DERN, NUIG Galway

Irish Aid support for careers in development

Friday March 20th, 2009

Irish Aid is the Irish Government’s Official Development Cooperation Programme

Total Budget for 2008 of €891 million, 0.56% of GNP

Sixth largest per capita donor in the world

Irish Aid support for careers in in development Project support for 1,300 volunteer and development

workers working with Irish Aid partners

Support for development workers – Comhlámh’s returned development workers programme, counselling, careers guidance

Volunteering as a mid-career entry point – United Nations volunteer placements (full five yrs professional experience)

internship programmes e.g. United Nations Volunteer (UNV)

Why does Irish Aid fund UNV internships? Basically to help create a pipeline of high-calibre

development specialists from Ireland

Other similar initiatives include:- the 2008 Junior Professional Internship scheme in

Irish Aid - next recruitment possibly 2010

- Support for Junior Professional Officer in a UN agency (JPO) – suspended, next recruitment not known

Why be a development worker Very rewarding – “sense of worth” Interesting Challenging – physically and mentally Varied Travel Part of international community Working with people Lifestyle

But …………… No career framework e.g. talent management Highly competitive – 25 PG courses Very uncertain Very demanding Relatively low/median pay Bit of a “nomad” Decentralisation Question of need for “Northern” development

worker – increased specialisation

Where are the UNV intern placements? Priority given to Ireland’s designated

programme countries In 2009 these include: - Ethiopia (1) Cambodia (3)Laos (2)Timor Leste

(2) Malawi (1), Lesotho (1), Mozambique (2)

- Albania (1), Kosovo (1), Nepal (1), India (1)

With UN Agencies field offices

Likely to include: UNHCR UNAIDS UNICEF UNDP WFP

UNIFEM

Placement characteristics

Irish priority activities e.g. HIV/AIDS, Education, Human Rights

Meaningful Terms of Reference e.g. programme & policy development,

Monitoring & evaluation, media & public info

Large UN office for desk positions

Safe living and working conditions

Interviews – what are we looking for?Competencies: - Past behaviour is useful

indicator of future behaviour

Work organisation and planning Proactivity/self-reliance Communication skills Team work Motivation and Commitment

Interviews – what are we looking for?Checking for: Career fit, career fit, career fit Languages (Official UN) Robust health Original copy of Masters Degree Cert. Availability for interview dates Preferred location and type of work Referees availability

Time scale for 2009 UNV intern scheme May- August UNV gathers suitable ToRs from UNV offices

Late Aug/Beg Sept – Irish Aid advertise scheme – 14 positions? October – 1st and 2nd rd of interviews ( target 1st and 3rd weeks)

230- 250 applicants about 70 1st interview, then 35 2nd interview (ranking)

Early November: References checked and two nominees for each position on best fit and ranking in panel sent to UNV in Bonn

Mid Nov: Bonn sends two nominees for each position to field office

Dec – UN Field offices make final selection Jan – 1 week training in Irish Aid Centre and 2 days in UNV

Bonn Feb 2010 – 14? Interns take up positions

Building your CV

Work experience Multilateral experience NGO experience Field experience – definitely !! Research, policy-making Academic qualifications – at least Masters Staying up-to-date in your specialisation Proficiency in UN languages – French,

Spanish, Arabic

Whatever happens – best of luck!

www.irishaid.gov.iewww.irishaid.gov.ie/centre

Thank You