LocationsJPO Story - Housam Silim
July 8, 2025
Housam (first from left) as part of the communications team for the African Union side events at the UNDP Regional Service Centre for Africa (RSCA) Open House, with members of the RSCA, February 2024.
What is your educational background?
I studied Political Science and Human Rights for my undergraduate degree and later completed a Master’s in Education and International Development. From a young age, I was deeply interested in social justice and wanted to understand these issues academically, especially from an equity perspective. My studies fed this curiosity and helped me build skills in public policy analysis and political economy. Having spent much of my life in Kenya, my political understanding has always been shaped by the African context.
What made you apply to the JPO programme/what is your motivation to work with UNDP?
I was not always interested in working for the UN specifically, but I knew my skills and interests aligned with the international development space. I have never been drawn to development from a paternalistic angle; instead, I am driven by how to strengthen systems that empower those who are most marginalized and excluded. The UN is one of the few vehicles that can connect the dots across governments, NGOs, and activists to make that possible, so working within this system felt like an important step to learn how real change can happen.
I came into gender work through previous roles focused on embedding it in governance and social protection. I kept seeing how gender issues often were not taken seriously, which is not surprising given how male-dominated many policy spaces still are. That only deepened my commitment to this work. When the JPO opportunity came up, I thought carefully about what it means to be a young man working in this space, especially now when gender equality is facing backlash. I believe it is crucial for men to listen first, to truly understand the lived experiences of women and girls, and then champion this work meaningfully without taking up space that is not ours. Communications is a big part of how I do that because shaping narratives and public discourse at a regional level is a vital bridge to putting it at the centre of policy agendas for everyone.
It was also important for me to understand how Global Affairs Canada brings gender to the forefront through its Feminist International Assistance Policy and actually apply it. This role has given me the chance to reconcile those perspectives and commitments by seeing how gender equality is advanced both through Canada’s priorities and UNDP’s work on the ground. Working regionally has given me a bird’s-eye view of different country contexts and how they connect to broader regional trends. As a Canadian with roots in East Africa, having spent my life between Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, this role has allowed me to bridge these experiences and perspectives in a way that feels both personal and meaningful.
Housam Silim, Programme Analyst UNDP Regional Service Centre for Africa
What are the main activities/tasks you are working on? What is a day at the office/in the field like?
I work on regional gender communications and knowledge management. My main activities include drafting and editing newsletters, blogs, and reports that showcase the impact of our gender initiatives across different African countries. I coordinate with country offices, regional economic communities, and partners to gather stories, lessons learned, and good practices. I also support regional campaigns like the 16 Days of Activism and International Women’s Day, making sure we keep gender equality visible in public discourse.
A typical day can range from reviewing drafts, brainstorming ideas with colleagues, to supporting webinars and sharing content on our platforms. Working at the regional level means I get to connect local stories to broader regional trends, which makes the work both challenging and rewarding.
In your day-to-day work, what SDG(s) are you helping to implement?
My work primarily contributes to SDG 5 (Gender Equality) by promoting women’s leadership, economic empowerment, and protection from gender-based violence. Because I work in communications and knowledge sharing, I also support SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by connecting stakeholders and sharing good practices. Depending on the project, my work often touches on SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) through our focus on gender, energy access, and women’s entrepreneurship.
What is the most challenging project that you have worked on/are working on?
Powering Gender Equality has definitely been the most challenging project so far. It really forced me to think about energy from a different perspective, not just as a trade-off between economic growth and sustainability, but as a deeply gendered issue. I learned how many ways women are excluded from energy conversations and decisions, and the opportunities that exist for women to participate and lead.
Coordinating our communications strategy for this project was complex, we worked with four different country offices and needed to frame a cohesive, clear narrative. I always want to go beyond surface-level storytelling and get to the substance of the issues, because clean energy access is such an enormous challenge. It was important to push the idea that women shouldn’t just be included, but should be at the center of this transition, and I had many discussions with programme leads about how to reflect that.
My biggest takeaway has been understanding just how important political will is for these conversations to gain traction as it can really make or break an initiative. I’m still learning how strategic advocacy and communications can help drive that political will forward.
Housam (first from left) as one of the co-organisers for the Clean Cooking Co-Design Workshop with members of the RSCA Gender Team, RSCA Environment Team, Sustainable Energy Hub, UNDP Country Office energy experts, and development partners, May 2025
What has been the most rewarding experience to date for you at your duty station?
The beauty of working in gender and women’s empowerment is that it sits at the heart of everything we should be doing as a global community. The most rewarding part for me has been working across different areas that all connect back to gender, from gender-based violence to governance to clean energy. It has deepened my understanding of how these issues intersect in people’s daily lives. Working in an integrated way is central to how UNDP operates, and there is no better lens for that than gender. On top of that, being in communications challenges me to grasp diverse technical areas, which has pushed me to keep learning and building connections with inspiring colleagues.
What set of skills have you developed most throughout your assignment?
My role has really strengthened my technical skills in communications – not just in terms of making communications pieces, but also in terms of technical reporting for our impact. I’ve had to be a bit of a jack of all trades , not just in strategy and messaging, but also in research and programme work. I’ve learned how to tailor content for very different audiences, which has been key, especially when translating policy-heavy topics into clear messages that both policy experts and the wider public can understand and engage with.
I’ve also really enjoyed getting back into digital communications and graphic design, photography, photo editing, layout, and visual storytelling have become a creative outlet for me alongside my policy work. Bringing these together to amplify my analytical skills, through data visualisation and impact reporting has really given me a 360 perspective on policy work and has helped round me out.
On top of that, working cross-culturally has been invaluable. I’ve had to coordinate with different teams and country offices, and building cohesive narratives across diverse contexts has pushed me to be adaptable and sensitive to different perspectives.
What piece of advice would you give to those who are considering applying to the JPO Programme?
See this as a long-term platform – not just a way to get into the “UN system.” Find a niche or cause you’re truly passionate about; that should be your entry point. Understanding what the UN agency you’re applying to actually does: how it influences change, but also where it’s constrained. This will help you see how you can maximize your impact and what skills you want to build.
See the JPO as more than just a job; it’s an opportunity to grow, learn about the multilateral ecosystem, and let that experience shape the kind of work you want to do in the future. It’s a stepping stone that can strengthen your commitment to the change you want to see in the world.
Housam, leading a presentation on the communications strategy for the UNDP Powering Gender Equality project for counterparts in Eswatini, Ethiopia, Madagascar, and Malawi Country Offices, November 2023
How do you feel your JPO assignment will influence your career choices/opportunities within the UN?
The UN is at an important juncture and, like many, I’m reflecting on how I can best use my skills to add value within the system. I feel confident in the diverse skills I’ve developed during my assignment, the dynamic and fast-paced environment has pushed me to become more adaptable and responsive. It has strengthened both my policy analysis and communications skills, and helped me understand emerging priorities like energy and climate through a gender lens.
I believe my ability to approach work from technical, analytical, creative, and communications perspectives is well suited to a landscape that is constantly evolving. UNDP, the RSCA gender team, and Global Affairs Canada have all enabled me to build these competencies, and I think these are exactly the kinds of skills that will remain relevant and needed in the future. . For me, it is these kind of experiences, bringing in analytical and technical spheres together that drives me, and that I fully intend to pursue not matter what roles and opportunities await me in the future.
Could you tell us about a funny anecdote or a curious tradition that you have experienced in your duty station?
Not a funny or curious tradition – Foolishly decided I needed a boost of energy when I first moved here and had two cups of coffee in a single day. Instead of energizing me, I felt dizzy and so jittery, I had to take sick day. Coffee in Addis should be taken with caution for foreigners!
My JPO experience has coincided with big shifts and important lessons. Our world is increasingly fragmented and reckoning with the role of multilateralism. In this context, we have to not just work together but truly understand each other’s challenges, learn continuously, and adapt. The gravity of the world’s suffering demands that our commitment and boldness are not optional but essential.Housam Silim
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