Bridging Field Realities and Policy as a Development Consultant

Case : Ms. Dongeun Lee – Bridging Field Realities and Policy as a Development Consultant

Former Program Manager (Holt), Senior Researcher at RISTI Consulting

Field-to-Policy Transition: Ms.Lee began in NGO fundraising, transitioned to fieldwork in Cambodia, and later moved into international development consulting. Her path reflects a strategic desire to connect micro-level realities with macro-level systems and policies.

She believes in designing solutions informed by beneficiaries' voices and sees policy as a means to address root causes of inequality. Her experience with both NGO flexibility and ODA structure deepened her commitment to sustainable approaches.

She emphasizes the value of domain expertise—be it in health, education, or agriculture—and advocates for collaboration across professions. Her experience underscores the importance of complementing practical skills with advanced academic knowledge.

Her career trajectory is grounded in continuous learning and systems thinking. She aspires to create development models that combine technical expertise with participatory planning.

Advisory to Youth:

“You don’t need to be fluent in English or come from a specific major. What matters is your expertise and your commitment to applying it for others.”

More Talks with Her : https://a.co/d/32mM7Dk