LocationsBuilding a Career Beyond Borders at UNDP
July 6, 2026
Attending AltFinLab Istanbul Summit, 2026
Careers in international development are rarely shaped by a single role or assignment. More often, they develop through new experiences, professional relationships and opportunities to work beyond familiar contexts.
For Enrique Crespo Peñaherrera, that journey was shaped by seven years working in social and local economic development. Over time, this led him to explore how technology could support human development in more practical and people-centred ways.
When he joined UNDP Ecuador’s Accelerator Lab in 2022, that interest became part of a clear mandate: to help the country office shape its approach to digitalization in Ecuador and define what role UNDP could play in that space
Today, Enrique works as Regional Digital Specialist for Latin America and the Caribbean at UNDP, supporting countries in adopting digital solutions that are responsible, inclusive and people-centred.
Enrique Crespo, Regional Digital Specialist at UNDP RBLAC
Exploring Opportunities Beyond the Role
The move from country office work to a regional role began while Enrique was still in Ecuador, looking for ways to broaden his work within UNDP.
“I knew I wanted to gain international experience. I was also aware that moving abroad or securing a temporary assignment wasn’t easy, especially early in your career,” he says.
The opportunity came through the Virtual Development Assignment Programme (VDAP), a joint initiative of UNDP, UNV and UNCDF that enables personnel to contribute to short-term projects in other offices while remaining at their current duty station.
His first assignment connected him with colleagues at the AltFinLab team at the Global Policy Centre in Istanbul, where he contributed to knowledge products, reviewed proposals and supported research on resource mobilization and private sector engagement. Part of the work focused on benchmarking partnership approaches and exploring how new funding models could be connected to development outcomes.
Learning Through a Global Network
Enrique often describes VDAP as "a network within a network."
The assignment did not end with the initial project. Through continued collaboration with colleagues at the AltFinLab, he became involved in work on crowdfunding, innovative financing and blockchain applications. Blockchain was still unfamiliar territory for him, but the experience helped him understand its potential role in development.
That early exposure later became directly relevant to his regional work. Today, blockchain is one of the thematic areas he oversees as Regional Digital Specialist, alongside artificial intelligence, data, digital public infrastructure and the modernization of public services.
He explains:
“VDAP wasn’t a course where you learned something and then went back to your regular job. You were working with colleagues from different countries, supporting actual projects, contributing to outcomes that mattered. For me, that made the learning much more meaningful.”
Enrique with UNDP colleagues at UNDP HQ in New York, 2026.
When Learning Creates Opportunity
Over time, the relationships formed through that work began to open doors beyond the original assignment.
A turning point came when he volunteered to support a regional workshop in Panama. During that event, he met a senior leader who would later become his supervisor. A conversation that began there eventually led to an assignment in New York, where he helped establish what became the Digital 4 Development Hub for Latin America and the Caribbean.
The assignment gave him insight into regional planning and strategic decision-making at a different level of the organization.
“Without those experiences, I don't think I would have been in a position to compete successfully for the role I have today.”
Growth Starts Before You Feel Ready
When asked what advice he would offer to colleagues considering opportunities such as VDAP, Enrique's answer is simple:
“Come with an open mind and an open heart.”
He encourages people not to wait until they feel completely prepared before stepping into something new.
“Some of the most valuable learning experiences happen precisely because you're stepping into something unfamiliar.”
Looking back, Enrique sees VDAP less as a standalone assignment and more as the beginning of a series of experiences that gradually expanded his responsibilities, perspective and understanding of the organization.
Enrique posing at the United Nations General Assembly, New York, 2026.
While his own journey ultimately led to a regional role, he emphasizes that career progression is only one possible outcome. For many colleagues, the value lies in gaining new perspectives, learning from peers across the organization and contributing to work beyond their immediate teams.
His experience also reflects a broader approach to learning and development at UNDP. Alongside VDAP, personnel have access to opportunities that support growth at different stages of their careers, from structured onboarding and career development initiatives to mentoring, people management learning and leadership development programmes. Together, these resources help colleagues continue learning, build connections and explore new directions across the organization.
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