"Reflections on my volunteer path from Germany to Kenya"

"I have always been drawn to investigative research—understanding what’s happening in the world and exploring the political landscape. I feel most connected at the intersection of communication, journalism, and environmental issues. My awareness of the environmental injustices began after high school, when I volunteered with a local NGO in Uganda through Weltwärts, a programme supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)," shares Alexandra. "In Germany, it’s quite common to start volunteering and to get exposure to the outside world, where one sees how intertwined global systems, environmental injustice and racial inequality often are."

Following the experience in Uganda, Alexandra joined the Carlo Schmid Programme to pursue an internship. "My internship was a cross between communications and the environment, and was based in Nairobi. Afterwards, I applied for a UN Volunteer assignment and this is where I am now."

In her daily work as a UN Volunteer, Alexandra monitors social media and reports on what people say. She reads comments, tracks trends, and helps shape the narrative. Part of her work is measuring how much of the awareness-raising translates into action. That’s where we, as communicators, lean into tools like social listening, she says.

We track metrics like reach and engagement on media, but we go deeper—paying close attention to how people interact with our content. Whether it’s a web story on land degradation or a social media post about climate, we look at comments, shares, and the kinds of conversations they spark. Social listening helps us monitor keywords, connections, and search behaviour to understand what people are looking for. Still, even with strong engagement, it’s not always clear if awareness leads to action."

Alexandra continues, "But then there are moments—when someone tags us in a beach cleanup or shares photos from a community workshop on the Plastics Treaty—that make our communications efforts tangible. That’s when we see awareness becoming action, taking on real, tangible meaning."

Today’s media landscape is going through an evolution of digital channels, believes Alexandra. UNEP has kept pace—diversifying across platforms to reach wider audiences. But it’s no longer just about scale; it’s also about identifying micro-audiences and matching the right content to the right group. That shift brings its challenges, especially in digital monitoring or social media roles, where access to data is often limited. On one platform, she says, she might use analytics tools, and in others, she may need to rely on personal research or some good old-fashioned social listening.

"One of the biggest challenges in my role was starting as a one-person team," shares Alexandra. "I had support from supervisors and colleagues with more experience, but much of it was (and still is) trial and error. There wasn’t a clear roadmap. My assignment description offered a starting point, but in digital communications, it’s really about being adaptable and picking up new skills. There’s no textbook or step-by-step playbook. Often, it comes down to asking: how do you do this? And then figuring it out as you go."

Alexandra appreciates the multicultural office environment with colleagues from all over the world—Kenya, China, Venezuela, and a few from Germany as well. But this is nothing new to her. She values the perspective it brings. "It deepens my understanding of how people from different backgrounds live and experience the world. This awareness, especially as a young white German, pushed me to reflect more critically on how racism and neo-colonialism still shape so many aspects of our lives. Different communities are affected in very different ways, often depending on economic privilege and the circumstances of their upbringing. That realization made me take a closer look at my position and the privileges I carry."

Reflecting on this leads to bigger questions, particularly about equity in opportunities, and the conversation about Global North and Global South. It's not a level playing field. But these are important conversations to be had. After high school, I had an opportunity to volunteer in Uganda. That planted a seed and made everything that followed possible. That’s a privilege. And I believe we need to name it, acknowledge it, and work actively to open up and diversify these paths."

One of the first things Alexandra did when she arrived in Nairobi was to start learning Swahili. Language connects people—especially in Nairobi, where so many cultures come together—so it felt important for her to learn it as a way to understand others and build real connections. "There was also a deeper motivation. If someone comes to Germany, we’d expect them to learn German—so I think it’s only fair that I make the effort here," she shares.

Alexandra's dream is to fully explore journalism. "My UN Volunteer assignment has taught me a lot—how to communicate environmental topics, how to navigate the media space—but what I want is to report, investigate, and write stories. Perhaps on topics such as the Plastics Treaty negotiations or local community stories of climate adaptation, and more. That’s an environmental story, but it’s also political and economic."

Nancy Groves, Chief of Digital Strategy Unit at UNEP and Alexandra's supervisor, commented on her adaptability in a fast-paced environment and willingness to learn. "Alexandra has taken it upon herself to become an expert in the tools and teach others. She goes out of her way to welcome and onboard new colleagues at all levels and has also been actively involved in UNEP's work to address racism."

Upon completion of an intense week of the UN Environment Assembly, Alexandra Rank takes a photo with UNEP team members in Nairobi. @ UNV, 2025.