When I began my UN Volunteer assignment with the UN Joint SDG Fund in January 2025, I stepped into a role filled with purpose and potential. Joining a team dedicated to driving systemic change and accelerating SDG progress, I quickly realized how much the experience would expand my skills and deepen my understanding of development work.
My journey started with evaluation work, reviewing Mid-Term Reviews (MTRs) for Joint Programmes in countries including Kenya, North Macedonia, Madagascar, Suriname, and Zimbabwe. These reviews revealed the real challenges, progress, and aspirations of implementing countries. Collaborating closely with the UN Joint SDG Fund team and independent consultants, I assessed methodologies, verified evidence, and ensured conclusions were credible and well-grounded. This experience prepared me to contribute to the MTR Lessons Paper, synthesizing insights from all nine countries in the review cycle. The paper captured what worked, areas for improvement, and lessons to inform the next generation of Joint Programmes, transforming evaluation findings into actionable knowledge.
I also applied analytical skills through Cost Benefit Analysis, assessing long-term impacts of investments. In Kenya, I evaluated adolescent sexual and reproductive health programs, while in North Macedonia, I analyzed the economic and environmental effects of the Green Finance Facility. These exercises demonstrated how data can uncover broader benefits beyond immediate outcomes and guide future investment decisions.
Another key part of my work involved the UNEG Impact Evaluation Working Group, where I contributed to Chapter 3 of the upcoming Impact Evaluation Design Framework. I provided inputs on ethical considerations, methodological options, and practical challenges, gaining invaluable insight into shaping future UN evaluation standards.
Digital transformation became a significant focus as well. I reviewed Digital Joint Programmes, analyzing country submissions to identify how digital tools enhanced government services, accountability, and policy change. My work contributed to the Fund’s Digital Thematic Review and highlighted innovations that countries can adapt. Additionally, I strengthened internal data systems by creating interactive Power BI dashboards displaying programme performance, funding flows, digital results, and geographic coverage. These dashboards provided colleagues and consultants with actionable insights to support informed decision-making.
What made this experience truly meaningful was the collaboration and shared purpose across the Joint SDG Fund team, UN agencies, consultants, and country partners. Learning from experienced colleagues while contributing perspectives from my own work in Kenya and Somalia reinforced that development is a collective effort. Being a UN Volunteer has shown me that evidence, when used effectively, drives better decisions and stronger systems, and that behind every dataset are real people whose lives are shaped by the programmes we support.
As I continue this journey, I remain committed to strengthening evaluation practices, improving the use of data, and supporting countries in building sustainable, resilient systems. Serving as a UN Volunteer has been an honour and a privilege, allowing me to contribute to a team dedicated to lasting, inclusive development.
