Professional Development and International Experience
Development Service / Civil Peace Service is seeking professionals with a wide range of backgrounds – this applies to both professional qualifications and the breadth of experience. For this reason, the following section outlines various professional development programs as well as opportunities to gain international experience. This overview is not intended to be exhaustive but rather to provide guidance.
For high school students and first-year college students
To determine whether you are generally suited for an extended stay abroad in the Global South, it is a good idea to complete a volunteer service to gain practical experience. Here is a selection of helpful links:
- freiwillig-freiwillig.de offers a large, cross-organizational database of volunteer placements for young people between the ages of 18 and 28 (service only available in German)
- The “weltwärts” program, run by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), is a government-funded development volunteer service.
For Students
There are various funding opportunities and scholarships available to gain international experience during your studies, such as a semester abroad, programs for early-career researchers, and internships.
- The DAAD provides an overview via its scholarship database and on the “Studieren weltweit” platform (service only available in German)
- CINFO (Switzerland) provides a list of entry-level opportunities – ranging from NGOs and multilateral organizations to foundations and the private sector, both in Switzerland and abroad.
- The ASA Program is a development policy exchange and scholarship program for young people who wish to gain practical international experience in sustainable development projects.
- The Federal Foreign Office focuses on a range of programs designed to support young professionals and provide entry-level opportunities at international organizations and European institutions (service only available in German)
- An internship at the OECD in Paris offers students from various disciplines the opportunity to gain experience in an international environment.
Career Starters / Graduates
There are several postgraduate programs, certificate courses, and trainee programs that provide practical preparation for a career in international cooperation:
- The Postgraduate Programme for Sustainability Cooperation (PGP) at the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) in Bonn strengthens the skills of university graduates who see their career path in international cooperation for development and sustainability. The focus is on developing skills for partnership-based cooperation. The English-language program is open to international students, lasts X months, and includes a field research phase.
- The one-year continuing education certificate program in International Cooperation for Sustainable Development offered by the Seminar for Rural Development (SLE) at Humboldt University in Berlin is aimed at master’s graduates who wish to expand and reflect on their expertise, methods, and values.
- The Society for Sustainable Development (GNE) in Witzenhausen offers a series of advanced certificate courses:
Coordinator in International Climate Protection & Adaptation in DC (CPA)
Coordinator in International Project Management in DC (IPM)
Coordinator in Development Cooperation – Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)
- The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) offers a variety of entry-level programs – ranging from vocational training and internships to dual degree programs and trainee positions.
- ETH Zurich has its own Institute for Global Cooperation and Sustainable Development, which offers a variety of continuing education programs.
- The International Institute of Social Studies in The Hague offers a one-year master’s program in Development Studies.
- The trainee program (service only available in German) at the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) offers, among other things, a master’s degree in “Development Cooperation” and a bachelor’s degree in “International Disbursement Management,” as well as a trainee program in International Finance.
Continuing Education, Including for Experienced Professionals
For working professionals without international experience or verifiable intercultural skills, there are various qualification programs available in addition to the opportunities already listed under “Career Starters/Graduates”:
- The Pro Peace Academy for Conflict Transformation offers part-time training in peace and conflict work for interested individuals.
- The Kurve Wustrow educational center offers a training program in nonviolent conflict transformation and social movements (service only available in German).
- In addition to its postgraduate program, SLE Berlin also offers training courses for international experts and leaders.
- A detailed overview of entry-level and qualification opportunities can be found on the website of the BFIO Office for Executives in International Organizations, as well as on the “Paths Abroad” page of the Central Overseas and Specialist Placement Service of the Federal Employment Agency (services only available in German).
You can use our self-assessment tool to find out whether you meet all the formal and personal requirements for a Development Service / Civil Peace Service.