Are you someone passionate about social work? Is there something about our society that you would like to improve? Or, do you dream about living a life earning well, travelling, and also improving the lives of different communities? In that case, the development sector offers numerous opportunities for you to work at NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) and INGOs (International Non-Governmental Organizations)!

Working at an NGO or an INGO is a unique experience. You can be involved in multiple roles over a broad range of projects aimed at human development or protection of rights etc. Let’s see the top 8 degree programs that will prepare you for such roles with all the knowledge and skill you need.

8. Environmental Science

Sounds unusual? Well, that’s understandable. Environmental science degrees prepare students with both technical and advocacy related knowledge regarding the environment and the factors that impact it. Currently, environment science degrees are not so popular in the NGO sector, but in the next 5 to 6 years they will be highly demanded. This is because NGOs and the worlds governments are increasingly concerned about climate change and environmental conservation. If you are an expert at scientific knowledge regarding these things, and wish to pursue advocacy alongside them, NGOs will soon welcome you with open arms.

7. Education Leadership and Management

Education leadership and management is a degree that connects management studies with the specifics of education. The scope of such an education degree is broad. This program is specifically demanded by NGOs that work in the education sector. They hire individuals who have a grip on the hard core issues of education and the ablity to mobilize welfare and advocacy efforts through their leadership and project management skills.

Students who pursue a degree in education, and wish to land a job at NGOs must gain experience and knowledge regarding the educational problems that exist, and the ones that NGOs consistently target. If you start preparing for such a career, you can land a lucrative job at not only local but also international NGOs.

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6. Social Work/ Sociology/ Anthropology

Sociology, social work, and anthropology are not the same degrees. However they are similar in terms of the kind of impact their knowledge can create. People who pursue any of these three majors know regarding societal structures, patterns, and problems. They have an understanding of multiple phenomenon that cause any kind of human societies or communities to suffer.

This knowledge is highly valuable to NGOs, and they prefer to hire individuals who have a strong group at one or more kind of societal problems and can contribute to advocacy efforts and the development of solutions and counter mechanisms for such problems.

5. Gender Studies

A degree in Gender studies can give you knowledge regarding the genders that exist in numerous parts of the world, their challenges, their development, and their societal contributions. While gender studies is a broad field in itself, many degree programs in gender studies are focused upon women related issues and their solutions.

So, if you have a gender studies or women studies degree, you can find very good opportunities in INGOs like the UN or Amnesty International. Internationally, women empowerment and the protection of women rights is on the surge. Local and international NGOs are actively involved in these efforts and demand people who are specialized in this knowledge and can add valuable contributions to their projects.

Also Read: Increasing Trend For Computer Science Degrees: Is Pakistan Ready for It? 

4. Development Studies

Development studies is also a comparatively less popular field of social sciences in Pakistan. However, it is an extremely valuable degree to have if you wish to pursue a career at NGOs. Development studies teach people regarding the dynamics of development and how human and material resource can be effectively used to contribute to such development. In development studies you can expect to gain integrated knowledge regarding economics, sociology, management, and much more.

One important distinction of this degree is that it gives you knowledge regarding the working of NGOs. This knowledge can greatly benefit NGOs, as they need individuals who can deeply analyze different aspects of a problem and devise multi sectional strategies and solutions.

3. Economics

You can pursue a degree in economics and also specialize at of of its many tyoes. These include microeconomics, macroeconomics, development economics, environmental economics, behavioral economics etc. These degrees give you knowledge that is valuable for many sectors. The development sector can offer you really good positions at NGOs where you can contribute to analysis, research, and programs targeted at economic activity.

2. Public Policy/ Public Administration

Public policy is all about finding the problems that plague societies, devising solutions, and enacting them through policies and projects. Public administration also gives you the basic knowledge regarding policy making, but it specifically focuses on the implementation of policies and plans. Both these programs are highly beneficial for you if you wish to pursue a job at NGOs. They equip you with knowledge of multiple social science and management science subjects with a focus on problems and their solutions. A systematic approach to policy solutions, and the knowledge regarding political and governance structures is something that is highly valued in any NGO professional.

These degrees would not limit you to any specific sector of social work, and equip you with the skills you need to debate and advocate effective policies, with an additional skill of leadership and management.

1. Project Management

Project management is one of the most popular and highly demanded courses in Pakistan’s job market. A degree in project management teaches you how to create, handle, monitor, and produce results for various kinds of projects. In numerous job openings at NGOs, project management is now mentioned as a requirement or a preferred qualification. This is because NGOs work through projects. All their work is based upon strategizing and planning projects for welfare and then implementing them effectively.

With a project management degree you will be one of the most appealing candidates to employers at NGOs and will have the potential to grow your career reaching higher positions at your workplace.

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