SUMMER SCHOLARS BLOG : Saru Duckworth

Welcome to Dakar

Bonjour from Dakar, Senegal! I have been here for a week now in my role as the Gender and Human Rights Intern in the UNFPA West and Central Africa Regional Office, and already know it will be a summer of little rest but a great deal of learning. 

Africa is the continent of the future in many ways, in terms of demographic shifts and development progress but also in terms of its growing global leadership, having championed some of the most progressive policies related to gender equality and youth – for example the Maputo Protocol and AU Youth Charter.  

Senegal in particular has emerged as a vibrant political and cultural hub of African global leadership, as one of the youngest countries with some of the youngest political leadership in the world. The question of implementation to achieve the region’s ambitious commitments is huge, and its one I’m eager to be working on with 23 countries in West & Central Africa.

The WCARO office is a fast paced and dynamic environment. My main project here is to produce a Regional Snapshot Report on Gender Based Violence through consultation with 23 country teams and related stakeholders, including review of national statistics, legal provisions, and prevention and response services. I’m energized by the opportunity to combine multiple evaluation methods to produce an official product already created for other UNFPA regions. Working through a human rights and social norms lens rather than an economic development one is relatively new and exciting to me, and I have a lot to learn and understand.

The learning curve is energizing – our Gender Specialist team serves 23 countries, with six specialists and advisors working in tandem with country offices. They help to implement gender and SRH programs, conduct trainings, and provide regional technical assistance on issues such as child marriage, social norms, FGM, youth innovation, and GBV. I’ve already been exposed to a wide range of topics and fascinating conversations: discussions with religious leaders and parliamentarians on around FGM in preparation for an upcoming repeal vote in the Gambia, analyzing gaps in Chad’s reporting process to major Human Rights treaties, and more. Again – a lot of learning and little rest, but a very interesting summer I hope! 

Bookmark this link to follow Saru’s blog posts this summer

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Our Summer Scholars Blog, a collection of reports from post-grad scholars that UNA-NYC has sponsored globally, showcases our fellows' experiences with UN agencies and non-governmental organizations in the country where they are working. Learn more about our Summer Scholars fellowship program and fellows here.