NGOs & Career Opportunities
Last 20 years, if not more, we have witnessed an extraordinary growth in non-governmental organizations (NGOs) worldwide. However, its only recent that NGOs shaped as formalised and structured institutions. Significant players; they are undoubtedly leaders in the fields of human rights, the environment and social development at local, national and international levels.
NGOs, for job seekers offer great opportunities across the globe. NGO’s are different; with specific organizational features, with broader number of role-holders/actors, and the kind of challenges they face. NGO management is a distinctive practice and field of study. It differs in content and perspective from business management and public sector administration.
Few universities and colleges have been offering this distinct field of specialization, and this number is growing every year. The usp of the course for sure lies in keeping it updated and mapped to the latest challenges faced by NGOs today and the tools and approaches that managers use.
IPER-PGDM has initiated specialization in the field of NGO Management. This specialization maps the need of those individuals who wish to develop their knowledge and skills in preparation for moving into NGO positions. Individuals with management responsibilities working at an NGO ,can also take it up for more effective discharge of responsibilities.
NGO Management is one of the 39 specializations available at IPER-PGDM, to see the list of all subjects & specializations. Read more on our website- http://www.iper.ac.in
Most of the universities and institutes offering such courses start with an overview of NGO sector and their organizational framework. It moves on to describe the issues faced by NGOs as a result of their distinctive identity and relationship with a wide range of different stakeholders, and concludes with an examination of the key management functions of leadership and governance as they relate to NGOs.
Further, students gain insight into the process by which an NGO scans, analyses, adapts to, and shapes its environment. This is followed by managing human resources of an NGO. From a learner’s point of view, another important aspect would be understanding of strategic approach to financial sustainability. NGO managers have access to financial information and should know to interpret those. Mobilizing non-financial resources also happens to be a key domain that a student must learn about.
The pass-out is expected to be good at monitoring and evaluating the work carried out by the NGO. Thus ability to measure impacts and managing them is a must for sustaining & surviving in the domain.
NGO – Is this sector stable ? This question would arise in our minds and rightly so, but answer to this is very much a matter of perspective. Some reports for year 2013 that have come in, suggests that NGO’s are still hiring, funding is more reliable , and organizations have continued to serve communities even in this unpredictable economy. However, speaking to/ interacting with few NGO’s might fetch you the exact answer that you would need – as its always good to hear straight from the horses mouth.
