Hello from Islamabad,
My name is Bianca Perina – I’m from Austria and have been with GIZ for three years. Last year, I started working at the GIZ office in Pakistan, with a focus on climate risk finance.
Ever since I encountered GIZ at a careers fair during my studies, it has been a company I have wanted to work for. After completing my Master’s degree, I worked at the United Nations in Geneva and then as an investment manager at the Austrian Development Bank. This is how I got into the field of climate finance, and I then joined GIZ as an advisor.
Islamabad is the perfect location for me. I completed a degree in South Asian Studies, learned Hindi and have spent a lot of time in India. Pakistan is one of the countries most severely affected by climate change worldwide. Droughts, floods and extreme weather events pose massive challenges, including in the agricultural sector. We support our political partners, especially the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, with financing strategies for adaptation measures. What makes it particularly interesting is the urgent nature of the issue combined with the expertise of local civil society and the great dedication of my Pakistani colleagues.
A highlight for me so far is a project component with the Women Village Banks, where groups of women in remote regions save money collectively and award microloans. Women use the loans to start up small businesses such as sewing services. We opened up access to climate adaptation funds for the groups so that they can till the fields again and rebuild shelters after flooding has occurred. As a result, the women can now budget independently.
My working day in Islamabad typically involves discussions and meetings in person at the office, regular appointments at the ministries or with project partners and business trips, for example to Karachi or the province of Punjab. What sets GIZ apart in the field of climate change is the strong partnerships it has developed over decades with local institutions, research institutes, NGOs and international actors such as UN organisations and the World Bank. This allows us to work with a high level of trust, even when the issues in question are difficult.
What surprised me: Islamabad is the greenest city I have ever lived in. People are incredibly friendly, and I feel very safe. Many international colleagues live here with their families, and the childcare infrastructure is excellent.
I am grateful to be working for GIZ in Pakistan, for the fascinating training and the opportunity to be here with my husband. The work we do here at the local level is really what GIZ is all about. It is inspiring to see what a difference our commitment makes and how even small contributions can help to build climate resilience in the long term.
Best regards,
Bianca Perina