The document discusses websites that could be linked to from Aid Workers Network (AWN) in order to increase awareness of AWN's existence. 20 websites are proposed and described briefly, including their URLs and reasons for being appropriate links. The proposed websites provide information, resources, jobs, training and opportunities related to aid work, international development, volunteering, and non-profits.

1. RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT: FIND SUITABLE WEBSITES TO LINK TO AID WORKERS NETWORK, IN
ORDER TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF AWN’S EXISTENCE
In carrying out this assignment, I conducted various Google searches, to find appropriate websites. I
was advised to find websites that linked to sites such as Oxfam and ReliefWeb; and so I conducted
four Advanced Searches, finding sites linking to Oxfam, ReliefWeb, Development Gateway, and
OneWorld. While these searches gave plenty of results, many were blogs, internal pages, or news
articles.
I also carried out Google searches using words or phrases I believe people looking for aid work or
resources would use, such as: “aid work”, “development work”, “aid jobs”, “development jobs”,
“humanitarian jobs”, and “relief jobs”. While this came up with some unsuitable suggestions (like
generic job search engines), it did also find some good suggestions, including two that AWN is
already linked to (World Service Enquiry and AlertNet).
My second method was to go through all the links on the AWN site, and decide if they were suitable
to link back to AWN. This yielded quite a few results, since AWN has a comprehensive list of links to
sites concerning aid and development work.
I decided to go through all the links I have on ‘My Favourites’ regarding aid and development, and
see if any were appropriate. Using this method, I managed to fill up the last couple of spaces.
Below I have listed 20 results, with the organisation’s name, URL, a brief summary of what they do,
and why I believe they would be appropriate to link to AWN. I did want to include well known
organisations such as Oxfam, Amnesty and Christian Aid, but these do not appear to have Links
pages on their websites.
1. Merlin (Medical Emergency Relief International)
http://www.merlin.org.uk
Merlin responds to emergencies with health care and medical relief. I believe they would be
appropriate to link to AWN as they provide training courses for people working in aid, and those
who want to work in aid. There are also adverts for UK and international jobs, and internships in
their head office.
2. RedR (Register of Engineers for Disaster Relief)
http://www.redr.org.uk
I believe RedR would be appropriate to link to AWN because they run training programmes open to
individuals and relief and development organisations. There is also a recruitment service and an
online network for humanitarian professionals.
3. Mango (Management Accountancy for Non-Governmental Organisations)
http://www.mango.org.uk
I believe Mango would be appropriate to link to AWN because they run financial training courses
specifically for NGOs, as well as having a recruitment service; and are linked to on several websites
such as Oxfam, ReliefWeb and university careers sites.
4. MSF (Médecins Sans Frontières)
http://www.uk.msf.org/ or http://www.msf.org
I believe MSF would be appropriate to link to AWN because it is a well-known international
humanitarian organisation, and probably one of the first stops for people looking for opportunities
in aid work.

2. 5. The British Red Cross
http://www.redcross.org.uk
The Red Cross is part of the world’s largest independent humanitarian organisation. I believe they
would be appropriate to link to AWN because many people visit the website looking for
development work and ways into the sector.
6. Development Gateway or DG Foundation
http://www.developmentgateway.org or http://www.dgfoundation.org
The Development Gateway is an online portal for development information, and part of the DG
Foundation. It includes dgCommunities, a collaborative space for development professionals; and
AiDA, a directory of official development aid activity.
The DG Foundation is an international non-profit organisation providing web-based platforms to
make aid and development efforts more effective.
I believe one of these would be appropriate to link to AWN because they are a widely-used global
resource for research and information, and a large global network.
7. ReliefWeb
http://www.reliefweb.int
ReliefWeb is the leading online gateway to information on humanitarian emergencies and disasters,
as well as providing links to jobs and training. I believe it would be appropriate to link to AWN
because it is widely known, and was on the first page of results when I performed a Google search
for “humanitarian jobs” and “relief jobs”. I also used it extensively whilst studying “Economics of
Famines” and “North-South Linkages” modules in university, and found it a useful source of links to
development work and information.
8. Save the Children
http://www.savethechildren.org.uk
Save the Children is a charity aimed at transforming attitudes towards children, and work in the
areas of campaigning, programmatic and emergency response work. They advertise UK volunteering
opportunities and paid work in the UK and internationally. I believe they would be appropriate to
link to AWN because, like the Red Cross, they are well known, and likely to be somewhere people go
in search of job opportunities in development.
9. VSO
http://www.vso.org.uk
VSO is a well-known international development charity, recruiting volunteers to work abroad in
development. I believe it would suitable to link to AWN as it is visited by many people looking for
development work, and has links from pages such as World Service Enquiry, The Guardian and
university pages.
10. World Volunteer Web
http://www.worldvolunteerweb.org
World Volunteer Web provides information and resources linked to volunteering, which can be used
for campaigning, advocacy and networking. I believe they would be appropriate to link to AWN
because I believe that some people interested in volunteering may also be interested in aid work in
general; and also that people interested in aid work may seek out volunteering opportunities,
knowing it will improve their skills and strengthen job applications.

3. 11. PovertyNet
http://www.worldbank.org/poverty
PovertyNet is part of the World Bank website, providing information on key issues concerning
poverty, for practitioners and researchers. I believe they would be appropriate to link to AWN
because this would be a resource for people studying development, who may then consider going on
to work in development.
12. Ethical Careers
http://www.ethicalcareers.org
I believe this would be an appropriate site to link to AWN because it provides information and advice
for people who want an ‘ethical career’. It has articles and profiles on careers, and a comprehensive
list of links.
13. BOND (British Overseas NGOs for Development)
http://www.bond.org.uk
BOND is the UK’s broadest network of voluntary organisations working in international
development. It manages training, advocacy and information services. I believe they would be
appropriate to link to AWN because this was on the first page of results when I performed a Google
search for “development jobs”. It is also cited in places such as Prospects, the careers website for
university students and graduates.
14. Eldis
http://www.eldis.org
Eldis is part of the IDS at Sussex University, conducting development research. It is cited in many
resources about international development. I believe it would be appropriate to link to AWN
because it is well-known to advertise job vacancies, being linked to in places such as Prospects; and
also has links in OneWorld, UN pages and university careers pages.
15. Prospects
http://www.prospects.ac.uk
Prospects is a website for university students and graduates, providing information on courses and
careers. It has a library of career profiles, one of which is “development/aid worker”. This has links
to ‘what to do next’ and places to ‘find out more’ if you are interested in this type of work. I believe
this is a good site to link to AWN as I personally used it extensively whilst at university, and still do
use it several years on.
16. Worldwide Volunteering
http://www.wwv.org.uk
Worldwide Volunteering provides access to information about volunteering opportunities in the UK
and abroad. I believe they would be appropriate to link to AWN because, like World Volunteer Web,
people interested in volunteering may also be interested in aid work; and people interested in aid
work may seek out volunteering opportunities, to improve skills and strengthen job applications.
17. Generation Why
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/generationwhy
Generation Why has been created by Oxfam, aimed at people aged 16-24, who “question what’s
going on in the world and want to do something about it”. I believe they would be appropriate to
link to AWN because its target audience are people who want to make a difference. Perhaps some
are already thinking of working in aid, and there may be others who use the site needing career
guidance. As part of Oxfam it should get a lot of hits, and the Oxfam main site does not appear to
have a Links page.

4. 18. Skillshare International
http://www.skillshare.org
Skillshare places international development workers with partner organisations, assists with financial
resource development, and also conducts the Leadership Development Programme (“an initiative
designed to develop the strategic leadership skills of their partner organisations”).
I believe they would be appropriate to link to AWN because it is a well known development agency,
with links from pages such as World Service Enquiry, Make Poverty History, and university career
sites.
19. DEVJOBS
http://www.devjobsmail.com
DEVJOBS posts hundreds of international development vacancies each week. I believe they would be
appropriate to link to AWN because they are a well-known global resource, and it was on the first
page of results when I performed a Google search for “development jobs”.
20. DevJ
http://www.devj.net
DevJ is a career portal advertising international jobs in development, from small NGOs to
multilateral organisations; and providing a career guide portal, with articles and links to appropriate
websites. I believe AWN could be listed here as an appropriate site.