International aid/development worker
International aid/development workers focus on meeting the needs of people and communities in the developing world. International development seeks to work with developing countries to implement long-term and sustainable solutions to problems. Many work on development projects in fields such as education, sanitation, health, agriculture and urban/rural/small business development.
Work in this sector is diverse and encompasses governance, healthcare, education, gender equality, disaster preparedness, infrastructure, economics, livelihoods, human rights, forced migration, security, conflict and the environment.
Career areas include administration, research, fundraising, training, consultancy, advocacy, relief work and economist roles, as well as professional roles within health work, medicine, engineering and planning. There is currently a shortage of doctors and water engineers.
Humanitarian and disaster relief work may call for highly specific skills and experience and usually involves short-term assignments.
Experience Development is a central portal which brings together comprehensive information on the many different aspects of international development.
Job content varies according to seniority, organisation/project/employer and location of the role (UK or overseas), but may typically include:
Salary figures are intended as a guide only.
Many people who enter this area of work have a degree in social sciences or a relevant vocational subject, although not all posts require a particular degree. In particular, the following subjects may increase your chances:
Routes into this career area vary depending on the relevance of the degree discipline.
Entry without a degree is unlikely unless applicants have substantial relevant experience.
The Development Studies Association (DSA) maintains a list of relevant undergraduate courses, postgraduate taught courses and postgraduate research opportunities. It is extremely advisable to obtain some paid or unpaid work experience in development before committing to a postgraduate course. This will provide context for further studies and also help to identify the most relevant academic and/or professional qualification to undertake.
A postgraduate degree may be desirable or essential for many posts depending on the specific job you are seeking. It is also possible to pursue postgraduate courses in international development management, international development studies, international health management, aid management, global social policy and other development-related courses.
Ultimately, however, the key to getting that important first post in the sector is relevant previous experience. Obtaining relevant voluntary or paid work experience is essential during and/or following study, either overseas or in the UK. Most university students’ unions offer opportunities to volunteer. Internships can often be taken during summer vacations. Formal internship schemes are more common in larger charities such as Oxfam , Christian Aid and People and Planet . Organisations such as Volunteering England , Volunteering Wales , Student Volunteering Scotland and WorldWide Volunteering (WWV) provide information and advice about getting involved in volunteering. There is also a student-led global network called U8: Global Student Partnership for Development , which provides ways for students to learn about and engage with development issues.
Applicants need to recognise that international aid/development is a challenging and extremely competitive career area to break into. It is essential to do some research and raise your level of knowledge and understanding of how the sector and organisations operate before applying.
Candidates need to show evidence of the following:
Most routes to gaining overseas experience require some self-funding. The Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) runs a two-year programme open to applicants with relevant post-qualification experience. VSO’s Youth for Development (YfD) scheme is a one-year overseas programme for 18-25 year-olds that provides an opportunity to work with its partners in over 40 countries. 2Way Development is a UK-registered social enterprise that places volunteers with established development charities in Latin America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East for a fixed fee of £850.
A background in areas such as finance, IT, fundraising, HR or marketing may offer an alternative entry point into development agencies for those seeking to work in development without being directly involved in managing overseas projects.
For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.
Vocational training tends to be delivered through volunteering, internships and short courses. RedR offers one- to three-day introductory courses on relief work, and BOND (British Overseas NGOs for Development) and Medair also run relevant short courses. World Service Enquiry (WSE) publishes booklets on volunteering and working in aid/development which are suitable for those in the early stages of seeking a job in the sector.
Details of other short courses are listed on the Development Studies Association (DSA) website.
The Department for International Development (DFID) provides its staff with a comprehensive induction process designed to help them do their job effectively as quickly as possible and to identify their individual learning needs. As each person’s career develops, they are able to choose from a wide range of training options including traditional training courses, conferences and seminars, e-learning, coaching, mentoring and job shadowing.
Not-for-profit organisations are not usually able to offer as much formal in-house training as other organisations, as there tends to be less funding available for staff training. Unlike corporate firms, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have no set way of doing things, and smaller and grass-roots organisations may offer little opportunity for training. Larger NGOs may offer in-house training courses, and they may also encourage staff to attend external training offered by bodies such as Intrac (International NGO Training and Research Centre) .
Engineers and vocational degree holders are usually members of their relevant professional bodies and may work towards professional accreditation or chartered status. They may participate in relevant professional training.
There is no one set career pathway for international aid/development workers. You need to carve your own career and make a careful assessment of your own skills and abilities. You have to be prepared to review and change your career plans as development priorities shift.
The public sector may offer graduates more structured career development. Development specialists in the Department for International Development (DFID) work for up to five years in the UK and abroad before achieving adviser status.
A vertical career path within one non-governmental organisation (NGO) is unlikely. Moving between agencies to gain experience is common, often with a mix of UK and overseas posts. Competition is intense for domestic and international posts. Working overseas may be difficult without higher or specialised qualifications, for example in health promotion, micro-finance or logistics.
Another path through this sector may involve starting at a lower level entry position, such as programme administrator or assistant, progressing to coordinator, then manager. Promotions can happen quickly once you are employed, especially in the field and in smaller organisations. Flexibility and a willingness to be geographically mobile are important. Posts such as country/regional programme manager generally require at least five years' experience. Recruitment at this level is increasingly global, with a noticeable move towards appointing well-qualified nationals with the appropriate cultural background.
There is a growing trend for organisations to decentralise and base themselves in or close to the developing countries in which they are involved.
Consultancy may be an option after you have gained considerable experience, although there may be increased competition for consultancies in certain countries.
For those with appropriate experience, short-term humanitarian relief and emergency aid assignments may form part of long-term career development within, for example, healthcare or engineering. For engineering-based volunteer opportunities see Engineers Without Borders (EWB) . Personnel are sourced from registers of screened specialists like RedR and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) , who may be seconded at short notice from their usual employment.
Development and emergency aid organisations employ over 100,000 people worldwide. Charities and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are the main employers of aid/development workers. NGOs include voluntary and religious organisations. They vary in size, structure, regional focus and their capacity to employ paid staff. Some offer predominantly UK-based roles in finance, fundraising or overseas project management. Some deploy experienced staff in developing countries. The World Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (WANGO) website has a searchable directory of international NGOs.
A comprehensive list of employers, volunteering opportunities and recruitment agencies can be found through Getting into International Development . DevNetJobs also provides a useful overview of the range of jobs available across all types of employers and areas of this sector.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) administers the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Programme , which provides hands-on experience to young professionals (usually aged under 32) pursuing a career in development. JPOs are sponsored by their respective governments, although note the UK government is not currently sponsoring JPO positions.
The World Bank offers employment for recent graduates and those with a relevant Masters degree and experience. The Overseas Development Institute (ODI) also employs certain postgraduates. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) employs graduates with Masters or PhD qualifications in economics.
Major international organisations, such as the United Nations (UN) , base their employment intake on which countries are underrepresented in their international quotas. Internships are offered by various UN organisations. A comprehensive list of all United Nations websites is available through the United Nations System of Organisations .
The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has set up an International Development Network (IDN) for planners with an interest in planning and international development.
Some private consultancies work on development-related projects (not necessarily exclusively), and these are listed on DOCON (Directory of Consulting Firms Active in International Development Cooperation) .
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