The development sector, globally, faced severe upheavals, downfalls, and some breakthroughs in 2023. Humanity witnessed some disturbing realities with the prolonged war and humanitarian disasters in several countries and a few global initiatives taking the world headlines by storm.

Despite all that, there are also wonderful things that happened in 2022 and I will focus more on the key aspects that were predominantly noteworthy in the development sector. I have picked five of them as major lessons stemming from my personal and professional experience.

When I was studying intermediate level sociology and mass communication, an elderly relative touched my heart with the following Dashain blessing: "I hope you find a job in a development agency." At that time, I did not even imagine that it would become a reality. Nor did I think that it would lead to a fulfilling career.