By: Christy Lorenz
Bula vinaka from Suva, Fiji! I am currently working as a Programme Assistant with the Resilience and Climate Change team at the UNDP Pacific Office. Through UNA-Canada’s International Youth Internship Programme, I have had the opportunity to directly support projects that address the pressing climate and biodiversity challenges faced by Pacific Island countries. This work has deeply expanded both my professional capabilities and my personal outlook.
Coming from a background in international environmental policy, I imagined diving into fieldwork the moment I arrived. I pictured myself designing early warning systems, writing high-level policy briefs, and seeing my ideas translated directly into action. The reality, however, was far more grounded (but perhaps far more valuable). I spent my first few weeks immersed in filing systems, formatting deliverables, and trying to understand the endless stream of acronyms that
form the language of international development.
As I adjusted, I quickly realized that the so-called “small tasks” are actually how programmes function at scale. Filing gave me insight into how initiatives are structured, funded, and evaluated. Routine tasks taught me discipline and precision. As I became more confident, I was gradually entrusted with higher-level responsibilities, including drafting consultant terms of reference, developing tools for monitoring implementation, and supporting regional coordination
on climate finance and biodiversity planning.
One of the most rewarding experiences so far has been helping organize the BIOFIN Pacific Inception Workshop, a major regional event that will bring together 13 countries to launch work on biodiversity finance planning. The trust placed in me to support consultant recruitment, workshop logistics, and communications not only strengthened my skills but also reaffirmed the impact young professionals can have when given meaningful opportunities.
More than anything, this internship has shifted my global perspective. I now understand that climate change in the Pacific is not a distant threat: it is a lived reality that shapes everything from health to education to food systems. Seeing firsthand how communities innovate in the face of sea-level rise and disaster risk has been humbling and a powerful reminder of the importance of international solidarity. As United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres
once said: “Save Tuvalu, save the world!”
I am incredibly grateful to UNA-Canada, the Government of Canada, and my colleagues at UNDP Pacific for making this journey possible. With a few months still ahead of me, I look forward to deepening my impact, continuing to learn, and maybe even figuring out how to install solar panels across 83 remote islands. Suggestions welcome.
