Academic Enrichment Services Careers & Employment

Careers in international aid and community development

The international aid and community development field offers a huge range of interesting and diverse career opportunities to graduates of almost every discipline, but it can be a difficult field to break in to. Traditionally, employers, whether they are international organisations, contracting companies or Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) are looking for people not just with the right qualifications and skill set, but also proven international experience, particularly in a developing country context. This represents a major challenge for new graduates, but there are ways of improving your chances and some well-worn pathways to international work opportunities.

People who work in aid and community development are usually passionate about what they do, and many organisations (in particular the NGOs) in the field have a religious, ideological, or sometimes political foundation, so it is important to know and understand who you intend to work for, and ensure there is a good match of philosophies and expectations.

Research

Make sure you understand what is involved with a career in this area. Develop an accurate picture of the challenges and rewards associated with employment, either paid or voluntary, and learn what each organisation stands for. Use the internet, annual reports, magazines and publications, newsletters and media releases to identify organisations and government departments that are involved in international aid and development. Develop a list of all those organisations that you are going to target for employment and make sure you are familiar with their activities, mission statements, their countries and areas of expertise. Undertake labour market analysis so that you can stay informed of economic changes in countries and the social impact of these developments. The Careers Resource Centre has information folders on NGOs and aid work.

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Challenging

International aid and community development work is challenging and varies significantly between Australian and overseas postings. If you successfully secure an offshore assignment it is more than likely you will be in a "third world" or developing country. The living conditions may be tough, and the daily rigors of poor sanitation, inadequate plumbing, limited infrastructure, inadequate medical facilities and reduced access to consumer goods can be demanding. There are a range of social and cultural norms and expectations that make living and working in a developing country challenging. It is possible you may encounter political instability and law enforcement practices very different to which you are accustomed. In addition, working with locals who may have experienced conflict and trauma requires sensitivity and expertise.

If you secure employment with an aid organisation in Australia, the conditions are known but the competitive recruitment process still applies, with preference being given to those applicants with some international experience, language and vocational skills. Many people gaining employment in Australia hope to travel and work abroad.

Keep up-to-date with world events. Read the newspapers critically, watch SBS News, subscribe to magazines such as The New Internationalist and investigate less mainstream publications. Your research will not only keep you informed of events and trends, but will show your commitment to working in the sector.

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Education and training

The increasing interest in international aid and development has resulted in a number of courses that can provide relevant training and education.

While there are generalist positions in organisations performing administrative and project management roles, many organisations are seeking people with practical hands-on experience which is applicable in field positions. Areas of demand can be in education, agriculture, water supply and sanitation, health (particularly maternal and child health and HIV) logistics and community development.

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Competitive

Gaining employment in this field is highly competitive. Many applicants tend to be frustrated by their lack of international experience and have little opportunity to gain that important exposure. The availability of funds to resource aid organisations is limited and subject to varying levels of commitment by the government of the day. As such, successful recruitment of vocationally skilled and suitable employees is critical to maximise funding arrangements. Aid organisations can suffer setbacks both financially and professionally if the wrong person is selected to undertake a project, which is one of the reasons they look for a “track record”. Spend time developing contacts and personal relationships with key stake-holders. This could include joining organisations such as Oxfam CAA, World Vision and Save The Children and actively participating in fundraising and community based activities. Think globally and act locally wherever possible.

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Be proactive

Actively seek employment, whether it is full-time, part-time or casual. Distribute your resumé to the organisations you have identified and follow-up. Track aid projects (via the web) that are funded by AusAID, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the United Nations and NGOs. Contact these organisations to determine who is responsible for the operational management of the project and then contact the relevant project manager or consultant to pursue employment opportunities.

Undertake voluntary or casual/part-time employment with a relevant organisation. These opportunities are most likely to arise in the non-government sector. Remember, these organisations are often inadequately resourced and training and supervising a volunteer can in itself place demands upon the organisation.

An alternative is to join a formal volunteer program such as Australian Volunteers International. This will provide an opportunity for you to work overseas with the appropriate training provided, in-country support and debriefing on your return. Most countries have similar organisations.

Spend time travelling to countries and destinations that place you "outside your comfort zone" and see how you cope. This will help in determining if you are likely to enjoy working in developing countries or regions that have experienced conflict.

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Internships

The United Nations offers a summer internship program with details available on the UN website. AusAID runs a program called Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development. This program involves the selection of young Australians aged between 18-30, providing them with a culturally relevant pre-departure briefing. Successful applicants are offered assignments in a variety of countries for between 3 - 12 months. The program is only open to Australian residents and full details are available on the AusAID website.

It is not common for Australian NGOs to run internship programs but they may be responsive to a well thought through proposal.

 

Other websites with information on internships are:

  1. International Development Support Services (IDDS)
  2. Red Cross
  3. Save the Children
  4. Marie Stopes International
  5. TEAR
  6. World Youth International
  7. World Vision
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Where to find work?

A career in this sector can be very rewarding. Exposure to different cultures, different business practices, different social and political structures, and involvement in the restructuring and advancement of developing economies is extremely interesting. A career in international aid and community development creates exciting job opportunities in both Australia and abroad in the following types of organisations:

Non-government organisations (NGOs)

NGOs are actively involved in aid and community development in most countries. Whilst some of these organisations have religious or church affiliations, most claim to be politically independent. Employment with these organisations is unlikely to yield a high salary. However, this does not detract from the professionalism, expertise and capabilities of often highly committed and skilled personnel. Employment with an NGO is likely to bring you into contact with people who share your interests and commitment to a global response to international aid issues. Remuneration packages vary significantly between organisations and countries. Staff employed in Australia will usually continue to receive their Australian salary whilst abroad. Locally employed staff usually receive local salaries and conditions.

There are opportunities for voluntary employment with many NGOs. In most instances it is appropriate to pursue this with the head office of the organisation rather than just turning up in a developing country assuming your willingness to help will be beneficial. Some people secure volunteering opportunities by turning up at project locations and offering their skills, but there are no guarantees, and you may not be offered the same level of support as those who have been recruited at home. It is important to remember that aid projects are usually under-resourced, hence maximising the time and skills of staff is critical. Having an inexperienced volunteer who is not coping with the situation can place demands on resources and negatively impact on project outcomes and sustainability. Browse the following websites for more information:

  1. Australian Council for International Development
  2. AUSTCARE
  3. Australian Business Volunteers
  4. Australian Conservation Foundation
  5. Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations
  6. Australian Foundation for Peoples of Asia
  7. Australian Legal Resources International
  8. Australian Volunteers International
  9. CARE International Job Opportunities
  10. Community Aid Abroad - Oxfam Australia
  11. Development Employment Opportunities
  12. Doctors Without Borders
  13. Greenpeace
  14. Human Rights Council of Australia
  15. PLAN International Australia
  16. Red Cross Australia
  17. Red Cross International Recruitment
  18. Save the Children Australia
  19. The International Organisation for Migration
  20. World Vision
  21. World Wide Fund for Nature
  22. WaterAid Australia
  23. Expat Exchange

Government departments and organisations

Most world governments have a department responsible for international aid. In Australia, it’s AusAID, a division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). In most circumstances you will need to hold Australian citizenship to gain employment with AusAID in Australia. Employment can be pursued through either the DFAT Graduate Recruitment Program: http://www.dfat.gov.au/ or AusAID's own graduate program, via direct application to advertised positions, or by cold calling and submitting an expression of interest. Opportunities do exist for "local staff" (residents of the country where there is an AusAID project or representative) to be employed by AusAID abroad. Employment in Australia with a government department such as AusAID will, for the most part, involve administration and project management within Australia. There is some opportunity for travel and work overseas, see the AusAID website or www.developmentgateway.com.au for more information.

International or multilateral organisations

There are a number of international organisations that fund aid projects on a global scale. Organisations such as the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the United Nations, the International Labour Organisation and the World Health Organisation are involved in the ongoing support and funding of aid related projects. These projects may last for up to five years, with the day-to-day operations being the responsibility of a project management firm that has successfully tendered for the right to manage the project. Funded projects are usually large-scale, and may be concerned with issues such as:

  1. Poverty reduction strategies
  2. Infrastructure development
  3. Institutional strengthening
  4. Capacity building (education & training)
  5. Human rights
  6. Labour laws
  7. Environmental management
  8. Sustainable agribusiness
  9. Health

Employment with these organisations is highly competitive and is often more appropriate for applicants who have had some relevant employment experience. Browse the following websites for more information:

  1. Asian Development Bank
  2. International Labour Organisation
  3. International Monetary Fund
  4. UNESCO
  5. United Nations
  6. The World Bank Group
  7. World Trade Organisation

Private consulting and project management organisations

Involvement in international aid has become big business, and the proliferation in international project management and consulting is evidence of that. As the Indian author/activist, Arundhati Roy said: “there’s money in poverty”. Most of these Project Management organisations are highly professional and committed to winning tenders and the successful management of projects that may be funded by organisations such as AusAID, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and the United Nations.

A number of Australian universities have also established their own international project divisions, as have various State governments. In addition, there are numerous private-consulting firms. A range of employment opportunities exists with these organisations both within Australia and overseas. There is potential to assist with:

  1. Development and preparation of tenders
  2. Project management
  3. Education, training and curriculum development
  4. Provision of technical support in areas as diverse as reforestation, water sanitation, health (HIV), sustainable agribusiness, policy development, institutional strengthening and capacity building, engineering and infrastructure development and gender issues.
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Information in the Careers Resource Centre

Further information can be found in the Careers Resource Centre, 1st Floor Baldwin Spencer Building, Parkville campus. 

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