Working at a non-profit abroad: what is it, why would you do it, and where is the best place to go?

What is working at a non-profit abroad like?

• As an employee, volunteer, or intern at a non-profit (NGO) abroad, you'll contribute to projects with beautiful goals.
• From nature, animal, and environmental protection to human rights, healthcare, education, or humanitarian aid.
• Sometimes you'll work in the office, sometimes in the field. Often, you'll work in an international and intercultural setting.
• Working for a non-profit is primarily a catch-all term: the sector offers positions for policymakers, project staff, communication professionals, lawyers, biologists, fundraisers, construction workers, and everything in between.
• Depending on your background, experience, specialization, and the country where you work, the practical aspects are different every time.
• Responsibilities: You can fulfill a variety of roles, such as:
  • Supporting projects as a project staff member, for example, as a specialist, project officer, or researcher, on-site or in your own country.
  • Fieldwork, such as directly helping animals as a veterinarian or cage cleaner, or helping people with education, construction, and starting businesses.
  • Supporting the smooth running of the organization through HR, communications, or fundraising roles.
• Working conditions: Work is usually project-based, and sometimes contracts are involved.
• Positions are often full-time, but sometimes offer considerable flexibility.
• During busy periods, such as reporting or campaigning, the workload can increase significantly.
• The salary is often relatively low for newcomers, but increases more rapidly with experience. It also depends heavily on the organization, the project, and funding.
• Accommodation is sometimes provided by local organizations; at larger organizations, you usually have to arrange this yourself.

What are the reasons for working at a non-profit abroad?

• To develop commitment and responsibility: you work on projects with a clear social impact. Because you are involved with the same target group, region, or issue for a long period of time, you learn to take responsibility for more than just your own tasks.
• To strengthen empathy and understanding: you work in a different cultural, social, and economic context than you are used to. This requires listening, observing, and understanding before acting, and increases your ability to truly understand others.
• To increase environmental awareness: in NGO work, you must constantly consider local culture, power dynamics, sensitivities, and interests. You learn to apply external information and make decisions that fit the context in which you work.
• To develop stress resistance: projects don't always go according to plan, resources are limited, and workloads can be high. By coping with this, you learn to put things into perspective, prioritize, and function under pressure.
• To become independent and self-confident: you are often given a lot of personal responsibility and limited guidance. This helps you develop self-confidence, learn to make independent choices, and dare to take responsibility for your work.
• To be meaningful and experience purpose: for many people, NGO work is strongly linked to the motivation to contribute to a better world. The feeling that your efforts make a direct difference creates purpose and a sense of connection with your work.

What skills and motivations do you need to work at a non-profit abroad?

• Flexibility: plans change, projects are postponed, and circumstances are not always predictable. You must be able to adapt without losing perspective.
• Communication skills: you communicate with colleagues, partners, and target groups from different backgrounds. Clear, respectful, and culturally sensitive communication is essential.
• Collaboration and networking: successful NGO work revolves around collaboration: both within your organization and with external partners. Maintaining relationships is often just as important as substantive knowledge.
• Organizational awareness: you learn to work within the structure, rules, and constraints of an international organization, including reporting, deadlines, and accountability systems.
• Professionalism: despite ideals and commitment, you are expected to work reliably, expertly, and results-oriented, often under challenging circumstances.

What are the best countries and locations to work at a non-profit abroad?

• Almost every country has local non-profit organizations you can work for.
• Countries with many international organizations and headquarters: Belgium, France, Switzerland, the United States, United Kingdom, The Netherlands.
• Countries where many NGO projects are carried out: Bangladesh, Brazil, El Salvador, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Ghana, Haiti, India, Madagascar, Nepal, Sint Maarten, and Zimbabwe.

What are the risks of working at a non-profit abroad, and are you insured against those risks? 

• What are the risks of working at/at a non-profit abroad?
  • It's common for work to be broader or riskier than initially described: you might be assigned tasks you have little experience with, such as fieldwork, traveling on rough roads, or working in unpredictable conditions.
  • The risk of accidents is often higher than at home: unfamiliar working conditions, different traffic, poor infrastructure, or working on location increase the risk of injury.
  • Unsettled or unstable situations can often arise suddenly: political tensions, social unrest, or natural disasters can lead to evacuation, additional costs, or the premature termination of your stay.
  • It's common for your stay or work to be unexpectedly interrupted: illness, family circumstances, or security situations can necessitate repatriation, which can be very expensive without insurance.
• Are you insured while working at a non-profit abroad?
  • There may be several reasons why you need separate insurance when working abroad.
  • Local employers generally offer limited or no supplementary insurance.
  • There's a risk of accidents, for example, because you're doing work with which you have little experience.
  • During work, internships, or volunteering abroad where you receive compensation or a salary, your own health insurance coverage in your home country may be cancelled.
  • See the pages on: insuring international Insurances for working abroad, for internships abroad, for volunteering abroad, or for expats and emigrants.