OUTLOOK THE NEXT GENERATION
“NO TWO DAYS ARE THE SAME” A truly transformative experience from Young Professional to Country Manager By Fatma Elzahra Elshhati
T he Young Professional Development Program (YPDP), which I joined in April 2015, was a truly transformative experience. The program had been approved the previous summer and I was among the first cohort. At the time, I had already worked a few years for the Libyan Investment Authority and then GIZ, the German development agency, on health system projects in Libya – but unfortunately the situation became too unstable. I had just returned to Vienna, where I had spent part of my school years, in early 2015, so it was serendipity that brought me to the OPEC Fund. The selection process was intense and the interview was led by a panel of six department heads, which signaled the seriousness of the program. YPDP was designed as a two-year rotational scheme, giving young professionals exposure to multiple departments and a comprehensive understanding of the organization’s mandate. Performance was the only ticket to a permanent role, so the stakes were high.
We were among the youngest in the building, sometimes mistaken for interns. But the work was professional-level. It was much more than shadowing; we were expected to contribute meaningfully and substantially. The YPDP “rotations” were invaluable. I spent time in the Director-General’s office, worked on grants and eventually moved to Public Sector Operations.
No two days look the same. One day I might be negotiating terms for a loan; the next, I’m reviewing project proposals or coordinating with government officials. A huge part of my job is dedicated to relationships. Countries need to feel that we’re not just lenders but partners who bring value beyond financing. That means listening, understanding local priorities and sometimes helping find solutions that go beyond simple transactions. I also spend time thinking how our operations align with broader development goals, from climate resilience to urban development. Cities fascinate me. More than half the world’s population lives in urban areas, yet many cities remain ill-prepared for climate change. Development work often focuses on basic needs like clean cooking, which is an important cross- cutting initiative, but we also need to think about livability, sustainability and long-term resilience. In this context the role of women in sustainable development cannot
My initial assignment was in the Department of Information, the
precursor of today’s Communications Department. Those experiences helped me build relationships across the organization and understand how the different pieces fit together. Today, I manage a diverse portfolio as a Country Manager in Public Sector Operations, covering countries in the Middle East, Central Asia and the Balkans. In some the OPEC Fund is currently re-engaging, while others are new partnerships. Restarting relationships can be challenging, but it’s also exciting.
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