There are different ways of getting involved in humanitarian work, and therefore different statuses. The latter are differentiated according to the duration of the commitment, the existence or not of social security, as well as remuneration. We therefore distinguish between :
Volunteers
Volunteers are not remunerated, and all expenses incurred in connection with their commitment are their own responsibility. There are no legal obligations attached to their missions within their association: no specific diploma is required, and there is no minimum age to be a volunteer in an association. It's a moral commitment, and volunteers can end their involvement whenever they wish, with no other conditions. However, volunteers are not entitled to social security coverage, which is linked to their original status (student, pensioner, etc.).
Volunteers
This status is linked to a contractual commitment between the volunteer and the association. Volunteers must abide by the host organization's written terms, signed by both parties, and are subject to the conditions set out in the contract before they can break their commitment. In general, volunteers must be at least 16 years old in France and 18 abroad. Like volunteers, they are not paid, but their status does entitle them to social security coverage.
Salaried employees
This is a longer-term commitment involving paid work and entitlement to social security cover. Salaried employees work in the humanitarian field, in one of the many professions in the sector.
There are many different professions in the humanitarian field. Many people want to get involved in their day-to-day work, and the profiles and professions open to them are just as varied.
First of all, we distinguish between field agents and administrative agents.
Field agents:
They are present in the country where the mission takes place, where the organization they work for is directly active. They make sure that the project runs smoothly, and try to optimize its impact so that it is as beneficial as possible to the local community. In the field, they range from doctors and teachers to project coordinators and managers.
Administrative staff:
These work at the NGO's head office. They are based in the offices, and ensure the smooth running of the mission from a distance, dealing in particular with the financial and logistical aspects of the mission. Examples include fundraisers, technical managers and financial analysts.
These are the two main categories of jobs specific to the humanitarian sector. However, the needs are many, the fields of action particularly wide, and therefore the profiles required in the field are varied. In concrete terms, the humanitarian sector mainly comprises the following professions:
Education of the youngest children and community education represent an important aspect of international humanitarian action. Acting for community development through education means contributing to sustainable development. We have specialized teachers and organizers to respond to the lack of education in certain regions of the world.
Many NGOs work to ensure access to healthcare for all, and include health professionals in their ranks. They include doctors and nurses, as well as pharmacists, midwives, dentists, etc. All medical professions are represented in the humanitarian sector, and are divided between NGOs according to their missions and objectives.
There are many construction and renovation projects, particularly in high-risk regions that have suffered natural disasters in recent years. Whether it's for earthquake-resistant infrastructure or just reconstruction, architects, manpower and building professionals are needed to bring the project to fruition on site.
There are many other professions in the field, but these are still in the majority. In the field, humanitarian professions are just as numerous and varied. For example, every project requires a humanitarian mission manager, or project coordinator.
It's the role of a professional in the field to identify needs and analyze the situation as best as possible, in order to propose and implement the best action strategy with his or her NGO. It's an international profession with many responsibilities. The smooth running of the mission depends in particular on the project coordinator. This profession requires a considerable amount of work in terms of logistics and mission organization. In this way, a mission manager makes a concrete commitment to communities and sustainable development, by taking part in a project from A to Z. For a first job as a mission manager, the net salary is generally between 1,500 and 2,000 euros, net of tax. Such a job requires experience in an NGO, as a volunteer, or training directly in the field in a similar structure. The English language must be well mastered, and versatility is a requirement of the profession. A project coordinator must have knowledge of management, accounting and logistics. There are many different ways to train for this position - there's no typical career path!
Finding a job and a career in the humanitarian sector is possible internationally. While altruism and a sense of duty are valued qualities in this field, this choice in no way implies amateurism and "by-the-numbers": associations recruit candidates endowed not only with human qualities, but also with skills.
What better way to acquire this know-how than with professional training abroad with an NGO?
All these professions can be accessed via different training courses, as explained above. The advantages of training with an NGO:
Numerous job opportunities
Versatility
Opportunities for advancement within the same organization
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