4. Career prospects in PACS
 Terminology and focus of work
 Conflict programming
 PACS and Staffing
 Career opportunities in PACS
 KSAs needed for a career
 Main resources of recruitment
 Potential challenges
 Words of wisdom for potentials

5. Terminology and focus of work
 Peacebuilding and conflict transformation (addressing the root
and structural causes of conflict)
 Conflict resolution (building capacity, skills training, alternative
dispute resolution mechanisms, etc.)
 Conflict management and mitigation ( the good offices)
 Conflict prevention(helping prevent and resolve conflict).
 Peace education(introducing peace and conflict resolution skills
into the education systems)
 Peacekeeping (non-combat evacuations, peace enforcement
missions, etc.)
 Conflict recovery (trust building, improving relationships,
strengthening institutions, etc.)

6. Conflict programming
(integration)
 Mainstreaming conflict resolution into other activities
 Pressure coming from donors
 The link between failed development efforts and conflict
 Conflict resolution and other areas are NOT MUTUALLY
EXCLUSIVE

7. PACS and Staffing
 Organisations may have one person or a section working on
peacebuilding issues (orientation and morphing determine
staff requirements)
 Peacebuilding issues are spread throughout the organisation
 Project -Expatriate and local staff (voter education, human
rights, good governance, etc.)

8. Career opportunities in PACS
 Larger organisations are likely to have openings than small
organisations
 Organisations are likely to hire those with a degree in PACS
and additional skills or expertise (field experience, etc.)
 Consultant, project leader, resource person, contractual
terms (temporary or permanent)
 Salaries vary with type of organisation, skill level, experience,
nature of position, funding source, etc.
 Expatriates are usually paid more than locals
 There is no fixed career path in peacebuilding so far, you can
move from being program officer to country rep (e.g. Carolyn
Fanell with CRS)

9. KSAs for a career in PACS
 Cross-cultural skills and field experience (ability to move in and out
of cultures, let go of one’s attachments of cultural determined
ways of doing things, overseas experience, language other than
your own, etc.)
 Peace and conflict resolution skills (KSAs in negotiation, mediation,
facilitation, dialoguing, effective listening, etc.)
 Cross-sectoral expertise (KSAs and expertise in areas that are
complimentary to PACS)
 Academic training in PACS ( degree in PACS related area)
 General project management KSAs (research, report writing, project
management, budgeting and budgetary control, etc)
 Personal KSAs (creativity, thinking outside the box, flexibility,
patient, humility, sense of humour, eagerness to learn,
passion for your work, etc.)
 Talk the international language (understand and interpret the field
jargon, speak the language of policy makers, decision
makers, grassroots, program officers, politicians, etc.)

10. Strategic Peacebuilding Pathways
http://kroc.nd.edu/alumni/career-resources/strategic-peacebuilding-pathways

11. Strategic Peacebuilding
Pathways
 The inner circle highlights the three major areas of strategic
peacebuilding:
1) efforts to prevent, respond to, and transform violent
conflict;
2) efforts to promote justice and healing; and
3) efforts to promote structural and institutional change.
 The outer circle highlights sub-areas of practice and career
focus within those three areas. For each of these sub-areas,
a variety of individual career pathways emerge.

12. Main resources for recruitment
 Organisational websites
 Other websites(www.conflicttransformation.org;
www.comminit.com; www.Devnetjobs.net;
www.DevelopmentEx.com; www.Idealist.org;
www.Reliefweb.int; etc.)
 Online Publications (international career employment
weekly, etc.)
 University career centres/departments (uq career hub,
etc.)

13. Potential Challenges
 Security and quality of life (low level-entry salaries,
short-term assignments, etc.)
 Degree or work experience? (realism and not idealism)
 Getting the first job (intense competition, in-country
professionals vs expatriates, etc.)
 Quality of life (lots of travelling, work pressure, risk
environments, burnout, exhaustion, etc.)
 Cultural issues (awareness of local context, cultural
differences, sensitivities, etc.)
 Safety issues (security protocols, back up
procedures, confrontations with violent individuals
or groups, etc.)

14. Words of Wisdom
 Develop a Strong Resume (Download
TipsforWritingEffectiveResumes.pdf)
 Conduct Informational Interviews
 Subscribe to Key Webs and Job Lists
 Use your contacts/networks
 Join New Networks
 Examine Ethical Practice
 Considering Taking a Job to Get Experience
 Explore Fellowship Opportunities
 Explore Organizations that Have Developed Mentoring
Programs for New Employees
 Develop an Expertise in a Needed Area

15. Thank
You