Kemkhadze sets out lessons of development work in Libya
LIBYA – Sophie Kemkhadze, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in Libya, has said indicators help measure progress but cannot capture the full course of development, adding that her experience in Libya confirms the importance of the will of individuals and institutions and of cooperation around shared priorities.
National Human Development Report in preparation
She made the remarks in an article published by UNDP — followed and summarised by Al-Marsad — in which she discussed the lessons she draws from development work as a National Human Development Report on Libya is being prepared.
Water, climate and youth: priorities that bring the parties together
Kemkhadze said what inspires her is the determination of people and institutions to move forward even when circumstances are far from ideal, and that water security, climate action and youth empowerment can bring different parties together and open up space for shared results.
Development can help create better conditions
She said development does not have to wait for ideal conditions; rather, development programmes themselves can help create more favourable conditions for the future, provided efforts go beyond well-drafted technical proposals.
She explained that how decisions are made, the knowledge and expertise that inform them and who takes ownership all affect whether results last.
Listening, negotiating and changing course
She said reaching solutions that no single person could arrive at alone requires listening, negotiating and being prepared for an outcome that differs from what was first envisaged, adding that leadership can sometimes mean asking the right question and bringing people together to find the answer.
She stressed that the purpose of development work is not to prove that the original idea was right but to find what actually works, to acknowledge mistakes when they happen and to stay flexible enough to change course, noting that letting go of the constant need to be right is one of the hardest lessons.
