World Humanitarian Day: Lessons from our first missions

August 18, 2025

Each year UNDP deploys thousands of personnel to support countries and communities recovering from crisis.

Photo: UNDP Dominica

You never forget your first humanitarian mission: the hum of an airport at dawn, a bag heavy with things you think you’ll need, a head full of good intentions. But as Henny Ngu puts it:

“The work is not about arriving with answers – it’s about arriving with humility.”

In honour of World Humanitarian Day, we asked UNDP colleagues who have responded to emergencies around the world: What’s the biggest lesson you learned during your very first deployment?

From East Timor to Somalia, Sudan to Mozambique, their words are equal parts hard-earned truth and heartfelt encouragement, and a reminder that in this work, listening is as vital as doing. The accompanying photos, taken during their earliest missions with the digital cameras of the time, offer a nostalgic glimpse into those beginnings.

Shoko Noda

UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Crisis Bureau Director

'Stay courageous, stay curious and let the journey shape you.'

A group of young women seated in a classroom, smiling with a woman in the foreground. — Shoko Noda in Ethiopia

UNDP photo

“I would tell my younger self that your role is not to have all the answers but to work alongside people, listen to and learn from them, and trust that your small efforts can spark lasting change. Stay courageous, stay curious and let the journey shape you. Build bonds with colleagues, deepen your understanding of the country’s history and its people’s aspirations, and visit after a few years to see the impact you have made.”

Women together under a vine-covered pergola, smiling warmly at the camera. — Shoko Noda on a mission in Tajikistan

UNDP photo

Devanand Ramiah

Director, Crisis Readiness, Response & Recovery, UNDP Crisis Bureau

'On the ground, flexibility and adaptability are the bridge between intention and impact.'

Three men, one in military attire, pose near a vehicle in a casual outdoor setting. — Devanand Ramiah on a mission in East Timor

UNDP photo

“Your first mission is like your first love - you never forget it. For me, that was my time in East Timor. Looking back, I would tell my younger self: embrace the local culture, trust the wisdom of local colleagues, and remember that rules need nuance. On the ground, flexibility and adaptability are the bridge between intention and impact.”

Cristino Pedraza Lopez

Chief Technical Advisor, UNDP Mozambique

'Never lose the eagerness to learn something new every day.'

A group of people engaged in discussion outdoors, with a focus on two individuals shaking hands. — Cristino Pedraza Lopez in Mozambique

Photo: UNDP Mozambique

“Keep your passion for the work alive, never lose the eagerness to learn something new every day, and see Monday as a great day because it means there is meaningful work to do. Be humble, notice the small details, and remember if we want to achieve good and positive things, we must first strive to be good and positive ourselves.”

Rita Missal

Recovery Advisor, UNDP Crisis Bureau

“Go into every conversation with humility and an open heart.”

A woman with a suitcase stands near a WFP plane, surrounded by airport staff and luggage. — Rita Missal on a mission in Somalia

UNDP photo

“Spend more time with the people you're there to support. Listen to their stories, their needs, and their perspectives. They live through challenges every day and carry a depth of wisdom that no training or education can fully capture. They often know what works best for them because they’ve lived it. Go into every conversation with humility and an open heart. Respect the voices of local communities and your colleagues in the country office. This work isn’t just about solutions, it’s about building trust, learning together, and walking alongside those we serve.”

Henny Ngu

Policy Advisor, UNDP Crisis Bureau

'Crisis response is never just about quick fixes. It is about people’s ability to shape their own future.'

A group of six people in a desert setting, smiling, with a camel in the background. — Henny Ngu on a mission in Sudan

UNDP photo

“Keep in mind that crisis response is never just about quick fixes. It is about people’s ability to shape their own future. Humanitarian work is about urgency: you will learn to act when every hour matters. Development is about nurturing agency: you will learn to partner with people in determining their own recovery and solutions. Peacebuilding is about building trust: you will learn to believe in the possibility of reconciliation after the hardest of times. The work is not about arriving with answers, it’s about arriving with humility, listening to what’s already there, and walking the road together. Some days will be muddy, some will be dry, but the journey is shared. Hold on to curiosity. It will carry you further than certainty.”

Saumik De

Programme Advisor, UNDP Crisis Bureau

'Don't spend all your time in the UN office or the hotel.'

Four men posing together in a dimly lit outdoor setting. — Saumik De on a mission in India

Photo: UNDP

“Work hard, but also see the place where you travel to. Talk to people, make friends, eat the local food, and go out. Don't spend all your time in the UN office or the hotel.”

Stanislav Saling

Communications Specialist, Human Development Report Office, UNDP

'Go.'

A soldier in camouflage stands next to a man in a suit, with a plane wreck in the background. — Stanislav Saling on a mission in Cyprus

UNDP photo

“Use every opportunity to go to where the work happens. Whether it’s visiting a market renovated by UNDP or attending a consultation with displacement camp leaders. Go.”

These words of wisdom speak to the heart of humanitarian work: humility, adaptability and learning from those we serve. As we celebrate World Humanitarian Day, we honour not just the missions completed, but the people — both emergency responders and community members — who make lasting change possible.