Avinash Meetoo

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Starting as Head of Experimentation Accelerator Labs at UNDP Mauritius & Seychelles

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When I was a kid, I was a computer geek and, at university, I found it natural to study Computer Science (or, more precisely, Informatics). Since returning to Mauritius in 1998, I have worked in many institutions and organisations and I have always tried to put my following mantra into practice:

“It’s not about hardware or software. It’s about people.”

For me, empowering people and unleashing them to fight against problems affecting fellow citizens is the only reasonable way forward…

This is why I am very happy to announce that I am now the Head of Experimentation at the Accelerator Lab of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Mauritius & Seychelles office. As part of a network operating in 116 countries, the Mauritius & Seychelles Accelerator Lab will contribute to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030:

  1. No Poverty,
  2. Zero Hunger,
  3. Good Health and Well-being,
  4. Quality Education,
  5. Gender Equality,
  6. Clean Water and Sanitation,
  7. Affordable and Clean Energy,
  8. Decent Work and Economic Growth,
  9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure,
  10. Reducing Inequality,
  11. Sustainable Cities and Communities,
  12. Responsible Consumption and Production,
  13. Climate Action,
  14. Life Below Water,
  15. Life On Land,
  16. Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions and
  17. Partnerships for the Goals.

This is going to be tough. But I am confident that, with the Head of Solutions Mapping and the Head of Exploration and other colleagues at UNDP Mauritius & Seychelles, we will achieve big. As Head of Experimentation, I will do my best to create multi-stakeholder solutions to address complex problems using innovation, technology, strategic-thinking and leadership.

Prior to joining UNDP, I was Senior Adviser at the Ministry of Technology, Communication and Innovation, a board member of the National Computer Board and a one of the governors of the University of Technology, Mauritius. Here are some key moments during my tenure.

A lot of important and interesting things need to happen during the next ten years.

I want to work with all those willing to put in the effort to make the world better.

Horizon 2030, that’s our new motto 🙂

Key moments during my four years as a Senior Adviser

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A few weeks ago, I saw this online and it resonates with me: “The Senior Advisor is tasked with raising dialogue to a strategic level, both internally and externally. They will undoubtedly be an expert in their chosen field.” This is what I loved doing during the four years: raising the dialogue to a strategic level i.e. medium- and long-term. I am less interested in today. I’m much more interested in tomorrow, next year and in ten years.

Since becoming a Senior Adviser in June 2017 at the Ministry of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation and also a board member of the National Computer Board (NCB) and the University of Technology (UTM), I have contributed, in some way or another, in multiple policies and projects which, I hope, will help transform Mauritius into a better country in the years to come.

Here is a selection of key public-facing moments during those past four years:

I was always focussed on one thing: how to make Mauritians more innovative so as to reach Vision 2030 to transform Mauritius into a smarter country.

Of course, I was never alone. During the past four years, I have been lucky to be able to work with some extraordinary people in Government, in parastatal bodies, in private companies and a number of individuals from the civil society. I would like to thank all of them.

Horizon 2030, that’s my motto 🙂

The benefits of studying abroad…

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Young Mauritians who will  obtain their HSC results in a few months will have to choose whether to go to university abroad or not (because of the COVID-19 situation worldwide) and, if yes, where and what to study.

Of course, everyone knows that going to university abroad is not a determinant for success. A lot of very successful people have studied in Mauritius and some have never done any tertiary-level studies! According to me, going to university abroad has a number of benefits though:

  • Becoming independent
  • Gaining confidence
  • Developing one’s personality
  • Learning with some of the best professors
  • Being exposed to a new culture and new people
  • etc.

What do you think?