Careers360 - Think higher education! Allied jobs in the social sector

Allied jobs in the social sector
Public relations, fund raising, proposal writing, advocacy, teaching, research, administration and more.
by Nimesh Chandra
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The social sector used to abhor overheads more out of necessity; most organisations were perennially short of cash!

But as professionalism and long-term funding creeps in, a whole lot of allied professionals are entering the sector to ensure that efficiency increases not by default, but by design.

Advocacy: This sector has been picking up momentum, recently. From planning campaigns to promoting causes, this job has a tremendous role to play in the social sector. Some organisations like Greenpeace or PETA spend a substantial amount of time and resources exclusively on this domain. Advocacy organisations champion a particular cause. The National Centre for Advocacy Studies in Pune is an Indian equivalent in this sector. Jobs would demand very good communication skills and the ability to work under pressure.

Public Relations: A recent entrant in to the sector, PR firms are the big cousins of advocacy. Though an anathema, in the early days, communicating the work an NGO does appropriately is as important as the work itself, in the current era. In fact, one of the doyens of Indian advertising Meenakshi Madhvani, has set up Spacial Access Advertising Communications, to exclusively provide communication advice to social sector organisations.

Policy: While some argue it is crucial to intervene at the level of policy, many believe it would be a waste. But for ensuring long-term change in the positive direction policy making would remain crucial. An understanding of inter-relationships of issues and ability to balance different interest groups are crucial to survive and flourish in this competitive sector.

Top institutes and organisations in the Social Sector
Institutes offering Social Work courses	Organisations
Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli	Action Aid
Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Pune	Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi
Christ University, Bangalore	Amnesty International
College of Social Work, Nirmala Niketan, Mumbai	Azim Premji Foundation, Bangalore
Dr. BR Ambedkar University, Agra	Centre for Economic & Social Studies, Hyderabad
Gujarat Vidyapith, Ahmedabad	Centre for Policy Research, Delhi
Indira Gandhi National Open University	SAARC Disaster Management Centre, New Delhi
Jamia Milia Islamia, New Delhi	Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, Delhi
Jiwaji University, Gwalior	Centre for Women’s Development Studies, Delhi
Karve Institute of Social Service, Pune	Child In Need Institute, Kolkata
Kurukshetra University , Kurukshetra	Department for International Development (DFID)
Loyola College of Social Sciences,Kerala	Gujarat Institute of Development Research, Ahmedabad
M. Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya, Wardha	International Development Research Centre (IDRC)
Madras School of Social Work	Social Audit Network
The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda	Institute for Social & Economic Change, Bangalore
Osmania University, Hyderabad	Institute for Studies in Industrial Development, Delhi
Punjab University, Chandigarh	Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi
Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai	International Centre for Research on Women, New Delhi
Udaipur School of Social Work, Udaipur	Jamsetji Tata Center for Disaster Management, Mumbai
University of Delhi	National Disaster Management Authority, New Delhi
University of Lucknow	National Institute of Social Defence
University of Mumbai	NRL for Conservation of Cultural Property, Lucknow
Visva Bharati, Santiniketan	Oxfam India
Indian Institute of Education, Pune	Rehabilitation Council of India
Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Calcutta	Red Cross Society

Teaching and Research: Your role is a function of your expertise and experience gained in primary, secondary and tertiary education. As both creators and disseminators of knowledge, the contribution of the teaching and research community helps in getting the right orientation and critical review of the activities that run across domain.

Proposal Writing: This is a much sought after skill in many social sector organisations. Unless they are state funded, it is the series of projects funded by various agencies, which ensures that many of these organisations survive and serve. And grant-making organisations demand crisp proposals that identify the stakeholders, introduce innovations in theory and practice, and cater to the needs of the funding body.

Reconciling conflicting demands is the biggest challenge for a proposal writer. Though many of the skills are transferable across the sector, a fundamental understanding of what the domain is all about is crucial to write a great proposal, and hence some ground experience is essential.

Fund Raising: A crucial responsibility in development projects is to raise funds. While the skills for this role are equated with the skills of a business development manager or a marketing professional, the dexterity in effectively handling issues of funds comes with experience. Apart from good negotiating skills and subject expertise, a methodical approach is what government and international agencies such as DFID or IDRC look for, in those interested in such jobs.

Administration: One of the least glamourous areas of any organisation, more so in the social sector, it is nevertheless one of the most important functions, and is crucial for overall efficiency. An administrator marshals resources in such a way that all other professionals in the organisation can deliver with utmost economy and efficiency.

SUDESHNA MUKHERJEE, 28
Corporate Fundraising Officer
Oxfam India

Sudeshna initially aspired to be an engineer. ‘I come from a progressive but conventional Bengali family where you either become a doctor or an engineer.”

During her final year, one of her friends showed her the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) brochure. And she was on! Sudeshna’s parents were not very encouraging about her decision to study social work; however, she insisted her parents attend the graduation ceremony. “They were relieved to see that students were being placed with international NGOs including the United Nations and even Fortune 500 companies of the country.”

Her first job was with GiveIndia where she was in charge of evaluating proposals for grants disbursements. As this profile allowed her use both analytical and managerial skills she decided to do a further specialisation in this field and did a Master’s certificate course in Resource Mobilisation and Management from SP Jain Institute, Mumbai.

Now she’s working with Oxfam India, based out of New Delhi and looks after acquisition and retention of corporate donors, consulting them on strategies and engaging them for both short and long-term support through cause-related marketing, direct project funding, disaster relief support, special events.

In her free time, she represents the Showcase of Fundraising Innovation and Inspiration as its ambassador in India.

by Sumita Vaid Dixit

Professional Consultancy: Synonymous with for-profit organisations, they are primarily functional experts who could provide an outsiders’ perspective. As the size, structure and depth of initiatives in the development sector become more complex, the need for outside experts does come into play. IT and marketing are the two fields where NGOs seek assistance.

UN and International Agencies: These don’t fit the general description of allied sectors. But these organisations operate across all sectors and invariably set the agenda for change. Their politics and convictions are debatable, but here that is not the focus. But entry is difficult, you must either have a tertiary degree from a leading institution or long years of progressively responsible work at the grassroots level

Conclusion

Jobs in the social sector are an interesting phenomenon. They are always available, but their quality and returns vary substantially.Some unscrupulous elements would exploit their staff ruthlessly in the name of serving the poor. Some jobs are at times exceptionally dangerous, especially if you take on established interests.

Some other jobs, say, in a grant-making organisation, offer a cushy, hectic but interesting life. Qualification for entry varies, too. Some like geriatrics or counselling demand specific professional qualifications. Others like community development demand empathy and commitment.

Though an Master's in Social Work helps ease your entry it is not a must either. What comes across in our interaction with a host of executives is that the sector still has a long way to go, in terms of professionalism and pay packets. But, thankfully both are on an upward spiral.

So if there is fire in the belly, and you have the ability to take a few shocks in your stride, then go ahead and take the plunge. As Vinod Khosti concludes, it is a different life for sure; tough, but worth it.

Related story: How to make a career in the social sector

Published on: November 21, 2009
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