A program coordinator in DRC

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 a program coordinator with an international nongovernmental organization in the Democratic Republic of Congo. - Position title: program coordinator - Seniority: mid-level - Position type: full-time - Year: 2012 - Sample tasks: oversee project implementation, including ensuring compliance with donor requirements, coordinate the work as well as render support and guidance to technical staff, review budgets regularly - Salary: $45,000-$50,000 per year DRC’s foreign aid job market Since 2001, the Democratic Republic of Congo has been making political gains, with the signing of peace accords, holding of national elections and establishment of political institutions. But the country’s security situation remains as fragile — unrest continues to beset the eastern provinces — as poverty widespread. Donor aid to DRC has been on an upswing over the last five years. In 2010, the country received more than $3.4 billion, although about a third of that went to debt relief. Health, education and other social services earned the next largest chunk of the pie, followed by humanitarian assistance. Based on our analysis of job ads posted on Devex.com, there is constant hiring among aid groups based in DRC. Candidates with expertise in areas such as education, gender and water and sanitation are sought after, and for most assignments, proficiency in English and French is either a requirement or a plus. Check out vacancies in DRC and for program coordinators. 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!