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.