Working as a policy officer abroad: what is it, why would you do it, and where is the best place to go?
Working as a policy officer abroad: what, why, and where?
- What is working as a policy officer abroad like?
- What are the reasons for working as a policy officer abroad?
- What skills and motivations do you need to work as a policy officer abroad?
- What are the best countries and locations to work as a policy officer abroad?
- What are the risks of working as a policy officer abroad, and are you insured against those risks?
What is working as a policy officer abroad like?
- Policy officers abroad contribute to the development, analysis, and improvement of policy in an international or intercultural environment.
- As a policy officer, you can work for government bodies, international organizations, NGOs, knowledge institutions, or multilateral institutions.
- You often work at the intersection of content, analysis, and decision-making. You translate social issues into policy, advise administrators or project leaders, and consider political, legal, and cultural differences between countries.
- Responsibilities:
- Researching and analyzing social, political, or economic issues.
- Co-authoring policy documents, recommendations, and strategic documents.
- Monitoring and evaluating existing policies or projects.
- Coordinating with colleagues, partners, governments, and international stakeholders.
- Translating international agreements into concrete policy.
- Preparing decision-making and consultations.
- Depending on your position, you will primarily work in an analytical, advisory, or coordinating capacity.
- Employment conditions: Contracts are often temporary or project-based and can range from a few months to several years.
- The salary depends heavily on the organization, country, and experience. International institutions often pay market-based, local salaries. NGOs and public organizations generally pay more modestly.
What are the reasons for working as a policy officer abroad?
- To develop a vision and a bird's-eye view: learn to view policy in a broader international context and connect countries, sectors, and interests.
- To strengthen analytical and judgmental skills: complex issues without simple answers are commonplace.
- To build organizational awareness: gain insight into how decision-making works within international organizations and governments.
- To increase self-confidence and independence: advise, write, and analyze in an environment with high expectations, which enhances your professional strength.
- To be meaningful: many policy officers experience a strong sense of purpose because their work contributes to social change, cooperation, or stability.
What skills and motivations do you need to work as a policy officer abroad?
- Analytical skills: you must be able to understand complex information and translate it into clear policy.
- Communication skills: you write extensively and consult with diverse parties, often in multiple languages.
- Organizational awareness: you work within political, administrative, and institutional frameworks.
- Collaboration skills: you rarely make policy alone; coordination is essential.
- Resilience to stress: deadlines, political sensitivities, and responsibilities are all part of the job.
What are the best countries and locations to work as a policy officer abroad?
- Countries with many international organizations: Belgium (Brussels), Switzerland (Geneva), France, United States.
- Countries with strong public and international policy functions: the Netherlands, Germany, United Kingdom, Scandinavia (especially Norway and Sweden).
- Countries with substantive policy and project functions: South Africa, India, Kenya, Indonesia, Brazil.
What are the risks of working as a policy officer abroad, and are you insured against those risks?
- What are the risks of working as a policy officer abroad?
- You can often be exposed to diseases that are rare: for example, due to different food, drinking water, climate, or hygiene standards, which can cause gastrointestinal complaints, infections, or tropical diseases.
- Food safety and hygiene standards often differ from what you are used to: even good-looking food can harbor bacteria or parasites that your body can't protect against.
- Medical care is often expensive and largely private: in many countries, you have to pay medical expenses upfront, and hospitalizations or specialist care can be very expensive.
- Good medical care often takes place far from your work or home location: medical evacuation may be necessary, especially during field visits, missions, or work outside capital cities.
- Sudden return may be necessary due to health reasons: serious illness or an accident may require repatriation, which is extremely expensive without insurance.
- Are you insured while working as a policy officer 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 are 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 homecountry may be cancelled.
- See the pages on: insuring international Insurances for working abroad, for internships abroad, for volunteering abroad, or for expats and emigrants.
