LocationsJPO Story - Sally Swinnen
October 31, 2024
Meeting with the Local Hausa Farming and Fulani Herding Community in Sokoto to discuss how the environment is impacting their livelihoods
What is your educational background?
I attained a Master's in Diplomacy from the Australian National University, where I am the inaugural Ruth Dobson Scholar. I also hold a Bachelor of Arts in Indonesian Language and Political Science from Charles Darwin University, where I received several New Colombo Scholarships and an Asia Bound Scholarship. I am also a qualified commercial cook, but cooking is only a hobby these days where I like to experiment with new and exciting ingredients
What made you apply to the JPO programme/what is your motivation to work with your UN agency?
At age fifteen, I participated in a six-month AFS high school exchange program to Sunyani, Ghana. This was a life-changing event that motivated me to pursue a career that focuses on helping people. However, my career path had some interesting and unconventional turns, which included working in hospitality for nearly a decade before moving to then work with the Australian government. While working in government, I came across the newly Australian-sponsored JPO assignment with UNDP in Abuja, Nigeria. Fifteen years after my high school exchange to Ghana, I saw this as an opportunity to finally achieve my teenage dream of coming back to West Africa to work with and contribute to a region I called home all those years ago.
Sally Swinnen, Programme Analyst at UNDP Nigeria
What are the main activities/tasks you are working on? What is a day at the office/in the field like?
I am currently working as a programme analyst, supporting the design and implementation of the CO’s pilot Climate Security project in Northwest Nigeria. In this region, rising insecurity is driven by tensions between herders and farmers, crime, banditry, inter-ethnic distrust, and unsustainable resource extraction. Northwest Nigeria is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, which exacerbate existing security issues. Communities in Sokoto and Katsina are severely affected. There is a lack of reliable government data on climate change-related variability impacting agricultural production. The ongoing conflict has undermined local coping capacities, creating a vicious cycle in which natural disasters worsen existing tensions. Additionally, environmental degradation in urban areas, exacerbated by bandit occupation, has led to increased flooding, loss of infrastructure, and disrupted livelihoods. This project aims to enhance local communities' adaptive capacity to respond to these complex threats.
In your day-to-day work, what SDG(s) are you helping to implement?
SDG 13 – Climate Action and SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions and SDG- 7 Affordable and Clean Energy. Through the Climate Security project, one initiative, we are looking to integrate are climate-smart techniques to improve the resilience of farming and herding communities against unpredictable weather patterns. Enhanced access to climatic data will empower local communities to better adapt to seasonal changes to ensure maximum harvest capacity.
What is the most challenging project that you have worked on/are working on?
The Climate Security Project in North West Nigeria has indeed been a challenging project that has taught me to think outside the box, work with and coordinate across multiple field offices, and work with multiple stakeholders in Nigeria. Second, was working on leading the coordination of the UNDP-supported Inaugural Northwest Peace and Security Summit.
What set of skills have you developed most throughout your assignment?
Throughout my assignment, I have grown so much personally and professionally. The key professional skills I have developed is my ability to manage and coordinate complex multi-stakeholder programs while building my confidence in public speaking. Working on the Peace and Security Summit, I was often required to lead and support with high-level briefings, allowing me to develop my presentation and public speaking skills. Additionally, I have developed a more comprehensive understanding of the interlinkages of UN country programming. Working on Climate Security has helped me identify ways to improve inter-agency collaboration and engagement to strengthen project programming and develop my understanding of the Humanitarian-Development nexus. Most excitingly, I have been able to develop some new cooking skills after experimenting and learning from the different Naija Flavours!
What piece of advice would you give to those who are considering applying to the JPO Programme?
The JPO program is an incredible opportunity to learn, try new things, and test yourself personally and professionally in new, challenging environments. More importantly, it gives you the opportunity to meet many inspiring and motivational people with whom you will be friends for life.
How do you feel your JPO assignment will influence your career choices/opportunities within the UN?
Firstly, the JPO assignment has given me the opportunity to promote the sustainable development agenda in a multinational and diverse environment. Working with UNDP has allowed me to better understand the nuances of how the UN and UNDP function, thus exposing me to the great work of all the different agencies and the different opportunities available within and outside the UN system. Working with headquarters, other country offices, and other organisations has enabled me to build my network worldwide, where I can learn about the different career opportunities available. Finally, my JPO assignment allowed me to demonstrate my ability to develop and deliver good work in a complex and dynamic setting, making me a competitive candidate in the job market.
Annual Climate Security Consultation with Norway
What is the biggest motivator for you when it comes to your work?
The biggest motivator for me is the passion and drive of some of my colleagues. Their passion to learn, develop new skills and make changes to the lives of the communities we work in keeps me driven. My team’s recognition of my ability to bring together different ideas and coordinate in complex settings motivates me each day delivering results and overcoming challenges. Complimentary to this, I greatly value the learning and teaching relationship I have with my team. Given we all come from different social, cultural and professional backgrounds I thrive in the opportunity to continue learning and continue being challenged.
In what ways do you feel you are part of an organization that fosters people’s development?
I have a great sense of meaning working for UNDP Nigeria, especially through my work with the Northwest and Central team who not only supported me in adjusting to life in Nigeria, but who trusted me in leading on several important work areas. Drawing from my previous experience in policy and program management, I have run several team training sessions to foster greater knowledge sharing and capacity building. Working with this team has provided me with so much meaning and purpose both professionally and personally. When called on to talk about the work UNDP Nigeria is doing on Climate, Peace and Security issues, I do so with passion, ownership and dedication. The work I do with UNDP is unique, it gives me the opportunity and responsibility to work for and on behalf of the people of Nigeria to support achieve the SDG so critical to the nation’s development.
Could you tell us about a funny anecdote or a curious tradition that you have experienced in your duty station?
Accidentally buying plantains rather than bananas and getting annoyed that they were not sweet and wouldn’t ripen!
The JPO experience exposes you to the vast world and work of the UN, as well as the development and humanitarian sector, and provides an environment for continued learning and development.Sally Swinnen
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