JPO Stories
Questions to a JPO: Marie Pedersen
Marie Pedersen is a Danish JPO working with UNDP in Bhutan since 2003 on Governance and Human Rights.
What is your background ?
"My educational background is a three year bachelor degree in Social
Science, and a two year master degree in Public Administration and international
relations, both from Aalborg University in Denmark. It included a six month internship with a Palestinian NGO in the West Bank, which was extended with research work for the master thesis and ended being almost 1.5 year.
Straight after university I worked as Danida Fellowship Coordinator at the International Student Centre at Aarhus University (Denmark) for 2.5 years. There I arranged programmes for international students mainly from third world countries.
After this I went to Bhutan for 6 months where I worked as a volunteer for a Bhutanese consultant firm and at the same time tried my best to enhance my skills as a Bhutanese housewife. Back in Denmark I worked as project and administrative coordinator in the research department of the Danish Centre for Human Rights. One and a half year later, I applied for a JPO position in Bhutan... and got it."
How did you learn about the JPO Programme?
"From the very beginning of my studies I knew about the programme from
friends who were or had been JPOs. I applied because I saw it as a fantastic
chance to spend two - three years in a developing country at the same
time learning about the UN system, and how to deal with development
on the ground and in the specific context. More specifically because
the terms of reference were so much in line with my qualifications and
interest, and due to my family situation I was also very interested
in living in Bhutan for some years. (My husband is Bhutanese)"
What are your tasks as a JPO?
"My main task is to manage a big three year UNDP/UNCDF supported decentralization programme
with the Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs as the implementing partner. In addition I also
manage other smaller projects, produce a quarterly governance newsletter, review reports,
liaise with other donors and government counterparts, manage the UNCDF portfolio in Bhutan and
contribute to the performance of UNDP in the areas of Governance."
What do you consider your most important professional achievement so far?
"The good progress in the decentralization programme despite the many obstacles."
What has been the most challenging situation from a personal point of view?
"To accept and spend time on the many formal procedures existing in
the UN system due to it being such a large organization. To manage and
negotiate development activities including on one hand respond to/be
accommodating to the wishes and agenda of the local development partner
and on the other hand ensuring compliance with UNDP and UNCDF policies."
Any problems or difficulties you have been facing as a JPO?
"In the beginning it was unclear what were my role and responsibilities. After addressing
the issue myself with the head of the office things were clarified and the work became very
interesting. My advise to coming JPOs would be to be proactive concerning problems/issue and
take it up with the senior management in a polite way. It is my experience that this will lead
to much better working conditions and higher satisfaction from both sides."
