What are the main activities/tasks you are working on? Can you walk us through a typical day in your role - whether in the office or out in the field?

As a Climate Change Analyst at the UNDP Thailand Country Office, my main function is to manage and coordinate the Country Office’s Climate Action Portfolio, including key climate change projects, and to serve as a focal point and advisor for all climate-related matters. In this position, I primarily ensure the quality and coordinated delivery of the projects under the portfolio and strive to create synergies with other portfolios, especially those focusing on nature and biodiversity, among many other tasks. In doing my tasks, I can also count with a fantastic team of talented colleagues that share with me successes and defeats.

In my daily work, I spend much of my time coordinating with project partners, consultants, and UNDP regional counterparts to ensure the smooth implementation of project activities. In addition to my project management functions, I also contribute to the development of new project proposals and explore new partnerships to expand the portfolio.

When requested, I also go occasionally on working missions to the projects’ implementation areas. This is very exciting as it allows me to get closer to the beneficiaries and hear their stories first-hand.

Which Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) does your work contribute to, and how?

Working on climate change, I primarily contribute to SDG 13, Climate Action. Nevertheless, due to the mandate and multidisciplinary nature of my agency, I also contribute to several other SDGs, including SDG 4, SDG 5, SDG 6, SDG 7, SDG 9, SDG 11, SDG 15, and SDG 17. In practice, I work daily on topics such as the just energy transition; climate, gender, and social inclusion (CC-GSI); climate policies, partnerships, and finance — including at the local level; industrial decarbonization; youth engagement and climate education; water management; and so on.

What has been the most challenging project you've undertaken during your time with UNDP, and what did you learn from the experience?

The most challenging experience came as soon as I landed at UNDP Thailand. The former project manager of a GCF-funded 17 million USD project on water management and agricultural resilience left just a few days after my arrival, and I was assigned to take over the project. I really learned a lot from this experience, as it was crucial in helping me navigate the world of vertical funds and large-scale projects. It was also very useful to expand my expertise beyond urban issues to include agriculture. Most importantly, it equipped me with experience and tools to address complex challenges while engaging diverse stakeholders. I now consider this experience a repository of lessons learned that I continue to apply throughout my work.