Any jobs in international development ?

[lizea1056]

I've got a degree from the US, and have been looking for jobs in international development/humanitarian aid/economic development.
Any sugestions about where to look for these kinds of jobs here in town?

Clearly depressed~

[Lili Von Shtupp]

Hi! International development jobs in Singapore - that's a tough one. I know there's some bilateral and multilateral work being done in the region, mainly Thailand, Laos (Vientiane has more non-profit that for-profit expats), Cambodia, Vietnam, Philippines, and Indonesia, as well as tons of small orgs in these places run mostly by locals, but unless they have an HQ in Singapore (which would be expensive, I would think), I don't know if you'll find much in this city. Economic/political regional orgs perhaps - what's your background experience, special interest? I'd be curious what turns up when you do your search and what other kinds of information people on this forum have to offer.

In a former life I worked in international development and really enjoyed my job, but that was 10 years ago back in NYC. It was my education/career track before I moved out here and changed tack, so I'm particularly curious about your story! I don't meet too many people in Singapore with a background in international development.

I noticed from another thread that you're moving with your Bosnian boyfriend. Any chance you've worked in Bosnia? I have a really good friend who was with US Dept of State in Bosnia for a long, long time, but now he's back in NYC working for the Quakers.

 

[lizea1056]

Hi ! My experience is very limited...I am afraid. I am just fresh out of college. And in this line of work that I am interested in demands adequate experience. I plan to continue my studies to graduate school but only after a few years of working here. My thinking led me to try to look for jobs in this field like ....  admin work or communication work ... entry-level work of course. It is the experience that I am seeking right now.

It would be quite an experience to intern or volunteer in Bosnia...which I have yet to have a chance to do yet. I know a friend who has been keen on wanting me to take a look at a women's organization there...helping with post-war social challenges.

Most/All of the people I've met here in Singapore are baffled by my sheer interest in international develoment.... But, having taken classes like Economic Development, International Resource Management...etc....etc...have led me to this interest!! I am mostly interested in women's issues as it relates to eradicating poverty and how low levels of income will affect their living standards & health ultimately. However, at this moment post-fresh-graduation...I am open to immersing myself in other related topics too.

Do you miss the work that you do in international development?

[Lili Von Shtupp]

Sometimes I miss it. I liked helping people - the program I was with did help people (some of the programs out there don't really, I'm afraid). My particular interest was development policy - designing an appropriate program to address a specific issue.

When I was fresh out of college I also had a hard time finding work. I was in NYC, which has a huge NGO presence, but competition for jobs is pretty fierce. I started off as an intern for 6 months at a UN-related agency, researching and writing. It was a great experience, but I didn't get paid. I juggled the internship plus a full-time job as a clerk in a bookstore.

When the internship was finished, I landed a temporary admin assistant job at an NGO through networking. The assignment lasted only 6 months, and tho I was paid I still had to keep my full-time bookstore job, because I needed the income security! It was crazy tiring, but I worked my butt off at that NGO so that after the temp assignment was completed, they liked me so much they found a permanent position for me. So all in all, it was over a year before I landed my first "real job" in international development. It was a low-paying administrative assistant job, but I made the most of it and climbed the ranks. I eventually went to grad school in the evenings for public administration/public policy. When I left the organization I was a program officer with a ton of great experience.

I do miss it. I enjoyed the atmosphere of working in an international NGO in NYC and discussions with my former colleagues, some of whom I'm still in touch with. And as I said before, a special sense of helping people, making a difference. The work I did may not have Saved The World, so to speak, but we did help a quite a number of brilliant individuals.

Some other ideas for places to look include MNCs that undertake philanthropic efforts. I saw you have another post on a thread about polyclinic work, education can also be a good choice when you're looking for entry level. Then there's always government/parastatal orgs - the program I worked for previously was funded by USAID.

I hope you find something! There are probably not that many jobs here, but then there are probably not many who are interested in taking up the work either!

Are you volunteering anywhere?



 

[Lili Von Shtupp]

Sorry, polyclinic - I meant to say polyTECHNIC!!!! 

[not singapore]

Yup hard to find one in Singapore.  You need to go the developing countries.
ADB's (Asian Development Bank) HQ is in the Philippines.

[heartless bunch]

Singapore takes no refugees.
Singapore gives minimal humanitarian aid to the region.
Singapore supports the military junta in Burma.

If you want to do humanitarian work this is not the place.  Even the multilateral aid agencies have zero presence here because Singapore gives little and does nothing.

There are local charities that you could volunteer with - but nothing much on the ground

[Unfair!]

"Singapore supports the military junta in Burma."

But Singapore, along with the other ASEAN countries, does apply "moral pressure" to the junta.

What could be more effective than that?!

[lizea1056]

Lili...NYC must be a great place to scoop around for jobs in international development..I'm sure...especially with the UN located in the midtown. It must have been quite a career for you!!

Teaching is another option too. It will come in handy as my main interest in women's issues ... gender roles ... achieving education for girls in rural areas. Seeing how usually they would be left out from going to school because of the need to help the family with household chores...wells being too far from houses...help the mom taking care of the younger siblings...cooking.... Then, which leads to lack of income...poor health standards...

I've been contacting organizations to see if I can volunteer/intern .. doing administration work or research perhaps...or just about anything that they help with. But it has been an uphill task. I will persevere...nothing comes easy. So we'll just have to see what comes around the corner. Patience is a virtue...and you've certainly work tirelessly to reach your career goals as you've mentioned. :-)

Thanks for sharing your experiences!!


 

[I'm also an]

ex-UN/NGO person who ended up here.  I really miss my old network of like-minded friends/collegues.  I have a few ideas about ways to apply the old training to the difficult situation of creating work for development professionals in Singapore.  Don't suppose there are enough of us of a brainstorming - or at least a consoling glass of wine? I would certainly be keen :-)

[Lili Von Shtupp]

Hi! I didn't see these replies until just today. Glass of wine sounds nice, with a chat about development work. I'm registered, so you can send me a message. I've been out of the loop, work-wise, but do still keep in touch with some of my old network. I also miss the stimulating discussions.

[to Lili]

tried to work out how to e-mail you directly re wines and whines but not apparent how to do this... do I need to be a registered member to send you a message?