Christophe Haesler is a UN Volunteer Specialist with the World Bank Office in Dakar. He serves as a Transport Sector Initiative Analyst. Christophe is a transport enthusiast and always had a desire to work in international development. This is his story.
Christophe joined the World Bank in August 2022.
He has since then contributed to some 15 World Bank-funded projects, one of which, was the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in Senegal.
As part of the project, he published the State of the Transport Sector Report and also supported documenting new strategies for enhancing road safety in Dakar.
Christophe's volunteer assignment promotes Sustainable Development Goal 9 — resilient infrastructure.
Road congestion, he says, hampers economic growth by causing people to spend excessive amounts of time in traffic instead of working.
Transportation is key for a country to develop; It connects people to jobs and key value chains. When people have good jobs and can take care of their families, it eventually brings peace." Christophe Haesler, UN Volunteer with the World Bank.
The volunteer assignment gave him opportunities to go — "beyond the walls of his office" — he says. "The experience has been an eye-opener. I visited hospitals and interacted with survivors of road accidents. Some of the survivors of accidents were persons with disabilities."
Christophe's project outreach included Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mozambique and Nigeria, where he interacted with government officials on transport strategies, prepared reports on road safety and vehicular assessments, and provided training to transport officials.
The World Bank in Dakar values the cross-cutting impact of volunteering. Ndeye Diop Diaw Gueye, Christophe's supervisor complimented the support of UNV, "Christophe supported our team in Senegal in various projects such as the Dakar bus rapid transit, Senegal rural road program and the development of a road safety strategy."
Christophe contributed to follow-up missions with the government, project preparation and implementation. He learned a lot about the West Africa-specific context of the transport sector." Ndeye Diop Diaw Gueye with the World Bank in Dakar.
Fully funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), Christophe recently completed his assignment with the World Bank.
I feel accomplished due to this UNV assignment. I am contributing to something purposeful. The impact of what I am doing is changing the lives of people on the ground." Christophe Haesler, UN Volunteer with the World Bank.
With a few classes of Wolof under his belt, he says, "jërëjëf" (thank you). "I'm very pleased to have been a UN Volunteer at the same time working with the World Bank."
From working with an amazing team on the ground to exploring the incredible continent of Africa, Christophe spreads the vibes of his native Switzerland in Senegal.
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Funded by the Senegalese Government, the World Bank, and the European Investment Bank, the BRT project aims to improve urban mobility in Dakar, ease traffic congestion, and give a cleaner, reduced greenhouse gas emissions option.
United Nations Volunteers and the World Bank signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2023 for two years. Under this partnership, UN Volunteers funded by Member States such as Switzerland serve with the World Bank in development projects and initiatives worldwide.
This story was prepared with the kind support of Selasi Botchway, Partnerships intern at UNV.