Tell us about yourself, and your work on accountability before you joined the Dispute Resolution Service (DRS) of the World Bank Accountability Mechanism.

My name is Uduakobong Okon Ndaiko. I am a development practitioner. I have a bachelor’s degree in international comparative politics with a specialization in peace and conflict resolution, public administration, and international relations. I am currently pursuing a master’s degree in international development with a specialization in conflict, security and development as a Commonwealth Scholar. Prior to working with the World Bank Accountability Mechanism, I had the opportunity to design and implement projects for marginalized groups, particularly targeting gender equality, youth empowerment, and community development. To ensure that these projects were beneficial to the communities, I ran community engagement programs to tell them about the project, to know if they had any objections, to get their feedback, and refine these projects to ensure that they actually met their needs.

How does this relate to the kind of work you’ve been doing with the Dispute Resolution Service?

There are a lot of similarities in terms of how the World Bank has been able to put in place structures that keep it accountable and to ensure that where there are grievances that arise from their projects, people are able to voice their concerns. Seeing how the DRS listens to these grievances and deliberately facilitates dialogue to better understand people’s concerns closely reflects my own professional experience. In my previous roles, I have seen how creating safe spaces for dialogue and centering affected individuals’ voices are critical to resolving issues and restoring trust.

You travelled to Uganda in the course of your internship. Can you tell us about your experience?

I personally didn’t set any expectations. What I did was to leave it open to experiencing everything and seeing everything. And one of the key things I took from the mission was the communication and the cultural sensitivity involved. I was able to see how the DRS team was able to listen to the grievances that the communities had, and how they were able to explain the processes involved in dispute resolution and its scope. Giving them the autonomy to decide whether or not they wanted to pursue dispute resolution was really nice to see. Another thing I took away from the process was how the team was able to engage with different stakeholders, adapting to each group, and also ensuring that whatever they had to say was listened to.

Can you share an example of a specific skill you developed, or lessons you learned, during your internship with the DRS?

My ability to conduct research on vulnerability, given my past experience, helped me contribute to the team’s work. This sharpened my research skills, my analytical skills, and made me realize that I am now able to carry out different kinds of research and present complex ideas in professional settings. This also relates to the Ugandan mission. Seeing how the team prepared for the mission was a new thing for me – the level of coordination, planning and assessment that is needed when it comes to field missions – and it was one of the most valuable experiences I’ve had so far.

It was also my first time working in an international setting, and working closely every day with people from different backgrounds and perspectives. You know, just talking to these people and experiencing their cultures within the office space, it’s been great.

What advice would you give to prospective interns?

I personally would advise them to be ope nminded to learning. The DRS is actually a complex place in terms of dealing with diverse stakeholders, so being adaptable and curious will help you make the most of the experience. You should be willing to engage and learn from the beautiful people that are here.

Do you expect to be working in development or in accountability in the future?

Seeing the work that is done here at the DRS, it’s really encouraging to be able to help people who have issues that need to be addressed. So if the opportunity comes for me to work in accountability, I am very much open to it. Have experienced how accountability processes are structured, I think that I will be able to incorporate learnings into the projects I will work on back home.

What will you miss most about Washington, DC?

I will miss the art, because I love going to museums. And maybe – I know this sounds weird – but I will actually miss the cold, because back home, it's kind of hot!

Interested in our internship program? Please continue to check this website for updates.