Since the beginning the Obama Administration, there are two issues that have had a significant effect on the hiring of international development professionals by the US Agency for International Development.
GDIO
Getting Your Foot in the Door at the UN
Source: Wikipedia
One of the challenges of finding a position within the United Nations is how to begin one’s search. The UN employs more than 44,000 staff around the world, with operations that affect the 193 member states and bridge specializations from information policy, to peacekeeping, to international health, to logistics.
As many of you have expressed interest in working with the United Nations Secretariat, its constituent funds and programs, or its specialized agencies, we thought it useful to give some background on how one can get one’s “foot in the door” with the United Nations. Continue Reading
Acronym Salad: Part I – USAID
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is the U.S. Government’s primary agency for international development and humanitarian assistance. Given the breadth of its programming, the agency and its workers will often use short-hand notation to describe the offices in which they work and the programs that are carried out within.
In this edition of acronym salad, we will discuss two primary acronyms of use to potential development workers, IQC (Indefinite Quantity Contracts) and PVO (Private Voluntary Organizations)
How the State Department Selects Interns
Over the past two days, we have talked about State Department Internships, as well as how to make your application stand out. Now, I’d like to touch on how the department selects its interns. Much of this is laid out in the Student Internship Program Brochure. Continue Reading
Becoming Policy-Relevant
Source: whitehouse.gov
All of you interested in working in international relations or public administration policy are looking to make sure that your research and insight is at the forefront of the field. Thus, it makes sense to take some time to read “So You Want to Be Policy-Relevant” by Professor Joshua Busby, Associate Professor of Public Policy at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas. Continue Reading
Op-Ed: US Policy in Egypt Inconsistent and Counterproductive
Source: fletcher.tufts.edu
On November 24, 2013, Maxwell students Seth Binder (MAIR ’13) and Amrou Kotb (MPA/IR ’14) published an opinion piece titled “US Policy in Egypt Inconsistent and Counterproductive” in Al Nakhlah, The Fletcher School’s online journal of Southwest Asia and Islamic Civilization. Continue Reading
More tips on International Development
Continuing on yesterday’s theme, in the same essay that she wrote on the international development landscape, APSIA alumna Michele Carter provided some additional advice to those of you thinking of international development work. Continue Reading
Seth Binder – Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED)
This story was submitted by Seth Binder, who completed his graduate IR degree in the fall of 2013.
As part of the MAIR requirements, I participated in Syracuse’s Washington D.C., Global Security and Development Program (GSDP). This opportunity provided an array of course options and an endless number of internship possibilities in the DC area. Continue Reading
Diplomacy and Development Organization
As parts of the United States government, the Department of State and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) have complicated organizational systems. Given the interlocking tasks and multiple hierarchical layers, it is important for those interested in working in the system to have a working knowledge of these organization structures as they consider their potential career path. Thus, we’ve prepared a quick guide to all of the major offices in both organizations for your use. Continue Reading
Matt Podolak – Envision Consulting, Amman, Jordan
Photo: Matt Podolak
My internship for Envision Consulting was arranged by Amideast, the academic program that I was participating in during my fall semester in Jordan. The internship was actually part of a course being offered, but I opted not to receive credit for the course, and instead volunteered my time at the consultancy in order to remain busy during the semester. Continue Reading