My third day in the office, and I headed into a 'voices from the field' briefing from the head of our programme in Somalia. I have a whole new appreciation for the job ahead: for me, and for my organisation. How on earth do you get people to prioritise energy management in a country that's so dangerous that the head office is located over the border in Kenya? How do you focus on fuel efficiency in shipping through seas that are so full of pirates that you can't hire ships (from any country) to carry your grain unless you can guarantee them a naval escort? And what's the relevance of vehicle efficiency in a country where most of the roads have been blown up - so part of our job of 'feeding people' becomes 'building roads so we can carry the food to where the hungry people are'.
Tragically, Somalia is also the place where, in the past year, four of our staff have been killed in the line of duty. Their names are on a plaque in the entrance foyer in Rome. I'm in new awe of the work our people do. I've been privileged to work in some pretty 'worthy' organisations in my life thus far: places that do an enormous amount of good.
But this place might just eclipse them all.
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