LocationsJPO Story - Daiki Hayashi
October 7, 2026
Visiting a demining operator’s workshop to assess its capacity to maintain the demining robot, and reviewing potential sites for operator training.
What is your educational background? How has your education shaped your approach to development work?
I majored in Community Development at the University of the Philippines. On the theoretical side, I studied classical social, economic, political and development theories from the West, as well as approaches shaped by development practitioners through actual work in communities in the Philippines.
I spent a significant amount of time exposed to different sectors, including living and working alongside small-scale miners’ associations in a remote mountain village, and with a cooperative of factory workers in an economically disadvantaged urban area.
Those experiences gave me a habit of questioning power dynamics, both locally and internationally, from the perspective of people on the ground. They also left me with a principle that has stayed with me ever since: to be biased toward the poor and marginalized.
What inspired you to apply to the JPO programme and what is your motivation to work with your UN agency?
My contract as a UN Volunteer in Georgia was ending, and I came across a JPO position in governance in Sri Lanka. Having previous experience in both the sector and the country, I thought I could be of some use.
What motivates me to work with UNDP is the people. I see colleagues working hard for vulnerable communities, caring about the country and supporting one another. Whenever I need expertise from other offices, people are also very willing to share their time and knowledge. That spirit of cooperation is a strong motivation for me.
Daiki Hayashi, Programme Analyst UNDP Sri Lanka
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?
I have several roles in the office, but recently my main function has been to manage the project “Gender Responsive Advancement and Operational Enhancement of Women Deminers in the Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka.” A large part of my job is making sure that a fairly complex mine action project keeps moving from ideas into practical implementation.
That means coordinating between government, demining operators, suppliers, donors, technical experts and different teams within UNDP. I may be following up on procurement and government clearances, discussing technical requirements for equipment, coordinating training and EORE activities, consulting operators on Non-Technical Survey needs, or working through operational issues that could delay implementation.
Field engagement is also very important. I visit demining sites with technical experts, observe how teams actually work, and discuss directly with operators how the equipment, technology or activities we are proposing can be adapted to the terrain, operational conditions and actual needs on the ground.
There is not really a typical day. A large part of my role is listening to different people, understanding where the gaps are, and connecting the right people so that practical solutions can move forward. I do this very closely with my project team and colleagues across the office, who bring the technical and institutional knowledge that I rely on every day.
Which Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) does your work contribute to, and how?
My work contributes most directly to SDG 5 on Gender Equality, SDG 8 on Decent Work and Economic Growth, and SDG 16 on Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.
Through the mind action project, we are trying to improve the safety and working conditions of women deminers, including through better-fitted PPE and sanitation facilities, which directly supports gender equality and more decent working conditions.
Mine action itself also contributes strongly to SDG 16, as clearing landmines and strengthening national mine action capacity are important parts of sustaining peace and enabling communities affected by conflict to live and develop safely. My work with the National Mine Action Centre, operators and other partners also supports stronger coordination and national institutions.
Our work on Explosive Ordnance Risk Education, Non-Technical Survey and safer demining operations also contributes more broadly to protecting lives and allowing affected communities to use land safely again.
Daiki Hayashi with colleagues at UNDP Sri Lanka office.
What has been the most challenging project you've undertaken during your time with UNDP, and what did you learn from the experience?
Many of the problems I encounter are still rooted in communication issues or human relationships.
I sometimes think my function is like a lubricant. Gaps, frustration, or doubts can easily emerge between one person and another, or between one organization and another. For example, people working in the field every day and decision-makers in national government offices do not always have the same understanding of an issue. People on the ground may feel that their needs are not being responded to, while decision-makers may take time to respond because they need to navigate complex politics and institutional processes. Donors also do not always have the same understanding of UN projects just by reading a monthly report.
One year ago, I did not even know the word “demining” in English. I am still a newbie in the UN system, and I am learning something new every single day. There are so many practical issues for which I cannot find an answer just by asking AI or searching online. Some answers come only from years of experience or deep technical knowledge. I also cannot hear the most honest voices of people in the field if I do not have team members who have built strong relationships and trust with local operators.
So then, how do I function in this role? What I have learned is that there are always experts within the office, in the country, and globally who are willing to share their knowledge and expertise, often very generously and even voluntarily. I do not need to know everything myself, but I need to know who to listen to, who to connect, and how to bring people together.
What I have learned during my time with UNDP is that, despite all the misunderstandings and miscommunication, when people see others who are genuinely working toward the same goal with good intentions, they will lend a hand. Then each part of the system starts to function together, and little by little, things move forward.
What has been the most rewarding experience you have had at your duty station - whether professional or personal - that has shaped your journey as a JPO?
The most rewarding moments for me are when I feel appreciated by people. I often feel I do not really deserve it, but at the same time, it gives me a sense of self-worth and makes the work feel meaningful.
When we were developing a concept note for the Embassy of Japan, I joined the launch of Sri Lanka’s new mine action strategy and learned more about the sharp decline in funding and deminers being laid off. From there, a small team of us worked through many nights to develop the project idea, while the Embassy and our management also pushed hard to gain support from MOFA. It was a big surprise when I heard that the funding had been approved.
Re-entering the mine action sector after more than a decade was not easy, and we had to rebuild many things from scratch. But when colleagues entrusted me with responsibility, and when stakeholders started remembering my name, sharing their thoughts honestly, and appreciating my work, I felt deeply rewarded.
Sri Lanka Army Humanitarian Demining Unit briefing Daiki Hayashi on different types of landmines and explosive ordnance cleared in Sri Lanka.
What set of skills have you developed most throughout your assignment?
The skill I have developed most throughout my assignment is project management. I was not confident enough to take on such a role without strong sector knowledge or deep knowledge of UNDP systems.
My supervisor knew what I wanted to do in the future and gave me the opportunity anyway. It was not straightforward, and at one point I felt almost crushed by the responsibility and pressure. I consulted many people around me, and when I spoke honestly with my supervisor about how I was feeling, she immediately reduced my involvement in other projects so I could focus.
She told me that she, and the whole office, had my back. And it was true.
That experience taught me that developing management skills is not only about taking on more responsibility. It is also about learning when to ask for help, how to rely on the expertise of others, and how to keep moving forward under pressure.
What piece of advice would you give to those who are considering applying to the JPO Programme?
I applied for the JPO Programme thinking that I probably would not pass. I knew people who seemed smarter, better prepared, stronger on paper, or simply much more enthusiastic about working for the UN than I was. I still applied because I thought my sector and country experience might be useful. And somehow, I got the opportunity.
My previous supervisor once told me that one of the reasons the office selected me was because I seemed “resilient.” I don’t actually see myself that way. But when I struggle, I speak honestly with people, ask for help, and somehow keep going by leaning on others. Maybe that was the kind of resilience they saw in me.
So my advice would be: even if you are not a “UN fan,” do not be discouraged. At least in my current job as a JPO, the ability to put yourself in other people’s shoes can be more valuable than knowing the UN system inside out. If you genuinely care about people, particularly those who are poor or marginalized, and are willing to learn and contribute, that is already a strong reason to give it a try.
How has your JPO experience shaped your vision for your future within the UN or beyond?
My long-term goal has not really changed, but my JPO experience has changed the way I think about how to get there.
Since my university years in the Philippines, when I first had the opportunity to work directly with communities facing poverty and marginalization, I have wanted to stay close to that kind of work, particularly with children on the street who have limited or no access to education.
What the JPO experience has shown me is that I do not need to follow one straight career path to contribute to that goal. I am now working in governance and mine action, which are quite different from my academic background, but I am learning how to manage projects, work with governments and donors, navigate institutions, mobilize resources, and bring very different people together. Those are experiences I know I can carry into whatever I do later.
I have also been fortunate that my office and funding organization have supported this broader ambition, even when it goes beyond my current role. That has given me a more open view of my future: whether within the UN or beyond, I want to keep building the experience and skills that will eventually allow me to create better opportunities for the poorest of the poor.
Daiki Hayashi and the Chief Technical Advisor assessing the operating environment and demining practices in a dense forest area.
We also love hearing about the lighter side of life in the field; do you have a funny anecdote or a unique tradition from your duty station that made you smile?
People in Sri Lanka are generally very polite. You can see it in the way people dress, the way they speak, and even in the manners and etiquette around eating curry with your bare hand.
When I was working in a Sri Lankan government office previously, there was a mosquito flying around. I stood up, ready to clap it between my hands, and my colleague stopped me.
I said, “I’ve already had dengue twice. I really don’t want to get it again.”
She just looked at me and said, “Even so… please do it out of my sight.”
Much of the remaining explosive contamination is in dense forest, so deminers often have to work manually in very difficult conditions while also limiting the number of trees they cut down. Recently, one demining operator had to suspend the use of a micro-excavator because its operating noise might disturb wildlife and could only resume once a silencer was installed.
Consideration here seems to have no boundaries. It may sometimes come at the expense of convenience or practicality, and I know of many locals who are frustrated by that as well. And yet, I find this Sri Lankan politeness beautiful.
My JPO journey has been a gradual shift from observing, learning and staying quiet, to being exposed to situations where I had to speak up, make decisions and take responsibility. I am still learning, but I have grown into roles I never imagined I would be ready for.Daiki Hayashi
Related
content
content
