JPO Stories
Questions to a former JPO: Mette Strandlod
Mette Strandlod is a former UNFPA JPO in New York and in Malawi (1997-2000). She is now working as Information Associate with the UNFPA Nordic Office in Copenhagen, Denmark.
1. What is your background?
I am Danish and grew up just outside Copenhagen. Already in the course of my studies of international development at the University of Roskilde I became increasingly interested in the area of population studies.
2. Your JPO assignment
I was a Junior Professional Officer with UNFPA from 1997 to 2000 in the Reproductive Health Branch at the New York Headquarters. In the third and last year, I was in Malawi working in the areas of HIV/AIDS, Information, Education and Communication as well as Adolescent Reproductive Health. The combination of Headquarters and field experience was extremely valuable: in New York, I took part in analyzing global trends of implementing the sexual and reproductive health agenda - and in Malawi, I could use this information in practical ways. I was taking part in the implementation myself!
3. Post JPO career path
After the end of my JPO assignment, I went back to Denmark and worked for the City of Copenhagen; first as a Public Health Consultant with a focus on young people and later as Head of Section in strategic planning of public health. I then got the opportunity to go to Sri Lanka with my family, as my husband was going to work there. We lived there for almost two years during which I did some part time consultancy work for UNFPA - though spending most of my time experiencing and enjoying the country with my family. Since May 2007, I have been back in Copenhagen in the UNFPA Nordic Office as an Information Associate. The Nordic Office serves as a liaison between the Nordic donor countries and UNFPA Headquarters, and is therefore in contact with the governments, ministries, politicians, NGOs, the media and other key partners at the public level.
4. What comes to your mind when thinking about your JPO years?
I find it hard to narrow it down to only a couple of words. Yet, when I think about my time in New York with my husband, four words come to my mind: "Time of our lives". I guess this speaks for itself and it is meant both professionally and privately. Another word that I associate with my work as a JPO is "meaningful": the work I am doing really means something to me; it is more than a job and UNFPA is more than a working place to me.
5. Do you remember your "best moment" as a JPO?
Another difficult question. However, I can think of two situations that illustrate the very different - yet equally great - situations you might find yourself in as a JPO. One day during my time in New York, there was a meeting scheduled with the UNFPA Executive Director and someone important from outside the UN. My boss was not in and as I was the only one there, I ended up going to this meeting, which was a very exciting experience. It showed me that the UN is not always as hierarchical and bureaucratic as its reputation claims and that it forces you to sometimes take unanticipated responsibility. Completely different from that is a moment I remember from my time in Africa: I was sitting in a small village taking part in a training session with young people. I loved that part of my work. Even though I was there representing the UN, and thus the donors, I was an integral part of the group in a completely informal way. It was great to work on the problems with the people who experienced them first hand. The combination of these two experiences, the more global set-up and the general observations I gathered in New York paired with the very practical side of my work in Malawi, is what made my JPO time as precious as it was.
6. In what way has your JPO assignment shaped your career?
I would definitely not be where I am now if it had not been for my JPO time with UNFPA. When I worked outside of the UN System after my JPO assignment, I had an increasing wish to come back and I realised how much it meant to me, not only the workplace but also the mandate. I had found out where my real interest and passion were. I think once you get into the UN System, it gets under your skin - and stays there. So it soon became my number one priority to go back to UNFPA. I see myself as very lucky in achieving this - and I could not be happier with my choice.
7. What kind of advice would you give to future JPO?
It is very important to give your outmost effort to establish good relations with the people around you - colleagues as well as partners. You have to meet them with a smile, an open mind and interest. I guess that is where a buzz word like "cultural sensitivity" comes in, but it is worth it: you can learn as much from the driver in the office as from the country representative.
8. What is your motivation to work in the field of development?
I chose to study International Development Studies out of the wish to see the world and the ambition to work with something that makes a difference. However, looking back at my career, so much happened by chance: as a student I worked part time in the Danish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and I just happened to be in the section that dealt with UNFPA. It was a very crucial time for the Organisation, the period leading up to the International Conference on Population and Development in 1994, where a change in paradigm for UNFPA's mandate took place. I got so intrigued, that I focused the rest of my education and my career to that field. If it had not been for the fantastic people I worked with at the Ministry - among others a former UNFPA JPO - who were committed to these issues with their hearts and minds, I might have concentrated on something completely different. I am very happy that I ended up sharing their very commitment.
