For many aid workers, becoming a chief of party is an aspiration and considered the pinnacle of an international development career. As a COP — or team leader or country director — you guide the overall operational, administrative and technical aspects of a program, much like an aid project’s version of a CEO.
With some development program budgets reaching hundreds of millions of dollars, having the right leader in place is essential to effective oversight and delivery of aid dollars.
But as the aid industry is evolving, so too is the role of a chief of party. Here are four new skills all effective COPs should have.
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About the author
Kate Warren@KateDWarren
Kate Warren is the Executive Vice President and Executive Editor of Devex, where she leads a global team of journalists, event producers, and communications and marketing professionals to drive conversations around the most pressing and urgent issues of our time, including climate, global health, food security, philanthropy, humanitarian crises, and foreign aid funding. Through live journalism — via in-person and virtual events — along with insider news, analysis, podcasts, content series, and special reports, Kate and her team ensure the most important ideas, voices, and debates reach an influencer audience to drive impact and make progress on the Sustainable Development Goals.
