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DFID Recruitment: A Fact Sheet
17 March 2008
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Appendix
A: Member States of the European Economic Area (EEA)
The Department for International Development (DFID) is the UK Government
department responsible for promoting sustainable development and reducing
poverty. The central focus of the Government’s policy, based on the 1997, 2000
and 2006 White Papers on International Development, is a commitment to the
internationally agreed Millennium Development Goals, to be achieved by 2015.
These seek to:
- Achieve universal primary education
- Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
- Develop a global partnership for development
- Ensure environmental sustainability
- Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
- Improve maternal health
- Promote gender equality and empower women
- Reduce child mortality
DFID’s assistance is concentrated in the poorest countries of sub-Saharan
Africa and Asia, but also contributes to poverty reduction and sustainable
development in middle-income countries, including those in Latin America and
Eastern Europe.
DFID works in partnership with governments committed to the Millennium
Development Goals, with civil society, the private sector and the research
community. It also works with multilateral institutions, including the World
Bank, United Nations agencies and the European Commission.
DFID has headquarters in London and East Kilbride, offices in many developing
countries and staff based in British embassies and high commissions around the
world.
1.1 General Information
In accordance with the principles of the Civil Service Recruitment Code our
vacancies are filled on merit by fair and open competition. As a result DFID no
longer maintains a database or register of available personnel and we do not
accept applications on a speculative basis, or hold CVs on file in consideration
for future vacancies. Details of current vacancies can be found on the DFID
website www.dfid.gov.uk under the heading ‘Recruitment’.
1.2 Administrative Grades
We occasionally recruit for C2 (Administrative Assistant) and C1
(Administrative Officer) grades for both our London and East Kilbride
headquarters. When a recruitment drive takes place, London posts are advertised
on the DFID website and in the local press; East Kilbride posts are advertised
on the DFID website, in local job centres and in the local press.
C2 Administrative Staff are expected to work as part of a team and typically
would be asked to undertake the following duties: distribution of documents;
faxing; photocopying; computer-based work. C1 Administration Staff’s work will
be fairly standard or routine but more complex than C2 level requiring a degree
of discretion and initiative. S/he may have some limited supervisory
responsibilities and financial authority.
Personal Qualities for Band C Staff
You will need to be a good communicator and possess good organisational and
interpersonal skills. You should be able to work in a methodical and organised
way, and be able to act upon instructions. Numeracy is important, along with the
ability to adapt to new work situations, think ahead, prioritise as you go and
put over a point of view clearly.
1.3 Temporary Administrative Vacancies
When temporary administrative vacancies arise within DFID, we use the
services of local recruitment agencies to fill them. Listed below are contact
details for the employment agency DFID currently uses for our East Kilbride and
London offices. Registration with this agency is not a guarantee of employment
with DFID.
For East Kilbride HQ
Manpower
12 Bothwell Street
Glasgow
G2 6NU
Tel: 0141 226 4291
Fax: 0141 221 5713
Email:
Glasgow.Branch.Manager@manpower.co.uk
For London HQ
Manpower
7 Butler Place
London
SW1H 0QD
Tel: 020 7222 4554
Fax: 020 7233 4232
Email:
Victoria.Branch@manpower.co.uk
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1.4 Grade B2 (Executive Officer) Junior Managers
Opportunities for direct entry into DFID at Junior Management level (ie Grade
B2, Executive Officer) are not common. Personnel are normally promoted to Grade
B2 from within the existing Administration Officer cadre through internal
competition. When DFID does undertake external recruitment for Junior Manager
posts, advertisements are placed in the national press and on the DFID website.
1.5 Advisers and Senior Managers
We recruit advisers and/or senior managers according to the needs of our
development activities. All appointments are advertised in the UK national press
(publications such as
the Guardian, the Telegraph or the Economist) in any appropriate professional
journals and on the DFID website.
We regularly recruit for advisers in the following professions:
- Economics
- Education
- Enterprise Development
- Environment
- Governance (including Conflict and Humanitarian Advisers)
- Health
- Infrastructure and Urban Development
- Rural Livelihoods
- Social Development
- Statistics
1.6 Specialist Staff
Where individuals with specialist skills, such as IT
experts, are required, positions are advertised in the national press and on the
DFID website. Typical publications for positions within our East Kilbride
headquarters are The Herald, The Scotsman, Scotland on Sunday or
Sunday Herald. Positions for our London headquarters are advertised in
publications such as The Guardian or The Economist and on the DFID
website.
Details of qualifications and experience will vary
according to the requirements of each post.
1.7 Work Experience or Internship Programmes
DFID does not operate its own work experience or internship programmes.
However, under the Race Relations Act 1976 and the Race Relations amendment Act
2000, DFID and other UK Government Departments are encouraged to take Positive
Action to address any existing imbalances or under-representation of ethnic
minority groups. As part of the Positive Action initiative we support the
Windsor Fellowship, a work experience scheme for talented Black and Asian
undergraduates, and the Cabinet Office run Summer/Autumn/Winter Development
Programmes. These programmes are specifically for undergraduates/graduates in
the ethnic minorities and are aimed at developing a better understanding of the
Civil Service and the career opportunities it can provide. Details are listed
below:
Windsor Fellowship (WF)
The Windsor Fellowship is a charity whose aim is to identify high achievers
from Black and Asian communities, and offer such individuals a 2 or 3 year
development programme. DFID is a corporate sponsor of the Windsor Fellowship.
For further information, please contact:
The Stables
138 Kingsland Road
London
E2 8 DY
Tel: 0207613 0373
Fax: 020 7613 0377
E-mail:
office@windsor-fellowship.org
Website: www.windsor-fellowship.org
Summer Development Programme/Autumn Development Programme/Winter
Development Programme
The Summer Development Programme is a Cabinet Office-run programme
that offers some ethnic minority undergraduates and graduates the chance of
working within government departments each summer in paid training placements of
6 -8 weeks.
The Autumn Development Programme comprises of a 3-day residential
training course for final year undergraduates and graduates from ethnic minority
backgrounds intending to apply for graduate development programmes, including
the Civil Service Fast Stream.
The Winter Development Programme comprises of a 3 day residential
training course for 1st, 2nd and penultimate year undergraduates from an ethnic
minority background.
Eligibility
Eligibility In order to be eligible for these three programmes you must be a
UK national undergraduate/graduate, of minority ethnic origin, with a minimum of
an expected or awarded 2:2 degree.
Summer Placement Scheme
The Cabinet Office also runs the Summer Placement Scheme which is a
6-8 week work placement that runs across July and August. It is open to UK
national undergraduates/ graduates with a registered disability. The aim is to
introduce the trainees to the interesting and varied challenges of life in the
UK Civil Service.
For further information on any of the above four Cabinet Office run
programmes, please contact
 http://www.diversity.faststream.gov.uk
1.8 Nationality Criteria
The eligibility criteria for DFID posts are derived from the legislation on
employment in the United Kingdom. Candidates should either be nationals of
Member States of the European Economic Area (EEA), Swiss nationals, Turkish
nationals or Commonwealth citizens with a right to work in the United Kingdom.
Certain family members of EEA, Swiss and Turkish nationals (who are not
themselves EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals) may also be eligible to apply for
employment in the civil service.
For general guidance on Nationality issues please contact the United
Kingdom Home Office telephone: 0845 010 5200 email:
nationalityenquiries@ind.homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk .
For a list of member states of the European Economic Area, and of the
European Union, see Appendix A.
You have to be able to satisfy the criteria at the time of application. We
cannot consider you if you have an application pending, etc. Therefore, if you
do not have a letter from the immigration authority or a stamp on your passport
to show that you have a right to work in the UK, we cannot consider you.
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2.1 General Information
In accordance with the principles of the Civil Service Recruitment Code our
vacancies are filled on merit by fair and open competition. As a result DFID no
longer maintains a database or register of available personnel and we do not
accept applications on a speculative basis, or hold CVs on file in consideration
for future vacancies.
The vast majority of development posts for which we are asked to recruit
require candidates with a good degree, and very often a second degree, plus
substantial post-graduate experience gained in a developing country in some
specialism not readily available there. The qualifications and experience called
for will vary according to the requirements of each post. Details of current
vacancies can be found on the DFID website www.dfid.gov.uk under the heading
‘Recruitment’.
Voluntary organisations can offer a good means of obtaining the experience
necessary for a DFID development post.
3.1 General Information
DFID undertakes recruitment in many of the developing countries where we
undertake development activity. These vacancies are all advertised in the press
of the country concerned.
3.2 Nationality Criteria
Candidates for locally recruited vacancies can be of any nationality: the
only requirement being that the candidate has a legal right to undertake
employment in the country in question. Successful appointees join DFID's group
of Staff Appointed In Country (SAIC), who fill locally based vacancies.
4.1
DFID recruits a small number of candidates for the General Fast Stream
through the Cabinet Office, but it should be borne in mind that the Fast Stream
is a recruitment scheme run on behalf of the entire Civil Service. Successful
applicants are, therefore, not guaranteed an assignment to DFID and may, in
fact, be assigned to any department that currently has vacancies. Those who do
join DFID do so at Grade B1 (D) level (the lower middle management level), with
an expectation that they will be ready for promotion to
more senior management positions (Band A) within 3 to 4 years. Each year we bid
for a variable number of general fast streamers and one European fast streamer.
To be eligible, you should have at least a 2:2 in any degree discipline and
generally be a UK national. For more information, visit the Fast Stream website
www.faststream.gov.uk .
DFID Technical Development Specialists will contribute to the work of
building an effective international system to support developing countries in
reducing poverty and in achieving the Millennium Development Goals. You will
become part of a highly skilled, in-house advisory resource that can be
responsive to changing needs.
On promotion you can apply to be a professional adviser in your selected
field:
- Conflict
- Education
- Enterprise Development
- Environment
- Governance (including Conflict)
- Health
- Infrastructure and Urban Development
- Rural Livelihoods
- Social Development
(Details on each specialist area can be found on the Fast Stream website under
the heading ‘What is the Fast Stream/DFID Technical Development Specialists’).
You will complete a series of challenging posts in the UK and overseas with a
formal training and development programme lasting up to five years, designed to
equip you to compete for early promotion and ultimately to the Senior Civil
Service.
The Government Economic Service (GES) and the Government Statistical Service (GSS)
both run their own Fast Stream Programmes. More information about these can be
found on their websites, http://www.ges.gov.uk/applic.htm (GES) and
www.statistics.gov.uk (GSS).
4.2 Eligibility
Before submitting an application for the Technical Development Specialist it
is essential you comply with these criteria:
- a post graduate qualification relevant to your chosen
discipline;
- be able to demonstrate at least 12 months’ work experience in either
a developing country or in a development context, in an area related to
your chosen field;
- a good level of knowledge of international development issues,
DFID’s work, the role of donor assistance in a sustainable development
and an understanding of the linkages between their chosen discipline and
development work;
- comply with our nationality rules.
Candidates choosing this option will have to complete the application process
for the General Fast Stream. If successful at the Fast Stream Assessment Centre
(FSAC) you will also be invited to attend a one-day technical assessment,
usually including a technical panel interview and a technical written exercise,
for your chosen field at one of DFID’s HQ offices. Should you fail this
technical assessment you may be offered a place in a central department of the
Civil Service in order of merit - although not necessarily DFID.
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DFID's Procurement Department recruits for short-term self-employed
consultants. The majority of opportunities for solo consultants require
considerable experience in their specialism, often within a developing country.
Applicants from all nationalities can be considered for Consultancy
positions.
Those interested in short-term consultancy opportunities should contact the
Management Services Section. Details of
current consultancy
opportunities can also be found on the DFID website at www.dfid.gov.uk under
‘Procurement’, then ‘current contracts’.
Management Services Section
DFID
AH 406/3, Abercrombie House
Eaglesham Road
East Kilbride
GLASGOW G75 8EA
Tel: 01355 84 3770
E-mail: cbinternet@dfid.gov.uk
6.1 Employment Opportunities at the UN
DFID no longer actively recruits under the Junior Professional Officer (JPO)
programme. Applicants may wish to approach UN agencies direct to ascertain if
they have any vacancies for JPOs. Alternatively, one means of entry into the UN
system is by registering as a UN Volunteer.
Any future UN posts that may arise, including DFID-supported posts under the
Junior Professional Officer programme, will be advertised in the UK national
press and on the DFID website.
Information about positions within the UN can be obtained from:
Department of Public Information
United Nations
NEW YORK
NY 10017, USA
Website:
www.un.org
6.2 Junior Professional Officer
Support to the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Scheme
Description
The Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Programme provides young professionals
pursuing a career in development with hands-on experience in multi-lateral
technical co-operation. JPOs are usually under 32 years of age. Currently, 21
donor countries participate in the Programme. JPOs serve primarily in one of the
country offices of the participating agencies in the developing countries. Under
the supervision of a senior staff member, JPOs work with international and
national staff and are involved in the identification, design, implementation,
monitoring and evaluation of the UN agencies-supported programmes. Purposes of
assignments vary and may have a country-specific, regional, sector-based or
thematic focus. The UN agencies participating in the Programme try to match
individual's qualifications and interests with the requirements of the country
office.
DFID's policy
We no longer provide finance for the appointment of stand alone Junior
Professional Officers (JPO’s) to United Nations (UN) bodies and there are no
plans to change this. All applications for this scheme should be submitted
directly to the Copenhagen centre at www.jposc.dk
or www.jposc.org
Increasingly DFID is moving towards longer term, more assured financing for
UN organisations that allow them, in consultation with their governing bodies,
to manage their human resource requirements. That being said, both DFID & DEFRA
(The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) do occasionally provide
funding for UN posts. This funding will only be made available when such posts
complement implementation strategies for programmes or projects that are
directly supported by these departments.
6.3 Associate Expert Programme
The UK views this programme as one intended for individuals already working
within UK Government Departments.
All applicants for the AEP must have the support of their parent government
department as it would be responsible for the full cost of such a placement
within the programme, including salary, allowances, insurance, travel expenses
and the administrative expenses incurred by the UN. This can cost around one
hundred thousand pounds for one year of a placement. For this reason no
applications can be taken forward without the consent of the parent government
department.
Further information on this scheme can be obtained from the UN website at http://www.un.org/Depts/OHRM
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Recruitment for the European Commission's Community Training Programme for
Junior Experts normally takes place biennially. As posts arise, they will be
advertised on the DFID website at
www.dfid.gov.uk under 'Recruitment' Although
details of the programme can be found throughout the year at www.europa.eu.int
at External Relations then External Service, DFID will normally only seek
applications towards the end of the calendar year. You should only submit an
application for the programme to DFID at this time.
Information about employment with the EC can be obtained from:
European Commission
Rue de la Loi 200
B-1049 Brussels
BELGIUM
Tel: 0032 2 233 1111
Website: www.eures-jobs.com
Although DFID provides substantial support to voluntary organisations based
within the United Kingdom, we do not recruit volunteers directly. If you are
interested in volunteer work, try the voluntary organisations listed on the
website of BOND www.bond.org.uk,
whose membership comprises many of the principal voluntary development
organisations in the UK, or World Service Enquiry www.wse.org.uk,
or TimeBank/Intervol www.intervol.org.uk.
NB: Links to Third Party Websites
DFID’s website provides links to sites of other organisations maintained by
third parties. A link does not constitute an endorsement of the content,
viewpoint, accuracy, opinions, policies, products, services or accessibility of
that website. Links to third-party websites are provided as a convenience to the
user; DFID does not control, endorse or recommend their content. Once a user
links to another website from this website, that user is subject to the terms
and conditions of that website.
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria**
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland*
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Liechtenstein*
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Norway*
Poland
Portugal
Romania**
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Turkey
United Kingdom
*With the exceptions of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway the above countries
are also members of the EU.
**There are additional restrictions on the entitlement of Bulgarian and Romanian
nationals to enter and work in the UK in the transitional period to 31 December
2011. These are found in the Accession (Immigration and Worker Authorisation)
Regulations 2006.
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