ISLANDERS interested in a career in humanitarian work are being encouraged to apply for a placement scheme.
Jersey Overseas Aid is seeking applicants for the Programme Associate Placement – an 18-month placement which covers time spent in Jersey, at Catholic Agency for Overseas Development in London and on one of the programmes overseas – with previous destinations including Tanzania, Uganda and Bangladesh.
Through the programme, JOA sends Islanders to work with different organisations.
Tony Hopkins, head of programme development and funding at HelpAge International UK, said the charity had hosted five Islanders who “have consistently brought strong skills, enthusiasm, and fresh perspectives, while making a valuable contribution to our work”.
“We would encourage anyone considering a career in international development to apply,” he said. “The scheme offers an excellent paid opportunity to build practical experience, develop a broad understanding of the sector and gain a strong foundation for their career. We only wish more donor organisations would follow JOA’s lead.”
Alumni from the programme have gone on to work in the sector, including finding jobs at the UN, government aid agencies and the David Nott Foundation.
John Birchenough, head of Integrated Funding and Business Innovation at CAFOD, called the programme “a wonderful opportunity to enable young people, or anyone looking for a career change, to develop key skills to launch a career in international development which is often challenging to access”.
Faye Coggins, the third person to join the scheme in 2019-2020, said it “provided a strong foundation” for her career, leading to her working for UNHCR in Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh, the location of the world’s largest refugee camp.
Richard Crane, programme associate 2024-2025, added: “Experience that might have taken a decade to build, I’ve been able to gain in a fraction of the time.
“This September I joined the David Nott Foundation as senior programme officer. It’s an organisation I’ve long admired and one that’s highly regarded across the humanitarian sector. It’s a role I couldn’t have imagined when I first applied to JOA, and without JOA’s belief and investment in me, I simply wouldn’t be where I am today.”
The scheme is open to recent grads and career changers who are Jersey residents, with a start date in January.
Applications are open until 5pm on Sunday 1 November.
