A health program coordinator in Somalia

International development is as much a business as it is a labor of love, and chances are you won’t choose your next assignment based on the money. That said, compensation is an important part of human resources management, and comprehensive data on salaries and benefits is hard to come by. That’s why Devex is shedding light on the salaries and work of those holding jobs that international development organizations commonly hire for. It’s part of our mission to help aid professionals do good and make informed decisions about their careers. Today’s spotlight is on an internationally hired health program coordinator working for an international NGO in Somalia. - Position title: health program coordinator - Seniority: mid-level - Position type: full-time - Year: 2014 - Salary: roughly $50,000 annually - Benefits: health insurance, housing supplement, paid R&R - Sample tasks: ensure project objectives are on track, work constructively with colleagues across teams, provide technical direction to project staff and partners in the areas of health and nutrition, provide recommendation for improvements in health service delivery - Qualifications: project management, ability to achieve results in a demanding and fast-paced environment Somalia foreign aid job market Somalia had its share of security challenges in 2013, including violent attacks against aid groups providing assistance there, a persistent scenario that led Médecins Sans Frontières to pull out of the country last year. But other donors insist these security setbacks are not going to deter them from supporting the fledgling government. The bulk of aid pledges made for Somalia’s development and reconstruction has come from the European Union, which in September 2013 promised support of €650 million over three years. The Somali government wants to take the reins of its future development, especially beyond 2015 — with an increased determination to keep reconstruction efforts country-led, with all the top donors on board. European donors will align their support with the compact, under which the international community and the Somali government are expected to rally behind five key priority goals for peace and state building: economic recovery, improved public finances and services, inclusive politics, justice and security. Check out the Devex jobs board for more vacancies in Somalia and for posts as a health program coordinator. Compensation isn’t everything The details provided in this article were derived from a survey of select development workers stationed in various parts of the globe. Due to the sensitivity of the information, we are keeping the respondents’ identities and organizations confidential. Compensation varies greatly from one job, country or organization to another. Even for the same position, differences in remuneration occur based on educational background, experience and an applicant’s most recent salary, an organization’s need and the sector it operates in, as well as whether it is hiring locally or internationally. Also, some organizations offer more generous benefit packages than others, or they offer perks such as regular travel, training or other career development services that should not be discounted. For senior-level international hires, in particular, benefits such as housing and education allowances often amount to tens of thousands of dollars per year. At the end of the day, aid workers tell us that the chance to help alleviate suffering and lift people out of poverty are well worth any pay cut they may have encountered switching from the private sector. Read more Devex Salary Spotlights!