Inspiration Meeting University of Aarhus October 2, 2007

Transcription

1 Master s Thesis Inspiration Meeting University of Aarhus October 2, 2007 Henrik Borgtoft Pedersen hbp@niras.dk NIRAS A/S

2 Thesis work Thesis work in a developing country If possible work within an established framework (saves time and trouble, increases opportunities) Fieldwork may be very time consuming be realistic! Work with local partners (universities, students, sector programmes) Publish with local partners, present your work locally, translate publications if needed Permits may be needed on both national and local level, and even if not required make sure to inform locally what you are doing Reasonable level of language skills before starting Build networks while doing fieldwork

3 Environmental Sector Programme - Bolivia Component on Decentralized Environmental Management Capacity building Integrated Watershed management Solid Waste management Waste Water management

4 Capacity Building Environmental Sector Programme - Bolivia How to achieve sustainability - Modalities for capacity building in unstable municipalities with high staff/authority turnover, high corruption levels and a strongly politicized environment Limits for participation? Budget support and white elephants

5 Integrated watershed management 1 Motivation of stakeholders, use / abuse of incentives Building Partnerships between upstream and downstream communities

6 Integrated watershed management 2 Community management of natural resources, - community norms for resource management Natural regeneration versus planting Native species for replanting Management of grazing and fire CDM and community development

7 Modalities for capacity building in decentralized service providing units (water and sanitation) with high turnover of board members, politicized environment, corruption and low confidence levels communities and small towns Water and sanitation

8 Water and sanitation Consumer education, communication strategies Cultural opportunities and barriers

9 International career getting started During studies: International activities (work with NGOs, project work, study trips, traineeship, conferences, courses ) Language training (English + bottleneck language) Networking Build experience from relevant countries Relevant thesis (subject, country, language)

10 International career the first job The first job Volunteer / NGO work (IBIS, MS, IMCC, Nepenthes..) Junior Professional Officer, JPO (age limit 35 years) Local job ( and local salary ) Through a university (PhD, Post doc, project assistant)

11 International career Job in a consultancy company Job announcements Check homepages for openings in projects Through networks and uninvited applications Posting abroad Donors Through consulting companies Private companies in general

12 International career Free lance consultant Relevant technical skills / core competence CVs in CV databases (headhunter companies, private companies, donors etc) Participate in meetings, seminars create networks Write articles Know the market, follow interesting opportunities, contact relevant companies

13 International career stay informed International positions (including JPO): um.dk/da/servicemenu/abonner/opretabonnement.htm um.dk/en/servicemenu/subscribe/subscribe.htm Donors homepages all national donors europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/ adb.org iadb.org afdb.org worldbank.org Newsletters etc. Danidadevforum.um.dk u-landsnyt.dk cebem.org/inscripcion.php

14 Ansættelseseksamen til FN-Sekretariatet Ansøgere til NCRE2008 skal opfylde følgende kriterier: Være danske statsborgere Være maksimalt 32 år pr. 31. december 2008 Have bestået en mellemlang videregående uddannelse indenfor følgende fag eller relaterede områder: økonomi, IT, politik, naturvidenskab, program evaluering. Kunne tale flydende engelsk eller fransk. Kendskab til FN's øvrige officielle sprog (arabisk, kinesisk, russisk, spansk) er en fordel, men ikke et krav. Ansøgningsfrist 31. oktober nationalestillinger/ans%c3%a6ttelseseksamenti lfnfordanskestatsborgere.htm

15 Life as an international consultant The work can be very interesting, but unpredictable may be frustrating (it is hard to save the world ) it can be difficult to return home - socially as well as professionally (and where is home?) Fantastic experiences, but what about your partner and children? friends and family in Denmark? Constant development, but you often become a generalist and may loose your core (technical) competences

16 Life as an international consultant What to do? Maintain and update your professional skills Maintain your relations with Denmark: family, friends work news Try to have periodic assignments in Denmark Involved yourself and your family locally when you are posted abroad