Anna Lobanova

I got my Master's degree at the National Research University Higher School of Economics in Moscow where I have been studying at the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs. While still in graduate school, I started working at the Analytical Centre under the Government of the Russian Federation, where I analysed various aspects of the Russian economy and the economies of other countries. Then I moved to the Ministry of Energy where I worked on international projects in the field of renewable energy and energy efficiency. Over time, I realized that I was interested in trying my hand in the international arena, and thus I applied for a youth volunteer position at UNDP Pacific in Fiji, where I ended up in October 2018.

As part of the UNDP Pacific team, I worked on a project "Disaster Resilience for Pacific Small Island Developing States". These countries are exposed to extreme natural events such as storms, tsunamis, typhoons and hurricanes. Unfortunately, the number of such natural disasters is on increase due to climate change.

We were helping the island states prepare for and mitigate economic losses from imminent natural disasters, in particular by promoting life and property insurance schemes. We also cooperated with the regional meteorological services, organised training for staff and helped purchase the necessary equipment to better forecast extreme weather events.

There were a lot of kind and supportive people in my team who were willing to help with both work and everyday issues. It is very important to feel such support when you move to work on the other side of the world and have to adapt to a new culture, a new climate and a very different environment. For example, in Fiji, apart from the 30-degree heat, the humidity is very high and there are a lot of insects that become your permanent neighbours.

The knowledge and experience I gained allowed me to pursue my career within the UN system in Thailand at the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), where I am currently working as a sustainable energy specialist.

I would like to wish all the volunteers not to be afraid of stepping out of their comfort zone. The most interesting part starts after you take the first step. It is crucial not to be afraid to take it.