A senior program assistant in Egypt

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 senior program assistant at an international nongovernmental organization in Egypt. - Position title: senior program assistant - Seniority: entry-level - Position type: full-time - Year: 2012 - Sample tasks: help the program manager in day-to-day operations including finance, administration and human resource management; liaise with partner organizations; prepare materials for the website - Salary: $1,500 per month Egypt’s foreign aid job market In the wake of the Arab spring, international donors pledged billions in aid to Egypt. Much of the assistance will go toward helping the country transition to democracy and boost the private sector, which is expected to generate much-needed jobs, particularly among the youth. This massive attention reflects Egypt’s importance in the Middle East. Its capital city, Cairo, is the seat of the League of Arab States and some of the largest global development groups in the region. Based on ads posted on the Devex website, groups operating in Egypt are hiring experts in agriculture, education, rule of law and program administration, among others. Check out vacancies in Egypt and for program assistants. 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!