PowerPoint Presentation Economic Growth and development in Southeast Asia

Research and read!

What can I add? General advice, but also some specifics:

On the “international aid architecture”, ODA flows and aid providers (follow the money)

On strategies for “building a career in development” -- with some personal stories e.g. from Chris, Steve – and personal contacts

As a first step: Think it through…

Why do you want to work in development?

“One of the greatest accomplishments of the past 50 years—the massive drop in the number of child deaths from 20 million children in 1960 to 8.1 million deaths last year—is an example of the tremendous progress we’ve made, in large part, thanks to foreign assistance. If the world comes together on a plan for financing development, the impact on health and development will be enormous.” (Bill Gates, April 2011)

• Do not be seduced by promises of privilege, grand benefits, and high salaries: that aspect of development work is gone/fast disappearing

What kind of work do you want to do, in what role? (be deliberate! And think longer term)

• Diplomatic and administrative (working for/with governments)
• Technical expert, including program management
• Humanitarian aid (the classic “aid worker”)

On which issues (what are the hot issues in development?) and in what settings?

• Finance and macro; business innovation, private sector development; energy!
• Service “basics” – health, education, water and sanitation
• BRICs? Conflict affected countries, fragile states?

Then explore…

Then explore…

• Which agencies/firms do that kind of work?
• What skills do you need, how can you equip (and distinguish) yourself substantively from 1000s of other job seekers?
• specific skills are particularly important for internships, entry level jobs
• What are effective approaches towards getting a job in the field?
• Job boards are good for knowing what’s out there, but personal contacts are still the main route into jobs, esp entry level jobs.
• NETWORK!
• Lots of good advice online i.e. start with modest expectations, volunteer, be willing to do office, work, be flexible, passionate about change (but not about salary and benefits…) and so on.
• Come across as a sound potential team member with interesting skills
• Will come back to this…