Working as a policy officer abroad: what is it, why would you do it, and where is the best place to go?

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.