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Cory J. Steinhauer

The shadow of poverty continues to cast a pall over entire nations. Forced migration and asylum seeker rates are getting worse, not better. One in nine people are still chronically undernourished. These are the biggest issues of our time.So why are the best minds of our generation working on optimising click-throughs?Take your first step towards becoming an International Aid Worker, building a social enterprise, creating a movement, or joining the domestic community sector. Our exploration course gives you a taste of life as an Aid Worker in an engaging and friendly environment.

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The shadow of poverty continues to cast a pall over entire nations. Forced migration and asylum seeker rates are getting worse, not better. One in nine people are still chronically undernourished. These are the biggest issues of our time.So why are the best minds of our generation working on optimising click-throughs?Take your first step towards becoming an International Aid Worker, building a social enterprise, creating a movement, or joining the domestic community sector. Our exploration course gives you a taste of life as an Aid Worker in an engaging and friendly environment.

Learn about careers you can have in the Global Humanitarian and Development Industry in a few hours... just imagine what you could accomplish in a lifetime.

Who is it for?

Career Changers: Want to transition to a career you'll love? Do you have big dreams for the future? Are you keen to innovate? A Humanitarian career provides you the opportunity to change the world. Life as an Aid Worker promises job diversity, rewarding opportunities, and a purpose beyond the 9-5 grind.School / University Graduates: Interested in Humanitarianism? Don't want to commit to a four year degree? Finished Uni... now what? Our exploration course provides engaging learning, networking opportunities, and is a stepping stone into the workforce as an Aid Worker.Change Agents: Want to take your social change career to the next level? Learn the necessary skills to create sustainable change and explore career pathways across the Humanitarian, International Development and Stabilization sectors both internationally and domestically.When building a successful humanitarian career… opportunities don’t happen, you create them. Make the change.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Understand the breadth of the humanitarian industry in the 21st century.
  • Learn about careers you can have in the global humanitarian and development industry in one hour.
  • Take your first step towards becoming an international aid worker, building a social enterprise, creating a movement, or joining the domestic community sector.
  • Explore diverse pathways to engage in aid work - domestically or internationally, short or long-term.
  • Identify your personal skills, strengths and weaknesses for leveraging social change.
  • Understand how ‘making a difference’ happens; your role in the process and how you can use your current skill sets to ignite change.

Syllabus

Understand the structure and outcomes of the course.
Course introduction
Understand the breadth of the Humanitarian industry in the 21st century.
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Provides insights into the global humanitarian and development industry, which can be valuable for those considering a career transition or recent graduates
Explores diverse pathways into aid work, which can help learners discover opportunities that align with their skills and interests
Focuses on identifying personal skills and strengths, which is useful for leveraging social change and finding a fulfilling role
Examines the role of a professional humanitarian, which may help learners understand the expectations and responsibilities of such a career
Serves as an exploration course, which may be most beneficial for those with limited prior knowledge or experience in the field

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Reviews summary

Introduction to humanitarian development careers

According to learners, this course provides a great introduction and a clear, concise overview of the international humanitarian and development sector. Reviewers found it offers valuable insights and a realistic overview of careers in the field, making it particularly helpful for career changers and those exploring career options. It's praised for its well-structured modules, easy-to-follow pace, and being a good value for the time investment. Students appreciated that it helps clarify interest, understand the scope of work, and provides practical tips on next steps. It is noted as a high-level overview rather than a deep dive, which aligns with its purpose as a first step.
Provides overview, not deep dive.
"Could maybe go a little deeper into specific job roles, but for an introduction, it's solid."
"The lectures are informative but felt a bit high-level at times."
"As mentioned by others, it's an overview, not a deep dive, which is fine if you know that upfront."
Well-structured and time efficient.
"The structure was easy to follow, and the pace was just right for grasping the key concepts."
"The length is good for exploring without committing too much time."
"The modules were well-structured and easy to digest."
"Good value for the time investment."
Offers a realistic look at the field.
"...gives a realistic overview of how it works and what to expect."
"...touches on various career paths and the reality of working in this field."
"Inspiring and insightful! This course demystifies the humanitarian field and presents realistic career paths."
"It gives a realistic perspective on working in aid."
Helps explore and plan career steps.
"I'd highly recommend this for anyone considering moving into this field, especially career changers."
"Very helpful as a first step. It confirms if you're on the right track regarding interest..."
"...gives you ideas on where to go next."
"Perfect for someone looking to explore career options."
"Fantastic starting point! Helped me clarify my interest and understand the scope of work. The practical tips on next steps were particularly useful."
Provides a clear and concise introduction.
"Great introduction to International Aid and Development."
"Clear, concise and gives a realistic overview of how it works..."
"Excellent, offering valuable insights into the international development sector."
"This course gives a good overview of the humanitarian sector."
"Exactly what I needed to understand the basics of the humanitarian sector."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in International Humanitarian & Development Careers with these activities:
Review basic economics concepts
Solidify your understanding of economic principles relevant to international development.
Browse courses on Development Economics
Show steps
  • Review introductory economics textbooks or online resources.
  • Focus on concepts like supply and demand, GDP, and inflation.
  • Consider how these concepts apply to developing countries.
Research a specific humanitarian organization
Gain in-depth knowledge of a specific organization's mission, activities, and impact.
Show steps
  • Choose a humanitarian organization that interests you.
  • Explore their website, annual reports, and other resources.
  • Write a report summarizing the organization's work and impact.
Create a presentation on a current humanitarian crisis
Deepen your understanding of a specific crisis and develop your presentation skills.
Show steps
  • Select a current humanitarian crisis (e.g., famine, conflict).
  • Research the causes, impacts, and responses to the crisis.
  • Prepare a presentation summarizing your findings.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Review 'The Idealist: Jeffrey Sachs and the Quest to End Poverty'
Gain a critical perspective on large-scale development initiatives and the challenges of implementing aid programs.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'The Idealist'.
  • Read the book, taking notes on key arguments and criticisms.
  • Reflect on how the book's themes relate to the course content.
Review 'Dead Aid: Why Aid Is Not Working and How There Is a Better Way for Africa'
Explore alternative perspectives on development and critically evaluate the role of aid in addressing global challenges.
View Beyond the Techlash on Amazon
Show steps
  • Acquire a copy of 'Dead Aid'.
  • Read the book, focusing on the author's arguments against aid.
  • Consider the implications of the book's arguments for humanitarian work.
Volunteer at a local non-profit organization
Gain practical experience and contribute to a cause you care about.
Show steps
  • Identify local non-profits aligned with your interests.
  • Contact the organization and inquire about volunteer opportunities.
  • Commit to a regular volunteer schedule.
Develop a project proposal for a development initiative
Apply your knowledge to design a practical solution to a development challenge.
Show steps
  • Identify a specific development challenge in a particular region.
  • Research existing solutions and identify gaps.
  • Develop a detailed project proposal outlining your proposed solution.

Career center

Learners who complete International Humanitarian & Development Careers will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
International Aid Worker
The role of an International Aid Worker involves direct engagement in humanitarian efforts, often in challenging environments. This course helps you understand the breadth of the humanitarian industry and explore diverse pathways to engage in aid work. The course focuses on identifying personal skills and strengths relevant to social change, vital for a successful career as an International Aid Worker. If you are curious about the field, this course helps you explore diverse pathways into the field, both internationally and domestically, and helps you assess your skills for the work.
Social Entrepreneur
A Social Entrepreneur focuses on developing innovative solutions to social problems, often through the creation of a social enterprise. This course helps individuals explore diverse pathways to create social change, which is central to a Social Entrepreneur's work. By understanding the humanitarian industry and identifying personal strengths for leveraging social change, a budding Social Entrepreneur can begin planning a venture that has a real social impact. The course is designed for those who want to innovate, and this would certainly benefit someone building a social enterprise.
Community Organizer
A Community Organizer works to empower communities to achieve social change. This course introduces you to career options in the community sector. It also focuses on understanding how 'making a difference' happens and how you can use your existing skills to ignite change, which is essential to the role of a Community Organizer. The course helps you understand your role in the process which is a necessary step in gaining the tools to lead social change.
Nonprofit Program Manager
A Nonprofit Program Manager oversees the operations and development of programs within a nonprofit organization. This course introduces the breadth of the humanitarian industry and explores diverse pathways to engage in aid work, both internationally and domestically. For a Nonprofit Program Manager, understanding the structure and operation of programs is crucial. This course will help you understand the landscape of the industry, and this is of vital importance to anyone seeking to manage programs within a nonprofit.
Development Officer
A Development Officer works to secure funding and resources for nonprofit or humanitarian organizations. The course explores diverse pathways to engage in aid work and understand the humanitarian sector, which is critical for a Development Officer who needs to grasp the big picture to make their case for financial or other support. The course's attention to identifying personal strengths for leveraging social change may inform donor relations. The course can help someone understand the sector so that they can fundraise effectively.
Advocacy Specialist
An Advocacy Specialist works to promote social change through policy and public awareness. This course explores career pathways in the humanitarian, international development, and stabilization sectors. It also helps you understand how to ignite change, which is of central importance to an Advocacy Specialist. The course can help someone aiming for this career understand the big picture before moving into a specific issue that they would hope to advocate around.
Humanitarian Logistics Specialist
A Humanitarian Logistics Specialist focuses on the efficient and effective delivery of aid and resources during crises. This course may be useful in offering an overview of the humanitarian sector and its nuances. This course can help someone looking at this career understand the industry that they would be working in. The focus of the course on understanding how 'making a difference' happens may be relevant to those working in resource management within humanitarian efforts.
Refugee Resettlement Officer
A Refugee Resettlement Officer assists refugees in integrating into a new country. This course may be useful in helping you explore diverse pathways to engage in aid work, both internationally and domestically. The course is useful in that it provides a context for engagement in the field and helps a practitioner in this space understand how ‘making a difference’ happens. For those thinking about this career, the course's mention of forced migration may be specifically relevant.
Grant Writer
A Grant Writer develops proposals to secure funding for nonprofit and humanitarian organizations. This course may be useful in helping you understand the breadth of the humanitarian industry and its key challenges. The course's focus on career pathways in the humanitarian sector may provide context for grant proposals, so this course may be useful for someone who wants to understand the sector they will fundraise for. It will help them understand the work that they are hoping to support.
Policy Analyst
A Policy Analyst researches and develops policy recommendations, often for governments or nonprofits. This course may be helpful to someone entering this career field since it provides a high level overview of the humanitarian sector in the 21st century. The course may help provide context for policy work in this area. The course helps learners to understand how 'making a difference' happens. This is a useful framework for someone interested in policy analysis.
Research Analyst
A Research Analyst conducts research to inform decision-making in areas like international development and humanitarian aid. While this course does not teach research methodology, it can help you gain context by learning about the structures in the humanitarian sector. The course introduces diverse pathways to engage in aid work. This is useful for a Research Analyst as it helps them understand the issues that organizations are facing. The knowledge of the humanitarian sector that a student takes from this course is broadly relevant to a career as a Research Analyst.
Public Health Educator
A Public Health Educator develops and implements programs to improve community health. This course may be useful insofar as it addresses large scale issues of poverty and nutrition, which are relevant to public health. The course may be useful in that it provides context to large scale issues that public health workers are attempting to address. The course is an introduction to the humanitarian sector and in that way, may help someone who seeks to go into public health.
Project Coordinator
A Project Coordinator organizes and manages projects, ensuring they are completed on time and within budget. This course introduces the breadth of the humanitarian industry and provides an overview that may be useful to a Project Coordinator in this sector. It provides an understanding of the larger mission of projects in the humanitarian sector. The course helps someone understand how they can use their skills, and this is a good starting place for someone who wishes to coordinate projects in the field.
Communications Specialist
A Communications Specialist develops and implements communication strategies for organizations. This course's focus on the humanitarian industry and its challenges may be useful for a Communications Specialist who needs to communicate about issues in the field. The course provides a helpful overview for someone embarking on a career in communications within the charitable and humanitarian sector. The course is a stepping stone into the field and may help someone enter it through a communications position.
Volunteer Coordinator
A Volunteer Coordinator recruits, trains, and manages volunteers for an organization. This course provides an overview of the humanitarian industry and social change, which is useful for a Volunteer Coordinator.The course can serve as a useful introduction to anyone hoping to enter the world of nonprofit and humanitarian work, including those who hope to work as volunteer coordinators. The course explores diverse pathways to engage in aid work, and this is helpful to understand the motivations of volunteers.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in International Humanitarian & Development Careers.
Offers a critical perspective on large-scale development initiatives. It provides valuable insights into the complexities and challenges of implementing aid programs in developing countries. Reading this book will help students develop a more nuanced understanding of the humanitarian and development sector, and the potential pitfalls of even well-intentioned interventions. It serves as a cautionary tale and encourages critical thinking about aid effectiveness.
Challenges conventional wisdom about the effectiveness of foreign aid. It argues that aid can be detrimental to economic development in Africa. Reading this book will expose students to alternative perspectives on development and encourage them to critically evaluate the role of aid in addressing global challenges. It valuable resource for understanding the complexities of international development and the importance of sustainable solutions.

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