There are a number of times when you hear people say that they work in the international development sector and you start to wonder what they mean. The International Development sector has taken it upon itself to look out for the people in low and middle-income countries and do all it can to improve their living conditions and well-being. This sector consists of different agencies such as NGOs, government agencies, and other institutions that share the same view. They work on education, poverty reduction, healthcare, infrastructure, and more projects.
International Development Careers
Anyone with a career in international development is a person who joins the sector as a professional to address global challenges and promote sustainable development. In a bid to support individuals in the most developed countries, they conduct research, implement projects, advocate for policies, and collaborate with international organizations to achieve positive social and economic change. This is why, to have a career in international development, you must be strongly committed to causing a change to happen every time.
Also, if you are into international development, it means that you have to channel your job search towards NGOs and government agencies. Some of the career paths available in this field include the following:
Researcher
Researchers go all out to find development issues, focusing on education, poverty, education, healthcare and environmental sustainability. They pick certain countries and gather enough data that can provide valuable information concerning the state of these countries.
Policy Analyst
Policy analysts assess the efficacy of policy and programs by monitoring their outcomes and impact, then providing suggestions and recommendations that can pose adjustments based on the assessment and evaluations
Education Specialist
This role involves identifying settlements with little or no access to good education and finding ways to provide or improve the quality of education in such places. They work on initiatives to increase literacy and educational opportunities.
Project Manager
Finding ways to improve the quality of education in a developing country, providing healthcare services and alleviating poverty are projects and the only way to be sure that these projects are properly carried out is to monitor how things are put in place. This is where the project manager comes in, he/she oversees running projects and ensures that they are taking the right route.
Environmental Specialist
People in this role are the ones who are passionate about addressing environmental and climate change issues. They evaluate how different projects may affect the ecosystem, natural resources and climatic change. Also, they are mostly involved in conservation programs to protect biodiversity, natural habitats and endangered species.
Program Officers
Program officers design how different programs should go, manage them, and monitor their progress to see that they are reaching the right audience locally and globally. Also, they see to it that the specific needs are being addressed and the projects are sustained.
There are several other roles within the international development sector but these are just a few. The good thing about being in this sector is that there are a lot of skills that work; whether you are a healthcare practitioner, a data analyst, or a consultant, there is space for you to render your services.
