International development cooperation at SMHI focuses on strengthening the capacity of sister organizations and other partners, primarily in low- and middle-income countries, within our areas of expertise: meteorology, hydrology, oceanography, and climate.
"Some of the projects I work on aim to produce good forecasts and warnings that reach people, potentially saving lives. It can provide people with the time to prepare for a flood or hurricane by securing themselves, their crops, or livestock", says Sara
From restaurant manager to hydrologist
Originally from Gothenburg, Sweden, Sara has previously worked for several years as a scuba diving instructor and in restaurants in ski resorts around the globe. It was while working as a restaurant manager in Switzerland that Sara had the opportunity to make a career change. There, she served a man who was working on an EU initiative to promote climate-friendly innovation and entrepreneurship. Impressed by Sara's energy, he offered her a job right at the table.
"I took the opportunity and moved to the Netherlands to start my new position as a project manager. Within that role, I traveled around Europe and met many truly inspiring people with a strong motivation to save the world. I was inspired by them and felt that I also wanted to help save the world, so I thought my next step was to learn more. Therefore, I decided to start studying hydrology", says Sara.
Problem-solving
After five years of studies, Sara got a temporary job at SMHI's hydrological research department, where she worked on modeling the downstream effects of wetland restoration. After that, she secured a permanent position as a project manager for some of SMHI's international development cooperation projects, a role she greatly enjoys.
"In this position, I am constantly exposed to new situations and meet many new people. I often find myself in situations that require problem-solving, which is a challenge I like."
In her role at SMHI, Sara has worked in Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Indonesia, and Ethiopia, where she believes her broad background has been valuable.
"I think that a wide variety of experiences can provide you with more perspectives and approaches to handle different situations that may arise, says Sara Schützer."