Some of the most demanding parts of her role are not immediately visible. Translating technical investment programmes into clear, accessible language requires more than accuracy—it requires judgment.“It’s not always easy to break those down and explain them in a simple way,” Alissa explains.Staying closely connected to technical teams has become essential, allowing her to refine messages and avoid misinterpretation. It is a continuous process of alignment—one that ensures communication reflects reality without oversimplifying it.

Meet Rafiatu Umarayi Alhassan and Samuel Peprah Bekoe. Both are UN Volunteer Field Coordinators and part of Young Africa Innovates (YAI) with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ghana, a bold initiative helping young people across all 16 regions of the country turn their ideas into solutions. 

Last March 2017, I had the opportunity of travelling to the northern part of Ghana to monitor some project interventions in disaster preparedness and to assess the impact on the beneficiaries. As I journeyed through the most remote parts of that region, I couldn’t help but to engage myself in deep thoughts about development across the country and particularly in such areas where many challenges are persisting.