Staff profile: Mike Hollis
Mike Hollis, Programme Officer, Baghdad, Iraq
What do you do and how did you come to work for DFID?
I work on the Iraq programme in Baghdad, having joined DFID through the general Fast Stream. I spent my first year in Human Resources, which prepared me well for dealing with the pressures of Iraq!
Describe your typical day
The Iraq programme is hectic and we spend a lot of time co-ordinating between
London, Baghdad, Basra, the US Embassy and our Iraqi counterparts. I work mostly
on DFID’s capacity development programmes, supporting our consultants to deliver
advice on budget formulation and improved public administration. I also spent
three months on the Basra Provincial Reconstruction Team. While the security
situation was difficult, I enjoyed the frequent contact with the Provincial
Council, negotiating use of donor funds and discussing how to improve their own
service delivery efforts.
What does it feel like to work for DFID?
I’m really happy to be in DFID. The Department values its staff and is genuinely committed to personal development through training, mentoring and exposure to the highest levels. Of course, this means you have to work hard to justify the confidence placed in you, but it’s definitely worth it!
What's the most important thing you have learned so far at DFID?
To keep working on our relationship with other parts of government. It sounds
obvious, but it’s easy to forget that others don’t always see things as DFID
does. Working in Iraq has helped me understand the pressures our colleagues are
under, and the need to adapt to different ways of working.
More about the
Technical
Development Fast Stream (TFS)
Advice for others who want to come to DFID via the Fast Stream?
Keep trying! It took me four goes to get on the Fast Stream. People shouldn’t assume that you only get one shot at it, or that you can’t improve. By the time I finally passed, I’d accumulated enough relevant experience to ensure that I would get my first choice – DFID.
