LocationsJPO Story - Ayumi Mine
September 26, 2024
Visiting a fair howcasing products with small entrepreneurs from Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria in July 2023
What is your educational background?
I have an MSc in International Development from The University of Birmingham and a BA In Commerce from Doshida University.
- What made you apply to the JPO programme/what is your motivation to work with your UN agency?
One of my previous work experiences motivated me to apply to the JPO programme. When I was a consultant for the JICA South Sudan project, a conflict broke out in July 2016, which forced the project team to leave South Sudan. I was deeply saddened by the fact that I had to leave the country where I had been supporting and the South Sudanese were still living there. I then realised that I was an outsider. However, I met a colleague from the UNICEF South Sudan Office, who explained that the United Nations (UN) has the potential to exert a beneficial impact both politically and financially in such a difficult circumstance. The UN is based on the principle of the sovereign equality of all its Members pursuing to maintain international peace and security and achieve international cooperation.[1]
I admired the strong will and sense of responsibility of the UN staff and at the same time, I thought working in the UN could change the relationship with counterpart governments and countries as co-operators or more likely as family members for development, not just donor-beneficiary relationships.
[1] United Nations Charter (full text) | United Nations
Ayumi MIne, Programme Analyst UNDP Ghana
What are the main activities/tasks you are working on? What is a day at the office/in the field like?
My main tasks as a regional programme analyst on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) are firstly a creation of knowledge products for Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) especially led by women and youth to enhance their export-readiness and digital capacity. Secondly, I support providing technical advice to Country offices on implementing the national AfCFTA strategy, frequently based on research and analysis of specific products and sectors for export. Taking the Non-Tariff Barrier study that the
Ghana Country Office and regional AfCFTA team conducted, for example, I also visited the border between Ghana and Togo and interviewed stakeholders who oversaw cross-border related operations and management such as Customs officials, Food and Drugs Authority, Ghana Standard Authority and so on. Subsequently, I contributed to developing the report as well.
Thirdly, I contribute to project monitoring and reporting which is crucial to see project outputs and report what we have done.
Additionally, I review project documents and research materials submitted by UNDP Country Offices and notes and contribute to talking points of Senior management.
I would say what makes my UNDP work special and unique is the diverse and dynamic work environment with ultimate goals, to achieve SDGs and the African Union Agenda 2026.
In your day-to-day work, what SDG(s) are you helping to implement?
As a regional AfCFTA team, we support businesses especially those led by women and youth through enhancing their trade readiness and competitiveness. At the same time, we also contribute to creating an enabling environment for businesses to produce and trade efficiently by providing technical advice to Country offices and cooperating with partners. In this sense, we are particularly contributing to Decent Work and Economic Growth (Goal 8), Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure (Goal 9), Gender Equality (Goal 5) and Partnership for the Goals (Goal 17).
What is the most challenging project that you have worked on/are working on?
The most challenging but absorbing work for me was the creation of one of the knowledge products, namely the Supply Chains Map. My team is supporting MSMEs to access intra-African markets through sharing information and knowledge, which is crucial to tap into a new market. My role here was to research and draft the specific sectors’ regional supply chains. I have experience researching and analysing textile supply chains in Myanmar in my previous job and it was interesting to link the information, data and my knowledge gained in that role to add value and make the report more meaningful. On the other hand, challenges stemmed from the regional aspects, which made this more complex and required additional research and analysis. For example, it was difficult to find enough existing papers and studies focusing on regional supply chains and intra-African trade and I needed to find valuable information, mostly national information and link them up in terms of the regional supply chain. It was time-consuming work to find the information and analyse/translate it. Nonetheless, it was worth working on it. The draft is now under review, and I am looking forward to seeing my report contribute to businesses who face information gaps as well as hearing all kinds of feedback from businesses.
Ayumi, at the UNDP Ghana team retreat, June 2023.
What has been the most rewarding experience to date for you at your duty station? (work and/or non-work related)
This was a non-work related experience, as I faced family issues. Yet, it turned out to be one of the most rewarding and appreciated experiences for me to recognise the heartwarming kindness of my colleagues and UNDP’s spirit.
After joining the UNDP, I started to suffer from triple challenges; caring for a sick parent, a relationship with my husband, and a life separated from my small kids (let me skip the detailed and private background). At that time, I was so devastated and felt like I could not keep working in this condition.
One day I got so overwhelmed with the issues and fortunately one of my colleagues who usually cared for me visited me. I could not keep my feelings within me and disclosed what I had been accommodating in my heart. Since then, she always listened to me and cared for me with her empathy. She never judged me or tried to lead me in any direction like quitting my job and going back to Japan. She just brainstormed with me about available and tangible options, which I appreciated very much.
In addition to that, my focal point of the JPO service centre and my supervisor were also strong supporters. They understood my situation and were very supportive of the available options. I experienced the spirit of “no-one left behind” not only for the targeted beneficiaries but from colleagues surrounding me. I can't thank my colleagues enough for the invaluable support they gave me in this difficult time.
What set of skills have you developed most throughout your assignment?
Professionally, I have developed a comprehensive knowledge of intra-African trade including a set of tools for research such as market access requirements, tariff comparison and trade statistics. Additionally, understanding the dynamics of African economics and opportunities is also an asset I have gained in this assignment. What my work entails going forward is adding value to these information and knowledge products and positioning UNDP in the area of work where various partners are also working.
What piece of advice would you give to those who are considering applying to the JPO Programme?
Let me introduce a Japanese allegory when expressing the importance of having different perspectives. I think this is useful to get a clear understanding and make better decisions for your career.
This allegory features three perspectives one should have:
Firstly, a bird's-eye. Birds can view things from heights and get a broad perspective/a big picture.
Secondly, a worm's-eye. Worms are small and walk on the ground. Their sight is up close and focused.
Lastly, a fish eye: Fishes swim in the variable tides and waves and need to see the change, indicating that the view on the time frame and a train of events can help you see causal influence, process, and trends.
My advice is to find an area you are interested in and identify the required capacities and gaps through a bird's eye; focus on what you are interested in and what you should improve with a worm’s eye; and see and seize the opportunity in the right timing through a fish’s eye.
How do you feel your JPO assignment will influence your career choices/opportunities within the UN?
The JPO assignment provided me with an opportunity to work at UNDP, an organization rooted in multilateral cooperation, characterized by a diverse and dynamic culture and areas of collaboration, surpassing the scope of my previous work in bilateral cooperation. Besides that, UNDP is better positioned to partner with other UN family agencies, development agencies and banks, and regional institutions and civil society organisations.
Additionally, my current work in the regional project allows me to experience different layers of work, as I work at the intersection between Headquarters and Country Offices, providing policy advisory and technical advisory to Country Offices and regional institutions etc., Before, I implemented the projects in the field as a practitioner and these new experiences in the upper layer of work are widening my view and fostering understanding of the roles and modalities in the development. This is a good opportunity for me to consider where I can contribute the most and how I want to work.
In the Non-Tariff barrier study at the border with Customs officials in April 2023
What is the biggest motivator for you when it comes to your work?
My motivation comes from my enthusiasm and respect for professionalism. My colleagues in the team are very professional and I sincerely respect them. I would like to learn from them as much as possible.
Another motivation is my kids; I want to be the mother whom my kids are proud of.
The JPO Programme is not just an opportunity to tap into the UN system but also an opportunity to immerse yourself in a diversified and unique environment and test your values. Check the chemistry; you are the one who gears your career and life toward your dream and happiness.Ayumi Mine
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