The technician in international cooperation projects is the professional who designs and manages projects of development cooperation, ensuring adequate technical and budgetary execution, according to the rules and regulations applicable for reporting.

Along with tasks development, the technician becomes the link between a large number of professionals, many different organizations and institutions, both in the country where the cooperation project takes place (e.g. partners), and the country of which he or she works in and represents (e.g., the Catalan Agency for Development Cooperation, in the case of Catalonia, and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation, in the case of Spain). These relationships are established under the coordination of the technician¿s supervisor.

The sectors of intervention of international cooperation projects are usually the following: education, health, food security, poverty reduction and economic development, awareness raising and education for development, migration, gender, environment, human rights and cultural diversity.

• Project design:
  • To look for cooperation projects and to search for calls to finance them, for example, instruments such as EuropeAid, which manage European Union development aid.
  • To participate in the preparation of the technical application and project¿s budget, including the technical and the economic report, and the application forms.
  • To ensure that documentation conforms to the specifications of the call.
• Project management:
  • To monitor project development to ensure that it evolves in accordance with the initial application (deadlines, aims, goals and resources provided).
  • To update the project database.
  • To participate in on the field training activities for technical staff in order to explain the technical elements of the project (context, goals, expected results, financial and budgetary framework, etc.).
• Project coordination and communication:
  • To coordinate different areas/departments of the organization (e.g., logistics or economics departments) and the staff that is executing the project.
  • To communicate with different agents outside the organization also involved in the project: partners (agencies, entities or institutions in the country where cooperation takes place), delegations, funders and other stakeholders.
  • To participate in coordination and information exchange meetings with other areas of the organization (logistics, finance, etc.), governments, international cooperation networks or private companies, under the coordination of the technician¿s supervisor. For example, to keep in contact with managers and technicians of the national cooperation agency (in the case of Spain, the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation, and in the case of Catalonia, the Catalan Agency for Development Cooperation).
• Project monitoring and reporting:
  • To develop technical and economic reports on project status and results (monitoring and enforcement reports, amendments, results reports, etc.).
• Project evaluation: planning, organization and coordination of projects evaluation processes and/or assigned agreements, providing information and data to professionals and agencies performing the evaluation.

Regulated training and graduates

There is no formal training on technician in international cooperation projects, so the appropriate training is that related to the main activity of the project to be developed.

• Grau: Administració i direcció d'empreses
• Grau: Ciències empresarials-management
• Grau: Economia
• Grau: Educació social
• Grau: Antropologia social i cultural
• Grau: Ciències polítiques i de l'Administració
• Grau: Ciència política i gestió pública
• Grau: Sociologia

Complementary training

Additionally, a Master Degree in international development cooperation projects is required, such as a Technical graduate in international cooperation projects.

Also, specific knowledge on projects strategic planning and management of projects and human resources is required, as well as communication, organization, planning and teamwork skills. The following courses are recommended:

• Project Management course.

• Integration course on multicultural teams.

• Institutional Relations course.

• Conflict Mediation course.

• Emotional Intelligence course.

• Oral Communication Course.
  

Other specific skills

Written and spoken English is required, and having the same level of French is highly recommended as well. English and French are commonly used to communicate with other professionals involved in development projects, and to prepare technical and economic reports on project¿s performance. Knowledge of other languages is valued too. The knowledge of international and country-specific regulations governing cooperation projects is also valued; for example, in Spain, the regulation imposed by Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).

It requires 2 years of proved experience, at least in management and implementation of international cooperation projects. In the case of inexperienced professionals, having worked in NGOs as an assistant on managing projects, regardless of whether they are the same field, or as a volunteer is also valued.

Communication: Level 2

Conceptual thought: Level 3

Concern for order and quality: Level 3

Team work and cooperation: Level 2

Analytical thought: Level 3

Planning and organisation: Level 3

Management

The organisation, administration and control of a company or entity are the main interests of people related to the management field. Activities included in this field of interest vary from effective resource management, feasibility analyses and solving business problems to the development of skills and fostering of motivation in relation to human resources. Knowledge regarding specific techniques of strategic administration and business management are required to carry out these activities.

Social community worker

Individuals related to the social/community field have an interest in working to improve people's social well-being and quality of life, as well as enhance their integration into their social, family and/or work environment. The professional activities that are common in this field include providing special support and aid to people at risk of social exclusion, designing programmes and implementing resources for the social and cultural stimulation of an area, and acting as mediators for conflict resolution in family, social or interpersonal environments. These activities involve constant interaction with people in order to improve their psychological and social well-being.

Employment and local development agent

Voluntary Work Technician

Adoption and fostering technician

Expert in evaluating virtual public offices

Job analyst

• Work hours

  The usual timetable is 40 hours per week with 8 hour working days split between the morning and the afternoon, although time availability is requested. Availability to travel is required as well, either in countries where projects are developed, or in countries where the funders or responsible for the development projects are located.

• Salary

  The compensation is calculated according to the experience, hours of work and the payment scale of the organization where the technician works. It is placed, usually, between €20,000 and €35,000 per annum.

• Professional category

  Technician