisions that demand precision, agility, and focus. At any given moment, I am navigating complex partnerships, ensuring life-saving treatments reach the most vulnerable, and tackling urgent crises that can shift in an instant. It’s a role that requires strategy, resilience, and the ability to zoom in on details while keeping sight of the bigger picture. And through it all, my passion for global health equity drives me forward.
From Trade Policy to Global Development
Growing up in a middle-class working family in Argentina, I was shaped by a time of possibility, a sense that everything was possible. However, the political shifts of the 70s and 80s cast a long shadow, making me keenly aware of how economic cycles can profoundly impact lives. Living in a country rich in culture but often navigating economic turmoil, I began to see the web connecting our individual experiences to global systems. In my university years in Argentina, I was drawn to the complexities of trade policy—how nations relate, how economies rise and fall, and how deeply interconnected we all are.
After completing my master’s degree in public administration at NYU, I joined UNDP in 2007 as a Policy Specialist focusing on trade and poverty. The opportunity felt like the perfect fit—a chance to blend my expertise in trade with a mission that aimed to empower communities worldwide. I vividly remember the moment I joined the UNDP team; it felt electric, filled with hope and purpose, knowing that our collective efforts could help elevate the lives of those who had long been overlooked.
Leading with Resilience: Lessons from the Field
After several years at UNDP, I faced uncertainty about my growth trajectory within the policy track, as advancement paths in that area were not always clearly defined. Discussions with mentors often revolved around a common dilemma: either remain in a specialized role at a lower level or transition into management, which required broadening my expertise beyond a technical focus. To step into leadership, I had to accept that I would be moving away from my specialization in economic and trade policy in exchange for the opportunity to shape strategy and lead teams.
In 2014, I decided to take the management assessment—a choice that, in hindsight, was one of the best decisions I ever made. It gave me a deeper understanding of UNDP’s organizational dynamics and prepared me for future leadership roles. This ultimately led me to the Dominican Republic, where I took on a managerial role as Deputy Resident Representative. Being in a country office allowed me to witness the direct impact of our work—seeing firsthand how policies and programs translated into tangible results for communities.
At the launch of the Trinational Meeting for the Qhapaq Ñan, Andean Road System project, in partnership with the Bolivian Ministry of Culture and the Italian government, focused on strengthening community and heritage tourism for sustainable economic development across Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador, September 2019.
Building on that experience, I later advanced to the role of Resident Representative, this time in Bolivia. My leadership was truly tested during this period, which was marked by both political turmoil and environmental crises. When Bolivia plunged into a major political crisis following the ousting of President Evo Morales in 2019, I saw an opportunity to position UNDP as a stabilizing force. With no Resident Coordinator and no direct UN political presence in the country, I quickly mobilized the team and engaged key international partners to establish an electoral support program almost overnight.
Through intensive engagement with both the outgoing and incoming governments, as well as key international mediators like the Catholic Church and the European Union, I helped facilitate a pathway for a peaceful democratic transition. Our team organized workshops and training sessions for election officials, enhancing their capacity and ensuring adherence to electoral regulations—promoting transparency and accountability. This was a unique opportunity for UNDP to play a acritical role, as it had not provided electoral assistance in Bolivia in nearly fifteen years, helping to maintain stability during an exceptionally volatile time.
While navigating these challenges, I was also deeply involved in health initiatives, particularly in support of Bolivia’s national malaria prevention and treatment programme in the Amazon region, funded by the Global Fund. This project focused on engaging local communities to combat the disease, training health workers to educate families on malaria prevention, symptoms, and treatment options. Witnessing the direct impact of these interventions reaffirmed my belief in community-driven solutions and laid the groundwork for my next career shift. The experience highlighted how targeted funding, and grassroots engagement could save lives especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, when it also contributed to strengthening Bolivia's pandemic preparedness and response. This valuable lesson would be —something I carried forward into my work in global health.
UNDP Bolivia was awarded third place in the photo contest highlighting the country office’s development narrative, with the photograph "Ascent," featuring the Cholitas Escaladoras, at the RBLAC Regional Retreat in Asunción, October 2019
A Shift in Focus: From Democratic Governance to Global Health
With a solid foundation of practical experience managing programs that directly impacted communities, in 2023 I stepped into my new role as the Global Fund Partnership and Health Systems Manager equipped with a unique perspective—one that emphasized the interconnectedness of policy, practice, and community impact.
This transition marked a natural evolution in my career at UNDP, driven by a desire for greater impact and the opportunity to apply my experiences on a larger scale. My current work focuses on addressing pressing global health challenges, including HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria, particularly in the most difficult and challenging operating contexts where UNDP partners with the Global Fund. Moving to Geneva allowed me to leverage insights from my time in Bolivia, where I saw firsthand how targeted funding initiatives, by engaging local communities, can transform health outcomes and contribute to eradicate these epidemics.
My tenure at the Global Fund Partnership team has been marked by innovation and adaptability, where I have led and supported the team in driving these achievements. Recognizing that health challenges do not exist in isolation, I have championed the integration of pandemic preparedness, climate resilience, and digital health solutions into UNDP’s work with the Global Fund and other key stakeholders.
A key milestone has been the introduction of digital tracking systems for malaria bed net distribution. In response to challenges like misallocation and theft in high-poverty areas, we partnered with digital solutions providers to implement QR code tracking systems, ensuring that life-saving interventions reach the right communities. It’s about governance, transparency, and accountability, technology is a game-changer in ensuring that no one is left behind.
The impact of these efforts is evident in countries like Zimbabwe, where UNDP, working with the Global Fund, helped achieve the 95-95-95 targets in HIV treatment—meaning that 95% of people living with HIV know their status, 95% of those diagnosed receive sustained treatment, and 95% of those on treatment achieve viral suppression.
My Latin American background significantly shapes my leadership style, reinforcing my belief that solutions must be community-driven and context-specific. Raised as the child of immigrant families in Argentina, I deeply value education, public welfare, and equitable development—principles that align closely with my work in global health. The malaria initiative in Bolivia highlighted a fundamental truth I carry into my role today: sustainable health outcomes depend on inclusive, locally led solutions. Leadership, to me, is not about authority but about actively listening, fostering collaboration, and ensuring that diverse voices shape the policies that impact them. This perspective helps me navigate cultural sensitivities and advocate for strategies that not only strengthen health systems but also support broader socio-economic progress, particularly in regions striving for true middle-class advancement.
Luciana Mermet (center) during a discussion on UNDP's strategic positioning and the imperative role for health at the UNDP HIV and Health Community of Practice meeting in Istanbul Turkiye (May 2024)
Empowering the Future: A Call to Women in Development
My journey at UNDP has taught me that our roles go beyond professional milestones; they are about connecting with humanity at its core. It’s about celebrating each victory, no matter how small, and sharing in the realities of those we serve. This work has become a calling—an advocacy for change, a commitment to listening to the unheard, and a partnership with those leading their communities toward resilience. This is especially true for women in development, who continue to challenge barriers and reshape the spaces they inhabit, proving that leadership is not defined by titles but by impact.
The path is not always straightforward. Navigating development work means balancing competing demands, adapting to shifting priorities, and finding solutions that honor both local needs and global goals. At times, it feels like embodying everything, everywhere, all at once—juggling diverse challenges, shifting priorities, and countless moving parts, much like the balancing act of motherhood. But rather than chaos, I see it as a testament to our ability to hold multiple truths: progress and setbacks, urgency and patience, local action and global impact. Each effort, no matter how small, is part of a greater whole.
For women leaders in development, particularly those from underrepresented countries, my advice is to embrace your unique experiences and perspectives. Your narrative is a powerful tool—use it. Challenges are not barriers but opportunities to grow, adapt and lead with resilience. Build strong networks of support, seek mentorship, and create spaces where diverse voices are not just heard but amplified. True leadership is about service, inclusivity, and the courage to uplift others. If we continue to push forward, each of us contributing in our own way, we can turn the complexity of development into a force for lasting change, everywhere.Luciana Mermet
