Saumya Sara Abraham, MA Public and International Affairs, 1st year
Country of fieldwork: Laos
Canadian NGO: UNAC
Local NGO: UNDP Lao PDR
Arriving in Vientiane, the quiet charm of the city felt worlds apart from the bustling academic corridors at the University of Ottawa. Yet within the calm, I’ve found myself at the centre of development conversations that connect directly to what I’ve studied over the past year. My internship with the Economist Team at UNDP Lao PDR has not only grounded my academic knowledge in real-world practice but has also sharpened my understanding of how multilateral actors engage with national development priorities.
Much of my work in the first couple of weeks revolved around the Human development Report Launch, a flagship initiative for the office. I’ve had the opportunity to draft the concept note for the national HDR launch, structure the event’s programme components, and coordinate with stakeholders. These responsibilities have demanded strategic thinking, clear communication, and cultural sensitivity skills we often discuss theoretically in class, but which take on a new dimension in the field.
A highlight of my experience has been writing the Lao PDR Fact Sheet, which is now being used by the UNDP Resident Representative in high-level meetings. The fact that a document I researched and wrote contributes to real policy discussions has been both humbling and motivating. I’ve also taken the lead on drafting donor-facing reporting narratives and synthesising internal strategy documents like the Country Programme Document (CPD), both of which require a balance of technical analysis and accessible storytelling.
My days involve a mix of focused desk work, internal meetings, and external partner engagement. The office settling is secure and collaborative, and though I spend long hours working on documents or drafting communications, the sense of purpose and intellectual engagement is constant. I’ve also become familiar with the mechanics of event planning and development communications from preparing opening remarks and social media posts, to compiling clean meeting transcripts and building stakeholder outreach lists.
From a broader perspective, this internship is making me reflect on the relationship between data, narrative, and policy change. The ability to translate complex socioeconomic realities into actionable, human – centered strategies is something I’ve admired in theory here, I am leaning to do it myself.
As I move into the second half of my internship, I look forward to deepening my contribution by expanding UNDP’s partnerships through the relationships formed during this process. What began as a professional placement is quickly becoming a deeply formative chapter one that connects the ideals of international development to the realities on the ground.