Daria Sergeeva

My journey to working in the international sphere began during my undergraduate studies: I studied at the faculty of international relations at the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia in Moscow and participated in a student exchange program in Germany, where I became passionate about sustainable development and climate issues. While continuing my master's studies at the Higher School of Economics, I developed my professional skills at a research center specializing in management innovations, and later in the sustainable development department of an international company. The next important step was conducting research on greenhouse gas emissions reduction at the University of Helsinki. The knowledge gained there was particularly useful during my internship at UNDP Belarus, where I worked on developing partnerships for financing SDGs and green projects with the support of the project "Knowledge management and capacity development in Russia-UNDP Partnership".

Such a diverse experience helped me win a competition in the UNV FF programme and secure a position as a knowledge management specialist at the UNDP office in Belarus, where for the past three years I have been involved in implementing projects for the digitalization of internal processes, conducting audits of environmental protection projects, as well as engaging in strategic planning and data analytics. My key role involves managing the processes of systematizing and disseminating information and knowledge within UNDP while facilitating the exchange of best practices with partners.

One of my main achievements was organizing an international conference on ESG, dedicated to integrating sustainable development principles into business processes. The event was attended by representatives from large businesses, government entities at both national and regional levels, as well as research and consulting firms. At the conference, our team presented a study on the application of ESG standards in the corporate sector, highlighting successful cases from international practice.

In addition to attracting foreign expertise, I provide consultations on implementing digital solutions for monitoring and evaluating organizational performance for UNDP country offices. Tools such as the knowledge-sharing platform, a system for automating the collection and analysis of big data, as well as the visualization of UNDP project results have been recognized as effective at the regional level. Currently, I am working with a team from the UNDP headquarters on creating a meta-platform that will assist leaders at various levels in making informed decisions based on performance indicators and the organization’s impact in specific areas.

Thanks to the UN FF programme, I have the opportunity to meet with professionals from various fields, countries, and organizations, gain invaluable experience in project management, and enhance my intercultural communication skills.

It is especially important for me to see the tangible contribution of my work to the country’s development. During visits to remote regions of Belarus, we communicate with project beneficiaries – local authorities, representatives of nature reserves, environmental protection specialists, and residents. It is for them that UNDP works in Belarus, offering solutions to pressing economic, social, and environmental issues. The success and gratitude of these people are my main motivation for becoming a UN volunteer.