The chief of party can play a critical role in winning contract bids and, just as importantly, in ensuring the delivery and success of their projects. Responsible for overseeing every aspect of a project — from hiring to coordinating with donors — chief of party is a demanding and high-pressure role and one that many global development professionals aspire to reach in their career.
While the term chief of party is most commonly used by the United States Agency for International Development, it has been adopted by other funders and organizations. Jane Kellum, a gender, education, and protection specialist who served as chief of party for CARE USA in Haiti, and Kristi Ragan, four-time chief of party with DAI, join Devex to share their advice for succeeding in COP roles.
About the author
Emma Smith
Emma Smith is a Senior Careers Reporter at Devex, based in Barcelona. She focuses on bringing the latest career and hiring trends, tips, and insights to our global development community. Emma has a background in journalism and, in addition to writing for news publications, has worked with organizations focusing on child rights and women’s rights in sustainable development.