Magazine

NGOs – non-governmental organisations, provide impartial and neutral assistance to people in need around the world. They work in areas of extreme poverty, or provide aid to people impacted by disasters and crises. Most NGOs do good work in difficult contexts. However, too often NGOs fail to deliver quality projects, or to live up humanitarian ideals. So why do NGOs fail? Well, let us explain… Lack Of Funds A first reason why NGOs fail is because of lack of funds. ... Read more

Working for an NGO can be a fantastic career. Not only do you get to work for an organisation whose objective is to help people experiencing crises, conflicts, and disasters around the world; but you also often get an exciting role in a dynamic organisation, working alongside other highly motivated and passionate people. However, NGO jobs are highly competitive. So, if you’re thinking about a career in the NGO sector, what qualifications should you study to increase your chances of ... Read more

As a nation, Canada is one of the top humanitarian donors in the world. Canada spends over five billion USD a year in overseas aid. As well as international aid efforts, Canada also has a thriving domestic NGO sector that provides charitable support to Canadians facing hardship. Canada has many NGOs and there are a huge range of jobs within the country’s NGO sector. We’ve put together this guide for anyone wanting to work for an NGO in Canada. It’s ... Read more

If you are interested in working for an NGO and are a qualified social worker, there are many roles within the sector that are open to you. Many NGO social worker jobs are on the frontline directly helping vulnerable people affected by crises, conflicts and disasters. We’ve put together this breakdown of some of the most commonly recruited social worker jobs in the NGO sector. It’s also for those interested in working for an NGO and wondering what jobs may ... Read more

The NGO sector has a significant need for qualified engineers. Organisations responding to crises and disasters often require engineers to assist in areas such as shelter construction, water and sanitation works, planning infrastructure projects, and even software development. If you are working as an engineer and interested in taking a job with an NGO, explore our breakdown of some of the most common engineering roles NGOs recruit for. This guide is also useful for those wanting to pursue a career ... Read more

Many people looking into international development issues will soon come across the term sustainable development. In 2015, the United Nations even replaced it’s Millennial Development Goals with the Sustainable Development Goals. Sustainable development is defined as development that meets the immediate needs of people without compromising the needs of future generations… But if sustainable development is so hyped, why, when you look at most development projects, are they far from sustainable? Could it be that sustainable development isn’t actually possible? ... Read more

When many people think of working for the United Nations, they picture a prestigious international career with postings all around the world. However, UN jobs are notoriously hard to get, and not all UN roles are even overseas. So, how do you know which UN jobs are actually abroad, and how do get the right qualifications and experience to work internationally for the United Nations? We’ve put together this guide for anyone thinking about an international career with the UN. ... Read more

When you apply for a job with an NGO, a key part of your application will be a cover letter, alongside submitting a CV. A cover letter is a formal letter explaining why you are a strong candidate for a job. NGO recruiters will review your cover letter and decide if they should short-list you for an interview. Therefore, your cover letter needs to demonstrate you have the skills and experience, as well as the passion, to work at the ... Read more

Most universities nowadays expect applicants to attend an interview. Development studies courses are no different. College admission interviews are designed not only to find the best students, but also candidates that are highly knowledgeable, and passionate, about the subject areas. So, if you’re applying for a development studies programme, how best are you to prepare for an interview so that you can get into the college of your choice? Well, read on… Understand Why You Want To Do Development Studies ... Read more

Nearly 91 million of people in India do not have access to safe water. Moreover, 746 million people lack access to household sanitation facilities and toilets and are exposed to defecating in forests, fields, and other public spaces. The number of people exposed to poor sanitation in India is amongst the highest in the world, with their health being severely affected by infectious diseases. With the support of NGOs, the Indian government has invested major resources in recent years to ... Read more

Around the world, hundreds of millions of women and girls are affected by humanitarian crises or living in poverty. Women are marginalized in many communities. When these communities are impacted by disasters, the rights of women and girls often further deteriorate. There are many NGOs that run programmes aiming to improve the lives of women and girls and assist them to fully access their rights. Here we breakdown some of the top jobs in the NGO sector working for women’s ... Read more

Most people around the world know of the United Nations. They also know its work trying to bring nations together to resolve global disputes and delivering humanitarian and development assistance. However, many people see the UN’s work and assume the organization is an NGO. But is it? Is the United Nations an NGO? And if not, why? The United Nations is not an NGO. This is because the UN is an international organisation made up of member states. It is ... Read more