IHEID Alumni Journeys 7: Eva Bortolotti, Programme Specialist, Nature Finance – UNDP

By Yejin Stella An, PDC Alumni Liaison Coordinator

The Graduate Press (TGP) and the Professional Development Committee (PDC) have teamed up to publish articles highlighting the professional and academic journeys of IHEID alumni working in different fields, sectors as well as different continents. Interviewed alumni will also share their experiences while studying at the Institute, including the activities and/or initiatives they participated in. We hope that, through these interviews, current students will get a better idea of the scope of work and possibilities that are open to them after completing their degree, whether it is an interdisciplinary Master’s or a PhD.

Eva is a dynamic professional, passionate about finding innovative solutions for development and driving capital to social and environmental impact to achieve the SDGs. She currently works at UNDP to enable finance to accelerate the successful implementation of the Paris Agreement, the Global Biodiversity framework, and our collective efforts to accelerate progress on the 2030 Agenda with the UNDP Environment team, based in Istanbul and supporting global projects worldwide.

Before joining the UNDP Environment team, she worked at the UNDP Geneva office, where she supported the positioning of the UNDP SDG Finance offer, the implementation of projects across Africa and Latin America, and the engagement with the Swiss private sector ecosystem. Before joining UNDP, she worked as a technical consultant for different UN agencies and research centers, including the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD), the United Nations 75 Initiative (UN75), and the Centre for International Environmental Studies (CIES), producing qualitative and quantitative research on sustainable development, social and environmental policy, and sustainable finance. 

Eva holds a Master’s degree in Development Studies from the Geneva Graduate Institute, where she graduated with a research project fully funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation. She is also a certified yoga teacher, and in her free time, you can find her skiing in the Italian Alps or exploring natural parks.

Could you walk me through your career path, starting with your experiences at IHEID? Did you already have an academic interest in Environment and Sustainability? Otherwise, what made you decide to enter the field of SDG Finance & Environmental Finance?

Even before joining the Master’s Programme in Development Studies at IHEID, my interest gravitated towards studying at the intersection of economics, development, and environmental sustainability. I grew up in a small town nestled in the middle of the Italian Alps, where sustainable environment, biodiversity, and urban policies are at the core of economic planning. However, I had the chance to travel widely during my early studies, from China to Australia, and I witnessed the beauty of our natural world and occasions where steep and uncontrolled economic growth is threatening the survival of our planet and the health of its ecosystems. I have started to become fascinated by better understanding how we could generate inclusive economics without damaging the environment and thus started to direct my studies toward a better understanding of economics and environmental policies. 

Following my bachelor’s degree, where I engaged in some initial research in innovative behavioral economic approaches to development, I was looking for a Master’s degree that could allow me to maintain my economic-oriented interest while ensuring diversification with other environmental and social disciplines. One of the most fascinating parts of the Institute was the interdisciplinary approach that the school strived for, allowing me to focus my career on environmental policies and finance and economic disciplines, and mix between theoretical and practical applications. 

During my Master’s at IHEID, I then engaged in an internship at the UNDP Geneva Office, where I supported partnerships and projects related to SDG Finance. In parallel, I consulted for other UN agencies, such as UNRISD and the UN Secretariat, to support research projects on environment and sustainable development. Eventually, I decided to remain with UNDP and after some years I transferred to the UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub, where I now support a range of global UNDP programmes related to environmental finance. Specifically, I work for the UNDP Bureau of Programme and Policy Support (BPPS), which has different Hubs on Nature, Climate, Energy, and Waste. Specifically, my work is within the UNDP’s Nature Hub where I focus on the “financial and economic shift.” Through it, UNDP aims to redirect global finance flows from nature-negative to nature-positive, as a prerequisite system change for achieving the Global Biodiversity Framework and the SDGs.

During your academic life at IHEID, what did you prepare for your first career steps? Did you participate in any internships or volunteering as an IHEID student?

What I think is very valuable about IHEID is its connection to professional academic research relevant to the most relevant development themes. During my studies, I started working as a Research Assistant, firstly for the Centre for International Environmental Studies (CIES) after taking the related course offered by the Institute. Here, I assisted in research and data analysis for the research project “Financing investments in clean technologies” – in partnership with different UN organizations and research centres -, and supported the PhD students in the construction of an index of environmental policy uncertainty. The fact that the research programme was linked to real-life practitioners helped me understand the relevance and the actual application of academic research.

Eventually, my Master’s thesis also became part of the programme and thus I received some funding for my research. I then engaged with the Global Governance Centre, which was collaborating with the Office of the Under-Secretary-General for the preparations for the commemoration of the UN’s 75th Anniversary and the production of the UN75 reports. Here, I supported qualitative data analysis and writing for the production of two UN75 reports. Again, what fascinated me was the connection of IHEID to actual ongoing UN research, which eventually led me to continue my engagement with them as a consultant. 

After your early career as an intern at the UNDP Geneva Office, what skills, knowledge, or attitudes have you developed to move to the next career steps? For students keen on pursuing a path in UNDP or in the field of Environment and SDGs Finance, what educational groundwork and professional competencies should they prioritize for a successful journey?

I joined the UNDP Geneva Office as an intern during my Master’s, and I eventually remained and worked with them for nearly four years. In the beginning, my role was more related to supporting partnerships and events, but it then grew into supporting the wider office’s programming on SDG Finance and the implementation of SME finance projects across Africa and Latin America. On top of the knowledge about development theories, analytical skills are one of the most useful knacks I acquired from the Institute, which helped my overall professional life. The Institute also helped me understand interdisciplinary approaches to development at the intersection of environmental, social, and gender issues, thus facilitating my comprehension of UNDP’s wide portfolio. 

On the other hand, I felt the need to nurture project management skills to complement my academic expertise, which I trained myself during my early career by taking some professional project management courses (e.g. PRINCE 2). Language skills have also been essential, and I had the chance to take the UN language courses through which I further improved my French and Spanish, which can be very useful especially when communicating with country-level programmes. Then, it is critical to build technical competencies specific to the field of your interest by taking online specialization courses, and remaining on top of recent news and emerging topics since this field is constantly growing and changing very fast. 

Finally, for those who want to serve international development, I think that openness to cultural diversity is also essential. Throughout our career journey, we will be located and communicate with numerous countries and cultures. A genuine curiosity, understanding, and appreciation of different cultures is the first step in the international development field. In this sense, I appreciate that IHEID offers opportunities for students to practice cultural diversity.

How did IHEID overall contribute to your professional journey?

The strategic location of the Institute at International Geneva, where we can maximize our exposure to various international organizations, including UN agencies and NGOs, helped me a lot to start engaging in professional experiences as a student. I enjoyed my academic life at IHEID because it was highly work-oriented. The school gives you theoretical knowledge but also chances to apply it to practice through the work of the Research Centers and the numerous international conferences organized by the Institute. This allows interaction with professionals with notable expertise in various fields, which can facilitate your understanding of a preferred career path.

Finally, I truly enjoyed the diversity of the students. I remember my class being equally composed of people from all continents and at all stages of their careers – fresh graduates and more seasoned professionals who were there to further expand their knowledge. I think I have learned from my classmates as much as I have learned from my classes. 

What advice or message would you give to students aspiring to the field of SDGs Finance and/or Environmental Finance, or at international organizations including UNDP?

Follow your passions. What you love is your strength: it will guide you to achieve your goals and find a healthy balance in your life. People generally think that future opportunities are coming solely from knowledge and expertise, which are surely important, but what drives your journey should be your passions. 

I would also like to emphasize the importance of open-mindedness and innovative thinking. Professionalism in the field of international development stems from a deep understanding of the diverse global context, coupled with technical skills in your chosen domain. Remaining agile is essential, enabling you to navigate the ever-evolving development challenges of our world and advocate to create meaningful change.

Photo provided by Eva Bortolotti