Interview with two of FAO Brussels’ youngest members: Lola Pochet and Echo Capwell

Echo Capwell and Lola Pochet are two of the youngest members of the FAO Liaison Office in Brussels. Both of them are soon finishing a six-month internship with the liaison office financed by the Flanders Trainee Programme. To mark the occasion, they share some of the insights they have gained over the previous months. 

Why did you apply to join the FAO Liaison Office in Brussels?  
Lola: I always wished to get a glimpse of the inner structure of a UN agency. I am particularly interested in the way our food is produced and consumed. I studied globalization processes and worked as a freelance writer for an NGO that focuses on agroecology and family farming, so, I was very curious about the different initiatives FAO is implementing around the globe. Further, I wanted to get a better idea of the advocacy work of such an impactful multilateral organization. When I got the opportunity to join FAO Liaison Office in Brussels, I got very excited about the learning opportunity. 

Echo: During my master studies in Rural Development at Ghent University, I took courses on European Union structure, institutions and policies. Namely, I concentrated my learning around Agricultural and Rural Policy, EU Perspective, and EU Economic policy. These touched on organizational and functional aspects, which were totally new to me and very interesting. Compared with the Cameroonian context, which I was familiar with, I was eager to acquire “field” experience on how the various EU institutions function. The opportunity to join the FAO Liaison Office in Brussels was a perfect one as it exactly “touched” on the combination of all the above and my desire to understand more how FAO and the EU work together to tackle global crises, and end hunger, poverty and malnutrition. 

Have your expectations been fulfilled? What have you learned over your 6 months with FAO in Brussels?  
Echo: I would say YES my expectations have been fulfilled, also considering the time frame of my 6 months internship. There is still a lot for me to learn of course, as both FAO and the EU have a rich collaboration on several thematic areas. I now have a better understanding of FAO’s priorities, as summarised in the 4 Betters (Better production, better nutrition, better environment, and better life) and of those of the EU, as described in the Green Deal. I am also happy that my writing and reporting skills have improved, as well as my ability to follow debates, take notes and be more aware of political sensitivities. Finally, I have developed my interpersonal skills and my multicultural awareness thus allowing me to better build effective partnerships. 

Lola: I did get a better overview of how to navigate the waters of advocacy in the Brussels context.   I had the opportunity to be involved in many different activities.  I followed several webinars about topics I had no idea about, such as hazardous pesticides or insect proteins. I also learned a lot  about the functioning of the EU bodies. I supported the communication team in organizing the World Food Day celebrations in Brussels and managed to obtain pro-bono radio advertising for the campaign.  I improved my writing skills and learned how to create and cultivate partnerships with a whole set of actors.  Essentially, I learned that a small team can do great things with the necessary guidance.   

What were some of the challenges you faced during your traineeships?   
Lola: I arrived when a new Director had just been appointed, which meant that the office was undergoing some internal changes and that came with a period of adaptation. Moreover, the COVID-19 situation was changing very quickly, meaning that I couldn’t go to the office as regularly as I would have liked to and therefore didn’t get the chance to meet all my colleagues in person. It took extra energy to get to know people, as most of the meetings were happening virtually. I wish there would have been more informal coffee breaks!  

Echo: My first challenge was the numerous and somewhat similar names and abbreviations of the various initiatives and titles of officials! With time, however, I learned to recognize them.   The other challenge I faced was with the virtual mode of work as a result of the current pandemic. Although I went physically into the office a couple of times, I never had the chance to meet physically and share a coffee with colleagues. I think there is a lot more I would have learned if it hadn’t been for the pandemic.  

Do you have any advice to give to future interns at the FAO Brussels Office?  
Echo: Yes, you need to be proactive. Ask as many questions as you can; the colleagues are there and ready to always help. Make also sure to always to try to find the solution first by yourself. It is the only way to grow. Sometimes the answers are just around the corner.   

Lola: Ask as many questions as you need about your tasks and try to get colleagues to speak about their work and expertise.  You will learn a great deal, not only about FAO’s work but also and more importantly, about people who have so many stories to tell!  

 
What would be your most memorable moment in the office?  
Lola: Sometimes, when organizing high-level events and coordinating different activities with panelists from all over the world, I felt like I was really contributing to something bigger, something meaningful. Despite all the current challenges, little victories are taking place every day and I was happy to feel part of the change, even if very small. 

Echo: I think the most challenging but also more productive moments were when I had to assist the liaison work with the international partnerships part of the European Commission, just after the Strategic Dialogue had concluded. I was initially quite nervous and overwhelmed with the amount of work that this entailed: the number of emails I had to write or respond to and the phone calls I had to make to ensure that everything went as planned. This was a challenging but arguably my most memorable and productive moment as I was fully involved to understand my role. With help and directives from senior colleagues, however, I managed to survive! 

What does the future have in store for you? What will you be your next endeavor?  

Echo: I think FAO LOB gave me a unique opportunity that I know many of my peers out there wish they had. I feel better equipped than I was half a year ago, and I am ready to continue this path to grow, learn, and pursue my professional dreams of contributing to making the world a better place for present and future generations. I have submitted a couple of job applications already and will continue to do so, while completing my second master's in statistics and data analysis at Ghent University. I am confident that the skills I acquired with FAO will not only be useful in my search for a job but also for me personally, as a young person who wants to substantially contribute in tackling global challenges for the general good of humanity.  

Lola: I am currently looking for a job. I hope to get the chance to work abroad once it will be easier to travel and contribute to some of FAO’s work “on the field”, who knows?  

Lola is a Belgian national. She speaks French, English and Dutch and has some basic knowledge of German. She graduated with a joint Master's degree in Global Studies from the University of Ghent and the University of Leipzig. She will return to working as a freelance journalist for a Belgian NGO. 

Echo a national of Cameroon. He speaks English and French. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Animal Production Technology from the University of Bamenda-Cameroon and holds an International Master of Science in Rural Development (IMRD) from Ghent University in Belgium. He is currently completing a Master of Science in Statistical Data Analysis at Ghent University.