Klaudia Geisler at UNIFEM, Suva (Fiji)

Acknowledgement:- Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst/Bonn- RheinAhrCampus Remagen Sprachen/ Internationale

I am an academically trained social education worker (bachelor honors degree/applied social studies) and psychological adviser with 10 years working experience in different fields of administration, organization, training and advisory.

In the year 2005 I decided to begin further international accepted studies at RheinAhrCampus in Remagen/Germany to obtain the Master degree in the field of Business Administration (MBA) with a main focus on health and social management.
Because of my strong interest in foreign cultures I have carried out many self-organized traveling-tours during the past years (Europe/ Africa/ South-East Asia/ Caribbean/ Latin America) and obtained various intercultural experiences.
In future I would be pleased to have the possibility to bring in my specialized knowledge as project-manager in the field of developmental issues abroad.

During my master-studies I applied for an Internship with the United Nations (UN) to obtain international working experience, to get an insight in the daily work of an international organization and to improve my language skills.
I will also undertake an Internship at the German embassy in Kingston/Jamaica in January and February 2007.

I was very glad about the possibility to carry out an Internship with UNIFEM Pacific Regional office, one of 11 UNIFEM Regional Offices worldwide.
    

UNIFEM (United Nations Development Fund for Women) is the women’s fund at the United Nations.
It provides financial and technical assistance to innovative programmes and strategies to foster women’s empowerment and gender equality.
UNIFEM Pacific Office which is based in Suva/Fiji became in 1997 UNIFEM’s newest Regional Office und covers the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji Islands, Republic of Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Salomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

During my practical time at UNIFEM Pacific office in Suva I got an insight in the organization, structure and different projects of the UN in the Region of Pacific Island countries.
I also received an understanding of the coordination among the different regional UN agencies and the linkages with other regional agencies that have similar interests and concerns in planning, implementing and monitoring evidence-based national sustainable development strategies in the Pacific, like the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the World Bank and also different regional statistical development agencies, like the SPC (Secretariat of the Pacific Community) or the PFTAC (Pacific Financial Technical Assistance Centre).

Besides I was partly involved in the tasks and duties of the Programme Coordinator at UNIFEM Pacific Office. According to the focus of my current studies on health and social management I worked on a briefing kit on gender and HIV/Aids for staff members of UN regional agencies.
I was also involved in the planning and organization of a project which aimed at the improvement of education of Pacific Islanders on Gender and HIV/AIDS.

I am convinced that my practical time in Fiji was beneficial for my professional future and my personal development.
The exchange of knowledge and experiences with some friendly members of Fiji’s UN Country Team and my interest in participation provided me both
- improvement of professional and intercultural skills.

Klaudia Gabriele Geisler