A program coordinator in Nigeria

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 contracted by an international nongovernmental organization in Nigeria. - Position title: program coordinator - Seniority: midlevel - Position type: full-time - Year: 2012 - Sample tasks: design and develop capacity-building materials and strategies, coordinate and implement the organization’s training activities, negotiate and manage subgrants, supervise consultants to ensure they meet the terms of their contracts, recruit staff, perform technical review of proposals - Salary: $31,000-$45,000 per year Nigeria’s foreign aid job market Nigeria has been enjoying robust economic growth over the last 10 years, thanks to economic reforms implemented by the government. Nonetheless, poverty remains significant in Africa’s most populous country and reducing it, according to the World Bank, will require strong nonoil growth and a focus on human development. Official development assistance from the World Bank, African Development Bank, U.K. Department for International Development and U.S. Agency for International Development accounts for more than two-thirds of total aid to the oil-exporting nation. They agreed to pursue a joint country strategy for the 2010-2013 period, which is designed to help improve governance, maintain nonoil growth and promote human development in Nigeria. Based on jobs posted on Devex, global development organizations active in Nigeria recruit a variety of experts in areas such as agriculture, education and health. Experience in program and grant management is also sought-after. Check out vacancies in Nigeria 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!