A monitoring and evaluation director in South Sudan

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. Nevertheless, compensation is an important part of human resources management, and comprehensive data on salaries and benefits is hard to come by. That is why Devex is shedding light on the salaries and work of those holding jobs that international development organizations commonly hire. It is part of our mission to help aid professionals do good and make informed decisions about their careers. Today’s spotlight is on a monitoring and evaluation director, an international hire, at a nongovernmental organization working in South Sudan. - Position title: M&E director - Seniority: senior-level - Position type: full-time - Year: 2013 - Salary: $54,000-$60,000 per year - Benefits: Housing, health insurance, contributions to retirement account, rest and recreation, home leave, danger pay, post-differential pay while in country - Sample tasks: work with field staff to develop M&E tools as well as compile and analyze data that can improve program effectiveness and accountability, oversee and implement M&E systems and processes, work with donor and program staff as well as other stakeholders to develop work and M&E plans and systems, provide M&E training and related support to field staff - Key qualifications for the job: minimum 10 years of relevant experience, proven skills in M&E, experience working in Sudan or South Sudan South Sudan’s foreign aid job market As the world’s newest nation, South Sudan has massive development needs. The World Banknotes that “without a history of formal institutions, rules or administration accepted as legitimate by its society, South Sudan must build its institutions from scratch.” Humanitarian needs are also staggering. For 2013, the United Nations seeks $1.16 billion to help 4.6 million in the African country, including 2.3 million needing food assistance. Organizations working in South Sudan have expressed a need for experts in emergency response as well as program management, field coordination and monitoring and evaluation for projects in a wide range of sectors including agriculture, health, and water and sanitation. Check out vacancies in South Sudan and for M&E experts. Compensation isn’t everything The details provided in this article were pooled 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 perks such as regular travel, training or other career development services that should be taken into account. For senior-level international hires, in particular, benefits like 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!