A research associate in Bangladesh

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 locally hired research associate focusing on climate change working for a donor agency operating in Bangladesh. - Position title: research associate - Seniority: midlevel - Position type: full-time - Year: 2012 - Salary: $12,000 per year - Sample tasks: provide climate and disaster risk reduction research support, carry out online research and networking in response to client queries, organize related community events and initiatives, perform Web content management Bangladesh’s foreign aid job market Bangladesh hopes to become a middle-income economy by 2021, and it has released a road map — called Vision 2021 — for a socio-economic transformation. To get there though, the country needs not only to accelerate and sustain what the World Bank says is an “impressive track record on growth and development,” but also promote inclusive growth. Bangladesh ties Pakistan on the latest Human Development Index, placing 146th of 187 countries and falling within the low human development category. According to the World Bank, 47 million out of nearly 150 million people live below poverty line, and many “could fall back into poverty if they lose their jobs or are affected by natural disasters.” Among donors, the World Bank’s International Development Association and the United Kingdom are the most generous to Bangladesh. The biggest chunk of aid from 2007 to 2011 has gone to the health and population sector. Based on jobs posted on Devex, there is a significant need for agriculture and food security as well as environment experts. Check out the Devex jobs board for more vacancies in Bangladesh as well as for research and climate change specialits. 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!