LocationsJPO Story - Prathigna Ravindran
July 4, 2024
Prathigna (first row sixth from right) at a PPO workshop with fellow UNDP JPOs; UNDP Assistant Administrator, and Director of the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support (BPPS) Haoliang Xu; Director of UNDP OHR David Bearfield and OHR colleagues. New York, February 2024
What is your educational background?
I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in International Business from Grenoble Ecole de Management, France, and a Master’s Degree in International Human Resources Management from the University of Manchester, UK.
What made you apply to the JPO programme/what is your motivation to work with UNDP?
My motivation to work for the UNDP stems from the humanitarian values that the organisation is committed to. Its focus areas in poverty eradication, health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, clean energy, and economic growth are values I strongly treasure in my everyday life.
When the opportunity to apply for a JPO Programme at the UNDP arose, I believed that this would be a golden opportunity to not only be able to contribute towards these compassionate missions, but to also be considered for a prospect of a long-standing career within the UN system.
The JPO Programme offers a remarkable opportunity for young professionals who are looking to be immersed in a role which requires high-level of responsibilities by getting hands-on experience in a multilateral environment.
Prathigna Ravindran, Programme Analyst UNDP BMS/OHR
What are the main activities/tasks you are working on? What is a day at the office/in the field like?
Being in the Office of Human Resources (OHR) department, my colleagues and I work towards attaining the objectives of the “People for 2030” agenda: building effective HR systems and processes in areas of recruitment, leadership, performance & engagement, well-being, and people analytics.
In this context, my first responsibility is to execute the implementation of Talent Reviews in the Headquarters and Country Offices, with the aim of optimising staff deployment, development, and career management. Specifically, I offer guidance to the key stakeholders in this process - Managers, HR Business Partners, and Staff - by facilitating webinars, creating guided learnings and presentations, issuing communications on the deadlines and milestones, and by responding to any ad-hoc queries or issues the collaborators might be facing related to strategy, policy, and software we use to record the outcome of the Talent Review process.
My second task is to lead and support the recruitment & selection process for senior UNDP positions. This encompasses posting vacancy announcement, longlisting, scheduling interviews, drafting selection notes to be sent to the Administrator, collaborating with the Hiring Unit and the candidates on the process, and providing ad-hoc support.
New York is a place where the UN Headquarters is located, thus offering a variety of opportunities to connect with colleagues from other departments and UN Organizations where experiences and insights can be exchanged with one another. So, a day in the office also consists of building connections and sharing knowledge through informal lunches and coffee catchups.
What has been the most rewarding experience to date for you at your duty station? (work and/or non-work related)
The most rewarding experience so far was meeting the newly appointed UNDP Resident Representatives (RRs) in June 2024 at an induction week here in New York which the OHR colleagues in Copenhagen and I organized.
What was memorable about this event was the easy-flowing conversations between the RRs and me on topics such as career journey/tenure within the UN, work-life balance, change management, and leadership. I never imagined that I would gain such valuable insights by meeting people at that level so easily.
This workshop also gave me a great opportunity to sit through very interesting and thought-provoking presentations, where I got an understanding of what the roles & responsibilities of a Resident Representative entail.
Prathigna (top row sixth from left) at a leadership workshop with the newly appointed Resident Representatives (RRs) and OHR colleagues in June 2024
What piece of advice would you give to those who are considering applying to the JPO Programme?
Believe in yourself, apply to the JPO Programme with the intention of furthering your learning and growth, and stay positive regardless of the outcome of your application!
Whether you are a click away from submitting your application, minutes away from your interview, or a couple of steps away from setting foot into the office, always think about how you will bring in added value to your role and the team.
During the interview, you will be asked this theme of questions, so do not underestimate your abilities – even the small accomplishments may elevate your application and outlook.
How do you feel your JPO assignment will influence your career choices/opportunities within the UN?
As a first year JPO, the experience so far has given me insights to different fields of Human Resources, such as recruitment, talent development, and project management. Although I will continue to be involved in further areas of HR, this exposure has given me a food for thought on which areas I would like to dedicate my career to in the longer-term. With the high degree of interaction with colleagues from the country offices too, puts me on a good networking pedestal so that I can reach out to them on career opportunities that may spark my interest and curiosity. It is important to bear in mind that the JPO Programme is a formation journey, so I am confident that there will always be many learning & development opportunities which would fit my objectives and career path.
What is the biggest motivator for you when it comes to your work?
As the famous saying goes: “One alone cannot change the world, but one can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples”.
Waking up every day to work for an Organisation that values compassion, unity, and development through strong SDGs and powerful dialogues, is my biggest motivator to work every day, and therefore feel like I am part of a community of purpose.
In what ways do you feel you are part of an organization that fosters people’s development?
Working in the OHR department is an added icing to my previous point. Through this JPO experience, not only am I working for an Organisation with strong values but am also part of a department where its primary emphasis is fostering people development.
Through “People for 2030”, our key achievements have been a 35% increase in job applications; over 800 professional certification courses offered in key corporate areas; and over 10’400 colleagues participating in UNDP’s career development webinars – all since 2019.
These are remarkable milestones, and I am looking forward to contributing to this initiative’s further success.
My time as a JPO has been incredibly rewarding, offering the perfect blend of challenging duties with supportive colleagues, all in a vibrant city. This experience has significantly nurtured my independence and confidence.Prathigna Ravindran
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