For many talented young people, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can still feel distant — big goals, technical language, and global frameworks. But for the Fellows of UNDP China's SDG FAST Programme (SDG Fellowship Accelerating Sustainable Transformation), development becomes tangible through daily work, team collaboration, and real responsibilities.

Launched in late 2024, SDG FAST is UNDP China's flagship youth talent cultivation programme dedicated to sustainable development. UNDP China has invested significant efforts in designing and operationalising this programme, treating it not as a short-term initiative but as a strategic platform for long-term talent pipeline building.
 
The programme is built on a structured learning framework that enables Fellows to grow rapidly within a one-year period. Through a carefully designed curriculum — including thematic workshops, policy briefings, project cycle management training, and direct engagement with ongoing UNDP projects — Fellows acquire both foundational knowledge of the SDGs and practical skills for development work.
 
Fellows are provided with a unique opportunity to deepen their knowledge: understanding of global governance frameworks, hands-on project design and implementation experience, and familiarity with the United Nations’ development practices rooted in local realities.
 
The 2024-2026 Cohort of SDG FAST is funded and supported by the following partners: Duke Kunshan University, East China Normal University, Ocean University of China, Peace and Development Foundation, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Tsinghua University, Zhejiang University (listed in alphabetical order).
 
Since its rollout in China, the programme has already drawn active interest from multiple UNDP regional bureaux and country offices around the world. Colleagues from different regions have reached out to learn from the programme's design, partnership models, and youth engagement mechanisms.

Below, our HR colleague and seven Fellows share what motivates them, what surprised them, and how the fellowship shaped their next steps. Their stories are different, but together they point to a shared experience:
 
Wang Yuhan, HR Officer in China CO

This work matters to us. Not because it's our job — but because we truly believe in it.
 
We carry a real responsibility — not just to UNDP, but to young people who want to make a difference.
 
Bringing talented young people in is only the beginning. The real question we kept asking ourselves was: how do we help them stay, grow, and find their place — not just for a year, but for life?

So we designed ongoing sharing sessions. Week after week, not as lectures, but as honest conversations. Because over time, those conversations turn into community. And that community becomes a shared mission. We also took orientation seriously. Not a one-day welcome, but a structured onboarding. We also hope them to understand the small things: how decisions get made, how to ask for support when they feel lost. These are the skills that stay with them, wherever their careers take them.
 
None of this was accidental. We do it because we believe every young person deserves a supportive space to learn what development truly means — at their own pace, with people who genuinely care.
 
When a Fellow leaves the programme more capable, more confident, and more grounded in purpose than when they arrived, it gives us hope. That is why we do this—every single day.
 
Anna, Fellow ’24, now Programme Assistant in China CO

For Anna, development became real the moment it moved from theory into practice.
 
When she joined UNDP China as a Hydrogen Economy Fellow, Anna was stepping into a completely new field. With little prior knowledge of the subject, she quickly found herself navigating one of the key sectors shaping China’s low-carbon transition.
 
Over time, her work grew from desk research into real-world exposure. Through field visits to Changshu, Rugao, and Foshan, she saw how green hydrogen is not only discussed at the policy level, but also implemented through local government plans, industrial systems transformations, capacity building programmes, and strategic ecosystem partnerships.
 
“Through this experience, I gained a much more comprehensive understanding of the sector and its importance for China’s future low-carbon development pathways and trajectory,” she said.
 
These experiences helped her connect technical knowledge with broader development questions. She began to understand how talent development, infrastructure, and policy intersect in shaping the future of clean energy.
 
Beyond the sector itself, Anna also highlights the sense of trust and encouragement she experienced within the team. Being supported to explore new topics and contribute ideas allowed her to grow both professionally and personally.
 
“I felt empowered to explore different areas, ask questions, and turn my ideas into action,” she said.
 
For Anna, the fellowship became more than a learning opportunity, it was a turning point that helped define her path forward. She has stayed at UNDP as a full-time employee and her story continues.
 
Morgan, Fellow ‘24

For Morgan, development revealed itself not in visible projects, but in the entire systems that make projects come to life.
 
As a fellow supporting strategic planning, risk management, and evaluation, Morgan was exposed to a side of development that often remains behind the scenes: coordination, operational compliance, and evaluation processes, especially during a critical phase of UNDP China’s programme cycle.
 
At first, the scale and complexity were overwhelming. Understanding policies, reporting frameworks, and institutional processes required a steep learning curve. But over time, those challenges became a foundation for growth.
 
“It opened my eyes to the dynamics of global cooperation, where policies, partnerships and geopolitics intersect,” he said.
 
Through this experience, Morgan gained a clearer understanding of how development outcomes are shaped not only by ideas, but by structures, transparency, accountability, and collaboration across teams and institutions.
 
Equally important was the environment he worked in. Being surrounded by colleagues from diverse backgrounds, all committed to the SDGs, strengthened his sense of purpose and broadened his perspective on global development.
 
“Working with people from different backgrounds, all committed to the same goals, had a lasting impact on how I see development,” he said.
 
For Morgan, the fellowship was not just about acquiring skills, but about learning how development functions as a complex, interconnected system.
 
Xiaoyu, Fellow ‘25

For Xiaoyu, communication became a way of making development visible and understood.
 
As a Communications Fellow, Xiaoyu worked on social media and event outreach, helping translate complex development initiatives into accessible narratives. Her role placed her at the intersection of information, storytelling, and public engagement.
 
Through this work, she began to see communication not as a supporting function, but as an integral part of how development ideas are shared, interpreted, and connected across audiences.
 
“It helped me deepen my understanding of global development issues and improve my cross-cultural communication and teamwork abilities,” she said.
 
At the same time, the fellowship gave her a closer view of how international initiatives are designed and implemented. Observing these processes from within allowed her to better understand the relationship between global agendas and local action.
 
The experience also influenced how she sees her own future. Rather than following a conventional communications path, she became more interested in roles connected to international affairs and sustainability.
 
“It reshaped how I think about my career and the kind of work I want to do,” she said.
 
For Xiaoyu, communication became not just a profession, but a way of contributing to broader development goals.
  
Liyao, Fellow ‘24

For Liyao, the fellowship was an opportunity to rethink where his field fits within global development.
 
With a background in architecture and health, and doctoral research focused on the built environment, Liyao initially approached development through a spatial lens. At UNDP, his work on global partnerships expanded that perspective significantly.
 
Through involvement in international projects and cross-country collaboration, he encountered development as a space where multiple systems intersect, from governance and financing to knowledge exchange and policy coordination.
 
“I began to understand development in a much broader sense, beyond a single discipline,” he said.
 
This shift encouraged him to think differently about his own work. Rather than remaining within traditional boundaries, he began exploring how architectural thinking could contribute to more inclusive and resilient development practices.
 
At the same time, he gained a more realistic understanding of the field. Development, he notes, is complex and not always straightforward, but that complexity is part of what makes it meaningful.
 
“It’s not always simple, but that’s also what makes the work worth doing,” he said.
 
For Liyao, the fellowship opened up new ways of thinking, not only about development, but about his role within it.
 
Phoebe, Fellow ‘24
 

For Phoebe, development work was understood through people, systems, and the values that connect them.
 
As an HR Fellow, Phoebe worked across talent acquisition and organizational processes, gaining insight into how development institutions function internally. Her role offered a perspective that is often less visible, but essential to sustaining long-term impact.
 
Through hands-on experience across the HR cycle, she developed practical skills while also gaining a broader understanding of how UNDP operates across different stages of project work.
 
“This experience strengthened not only my professional skills, but also my sense of purpose and professional maturity,” she said.
 
Equally important was the environment she encountered. Working alongside colleagues who were deeply committed to development work reinforced her appreciation for values-driven collaboration.
 
After completing the fellowship, she transitioned into talent acquisition in the private sector, where she continues to apply a cross-cultural, people-centered approach shaped by her time at UNDP.
 
“The foundation I built at UNDP continues to guide how I approach my work today,” she said.
 
For Phoebe, the fellowship was not only a professional experience, but a formative step in defining how she works and what she values.
 
Yuqing, Fellow ‘25

For Yuqing, development came into focus through the communities it serves.
 
Having previously interned with the GEF Small Grants Programme, Yuqing returned as a fellow with a clearer sense of purpose. Her work involved supporting NGO projects across China, from marine conservation in Zhoushan to habitat restoration in Panjin.
 
Through project monitoring, reporting, and communication with partners, she began to see how global development goals are translated into local action.
 
“What moves me most is seeing abstract goals gradually transform into tangible changes,” she said.
 
Field visits and project meetings gave her firsthand insight into how UNDP's initiatives affect real communities and ecosystems across China. These experiences reshaped her understanding of development, moving it from abstract concepts to lived realities.
 
She also found meaning in the multicultural environment of UNDP China, where diverse perspectives were encouraged and integrated into project work.
 
“True internationalization is about bringing different perspectives together through dialogue.”
 
Perhaps most significantly, the fellowship changed how she views her own future. Instead of following a single defined path, she now sees a wider range of possibilities.
 
For Yuqing, development is not a distant goal, but an ongoing process — one that begins with small, concrete steps.
 
A Shared Perspective
 
Since its launch and with committed support from partner entities, the programme has received over 300 young applicants from outstanding universities.

Fellows have been deeply involved in the planning, implementation and management of UNDP China projects and initiatives that advance the SDGs in China while also providing active support for policy research and on-the-ground programme delivery.

Through comprehensive capacity-building, they develop:
 
·       forward-looking perspectives grounded in real tasks and responsibilities;
·       cross-functional collaboration experience across teams and partners;
·       professional networks and mentorship in an international workplace;
·       a mindset that combines global vision with local insight.
 
After the fellowship, a number of outstanding Fellows have continued pursuing careers connected to sustainable development. Some pursue doctoral studies in related fields; others join UNDP or other international organizations; and many integrate SDG principles into diverse industries—aligning personal aspirations and social impact.
 
More broadly, SDG FAST is a strategic investment made together with partners, channelling resources directly into youth talent development and helping build a pipeline of future leaders for sustainable development in China and beyond.