As I write this, I am somewhere above India en route to Dhaka in Bangladesh, from where I’ll take an internal flight to the coastal town of Cox’s Bazar, near the border with Myanmar. This is to be my new home as I start in the role of external relations officer at the UNHCR, part of the UN’s Junior Professional Officer (JPO) programme sponsored by Jersey Overseas Aid. I will be joining the humanitarian response to the Rohingya refugee crisis, helping share information and updates about the UNHCR’s work with external donors.
Just getting to this stage has been a fairly complex process involving numerous background checks, an in-depth medical examination and various lengthy forms to complete. I applied to the JPO programme in May, interviewed in June, received an offer in July - and only now, at the start of the new year, am I finally on my way.
My career to date has included roles within the UK civil service - most recently as a programme manager on a global food security programme at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office - and at other organisations with an international focus. For a long time it has been my goal to gain experience overseas in the development or humanitarian sectors, which are notoriously difficult to break into.
Looking out the window at a landscape of rivers and hills below, I’m feeling a mixture of trepidation and excitement. I’m lucky that a former Jersey JPO, Faye Coggins, is still working in Cox’s Bazar after completing two years on the programme, so I was able to get some useful advice from her as I prepared for this move; but until I actually arrive it’s hard to know exactly what to expect.
What I do know is that this represents an invaluable opportunity to contribute towards the UNHCR’s essential work on the frontline of one of the world’s largest ongoing humanitarian crises. Whilst the year ahead will undoubtedly bring some challenges and frustrations, I hope to develop new skills, learn as much as I can and do my best to make the most of this incredible adventure.