Very high qualifications are required for specialists placed in projects and programmes of partner organisations by the recognised development services. In addition to several years of work experience, development policy and social commitment, intercultural sensitivity and foreign language skills are required. In certain positions, foreign experience is now also an automatic requirement for collaboration.

To date, there are few opportunities for qualified young people to gain practical experience in development cooperation. However, it is meaningful to have not only the “old hands”, but also young beginners with innovative ideas and up-to-date methodological knowledge.

The recognised development services have accordingly developed programmes in recent years which enable young vocational and professional beginners to gain initial experience in development cooperation.

These include:

the trainee programme of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Entwicklungshilfe (AGEH)

the Young Professonals programme of the German Development Service (DED)

the PV24 programme of the Evangelische Entwicklungsdienst (EED).