WASH Diary: Discovering Diversity and Overcoming Challenges: My Stretch Assignment to Mongolia from Pakistan

This diary is a personal reflection of Ihsan Ullah Khan from UNICEF Pakistan on his enriching experience during his stretch assignment to UNICEF Mongolia. Ishan shares how he and the host country benefited from this opportunity and reflects that this cross-learning initiative was beneficial for both countries’ WASH program as well as Ihsan, perosanlly and the receiving team learning about different workplace environments as well as getting exposure to different work cultures.

Besides learning, the exposure for Ihsan was a wonderful opportunity to interact with UNICEF regional office and other partners inclduing UNDP, UNFPA, UNDSS and UNRC office on the One UN premises. Field missions to Bayankhongor and Gobi Alta province were new experiences in understanding UNICEF programming, government structure, operational modalities, and the culture of Mongolia.

Ihsan Ullah Khan is a WASH Officer based in Karachi Field Office, Pakistan. He completed his stretch assignment in Mongolia Country Office from 15 May 2022 to 15 August 2022, temporarily filling in a vacant WASH officer position