Photo credit: Nathalie Gatti
By Nathalie Gatti, MAGG
Sabaidee! Hello again from Vientiane, Lao PDR!
Thinking back on my six months here in Laos, it is difficult to reflect on my initial thoughts, feelings, and reactions. This country, in which I initially felt out of place, has become a home, filled with community and some of my favourite places. Living in Southeast Asia for the past six months has been a truly transformative experience. Over the course of my internship, I have learned so much about myself, met so many incredible people, and made absolutely unforgettable memories.
Throughout my six months at UNDP Lao PDR, while I had many roles and responsibilities, my internship became tightly aligned with the development of the next Country Programme Document (CPD) – the guiding framework and strategic document outlining programmatic priorities for 2027-2031.
Working primarily with the management team and the Programme Support Unit, my support to this process has been focused on coordination, knowledge management, and the organization and facilitation of internal and external events and consultations. It has been intense, collaborative work that will shape UNDP’s interventions in the years ahead.
From my very first day, which just so happened to be a key internal CPD workshop, I have been heavily involved in the development process of the next CPD. Following months of workshops, drafting meetings, and consultations, we are currently in a cycle of submissions, reviews, and incorporating feedback from the Government of Lao PDR, the UNDP Regional Bureau, Head Quarters, and Member States.
While my internship has officially come to a close, I am so excited to share that I have received an extension to my contract, and I have continued working at UNDP Lao PDR as an International Consultant. Under my new contract, I will be continuing my contributions to the CPD development process, staying on until final submission in June. As a Consultant, in addition to CPD development, I will continue my support to the management team and my contributions to the Programme Support Unit, helping out with monitoring and evaluation, coordination with Government partners, and compliance with UNDP global and regional standards and procedures.
This internship has been such an incredible experience; while challenging at times, it has taught me so much about myself and how I work best, provided me with an incredible community of friends and colleagues, introduced me to the beauties of Southeast Asia, and further entrenched my love of this industry and my desire to continue working in this field. I am so incredibly grateful to all of the people who have made this internship experience so fulfilling.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the BSIA, its students, faculty, staff, or Board of Directors.