Career in Development Communications (Non-Profit Sector) 08-17

Development Communications in the Non-Profit Sector

While having communications related positions in the non-profit sector is not something unheard of in the past, the rising value of development communications roles in the sector is a relatively new development. A simple look into job listings at non-profit organizations will most likely result in at least a handful of openings that involve communications roles.

So, what exactly is development communications and what does it involve? According a report   from the World Bank, it is “communication that supports sustainable change in development operations by engaging key stakeholders.” Depending on the organization, the role itself can involve a number of different things. For the most part, the major responsibilities include materials development, public and press engagement, messaging, and in some cases, event planning and fundraising as well.  

A development communications role involves creating materials such as newsletters, reports, marketing and donor materials etc. geared towards different target audiences. From customized materials to attract donors to videos and website content to engage the public, the range of materials may vary, but what is of growing importance in a communications role is the ability to use a multitude of communication tools to effectively tell an organization’s story. 

Going hand in hand, a communications position (particularly a higher-level role) would also involve overseeing the strategic message of the organization as a whole and ensuring the delivery of a common message. In smaller or mid-sized non-profits that do not have an entire team, one can be found wearing multiple hats. Along with public and press engagement, some communications roles also involve engaging in fundraising activities, scheduling and event planning.

With rapidly growing rates of information exchange as well as the tools to get the information across, the rise of development communications in the non-profit sector has as much to do on the technological end as it does on the evolving nature of NGOs and the public. The need to stay connected with the public, donors, peers and various other stakeholders continues to grow and also plays an important role in the overall well-being of an organization.

So, what are some of the basic skills for someone interested in development communications? For starters, most job listings seem to specify a degree in Communications, Journalism or a related field. However, having knowledge in development related issue areas such as health, microfinance etc. in which the concerned organization focuses its work on is also as important.

 It also requires excellent written and verbal communication skills, along with copy editing skills. Being able to effectively write content that is catered to different audiences is a must. If you have samples to demonstrate your work, it will only make your case stronger. Expertise in social media applications and multimedia tools is expected. 

Being proactive early on in this area by creating profiles and mastering the use of these tools could prove to be beneficial. There are a number of blogs and other online resources that can be used easily, many of which are free. Experts also suggest creating a blog where you can demonstrate your work readily.

While basic proficiency on applications such as Powerpoint will be expected, having some design experience (Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop etc.) could also be very useful. A recent emerging trend that continues to be adopted by organizations is the use of infographics and data visualization to tell stories about specific issues and demonstrate an organization’s work (see infographics from the Gates Foundation and Amnesty International for examples).

In smaller to mid-sized organizations, there may not be a complete team, which means that being flexible and willing to take up multiple projects is something one should be prepared to do. Lastly, getting experience through an internship or volunteer opportunity would be the best way to go about exploring the field and honing your skills.

By: Kesang Chungyalpa 

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Career in Rural Development 07-12

Career in Rural Development

Anyone working or studying in the field of international development is most likely familiar with ‘rural development’. While the term itself does not have a universal definition, broadly it refers to the development of rural areas in order to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of those residing in these areas. 

Rural development is crucial to and intertwined with poverty reduction strategies and is therefore an important field within development.

It is estimated that around three quarters of the world’s poor, living on less than one dollar a day, live and work in rural areas. Research also suggests that people in rural areas are twice as likely as those in urban areas to be poor. In India itself, the 2011 Census of India found that nearly 70% of the country’s population lives in rural areas. For those interested in or working in development, such numbers automatically suggest the importance of focusing efforts to make improvements in the quality of life of those in rural areas.

Given its multi-disciplinary nature, rural development professionals encompass a wide range of different backgrounds and sectors such as education, food security, agri-business, healthcare, ICT, skill upgradation etc. with the goal of working towards social and economic improvements. Due to the fact that the majority of rural folk engage in farming and that agriculture is one of the primary sources of income, a large number of rural development initiatives are based on agricultural activities.  

However, rural development initiatives also include a wide range of projects and different approaches through government initiatives, cooperatives, non-governmental organizations and social enterprises. There are also a number of private sector companies engaging in rural development activities as a part of their CSR initiative.

With the very broad range of activities that fall under rural development, it would be beneficial for someone interested in pursuing a career in this field to narrow down your interests even further and decide how you would like to contribute to the sector. While experience working either directly on the field or at an organization that works in rural areas would be the ideal way through which you could narrow down your focus, following your passion, staying updated on current work through different entities and having informational interviews with experienced professionals in the field could also prove to be beneficial.  

If you are passionate about the rights of women in rural areas and want to work on livelihoods issues, researching possibilities of working with a government entity or organization that facilitates women’s self-help groups could be one way you could go about narrowing down your focus. 

While this is a very basic example, research (and experience) continues to show time and again that the productivity and quality of one’s work is better when a person is doing something they truly care about and is passionate about. Thus, choosing an organization whose work resonates with your values and an issue that you care about does matter. 

Knowing your particular area of focus also allows you to gain specific knowledge and experience or technical know-how relevant to that particular area which is crucial inensuring successful outcomes. 

There are specific Masters programs in Rural Development for those interested as well as different training programs through which you could develop skills useful for rural development.

It is clear that while significant headway has been made in initiatives aimed towards improving the standard of living, much work still remains to be done. The numbers clearly suggest that there is a need for more rural development professionals, however, having the rights skills, knowledge and understanding of local contexts is of equal importance.

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