Overcoming gender gaps to reduce food insecurity and biodiversity loss
UN Volunteer Fannie Elveljung (Sweden, 26) travelled to Cameroon to serve with the UN Development Programme (UNDP) Gender Unit as Women's Empowerment and Inclusive Economic Development Support Officer. Prior to this, she studied Economics and conducted her bachelor’s thesis on women's economic empowerment and intimate partner violence in El Salvador, which motivated her to learn more about the issue. Her assignment is fully funded by the Government of Sweden.
As someone who aspires to gain experience in a new culture, I was looking for a field experience on women empowerment in Africa. This led me to the UN system, and I couldn't have got a better opportunity than this UN Volunteer assignment. In my day-to-day work with UNDP, I am trying to bring more inclusive development work to the table.
In Cameroon, there are some great challenges connected to gender, where the roles and power relations are very traditional. Women usually depend on men and are less represented in the political arena and the formal workforce.