Working with the FCDO. Tips for junior development professionals | Experts’ Opinions

Working with the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) encompasses tasks related to diplomacy, international relations, and development projects. Much of this work involves travel and representing Britain’s interests abroad, along with diplomacy and networking, and competition for positions within the FCDO tends to be high. Nevertheless, acquiring relevant experience through internships or volunteer work and demonstrating a knowledge of global issues can be the gateway to securing a position with the organization. Explore insights from current or past FCDO employees to gain valuable tips about finance, project management, and program professionals.

DevelopmentAid: Which major skills and requirements are necessary to start a career at FCDO?

“For a finance person, such as myself, a good educational background plus the relevant skills and experience are necessary to work with the FCDO. One needs to be familiar with FCDO donor requirements when providing financial advice to the budget holders. The program team should also have the best knowledge of the donor agreement which helps to guide them when approving expenditures and they must always provide narrative and financial reports in line with the donor templates. The FCDO has strict rules in terms of budget expenditure and all activities and spending must be approved and monitored with diligence. ”

“Project management skills are much in demand these days. Information management skills –knowing where to find and how to present data – are widely required. In general, strong written and verbal communication skills, active listening skills, analytical and conceptual skills, emotional intelligence, and adaptability are important.”

 

 

“As the FCDO operates on a global scale and strives to provide outstanding service, one must be a good communicator. You must also have the ability to work in a multicultural and diverse setting as you will interact with various groups and individuals. Due to the fact that the FCDO values everyone’s voices and opinions (inclusivity), teamwork and collaboration skills are also essential. If you can effectively showcase your ability to operate in a collaborative manner with your coworkers or the community you will be engaging with, this will be a significant asset in your effort to gain a position at the FCDO.”

“Hands-on knowledge of MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint is essential, and advanced skills in developing presentations, dashboards, visualizations, and documents using these tools are highly beneficial. Additionally, building skills in proposal development, coordination, monitoring, and reporting is crucial. It’s useful to learn how to develop, monitor, and report on the “Value for Money” mechanism as well.”

 

 

“International Experience: Prior international experience through internships, volunteer work, or academic programs can greatly enhance candidacy.”

 

 

 

“At a minimum, entry-level skills include managing and applying the FCDO Programme Operating Framework, along with a mandatory understanding of the Accountable Grant Arrangement.”

 

 

 

DevelopmentAid: What are the challenges one has to face when applying for a FCDO position?

“The major challenge is the necessary previous experience working with the FCDO. Another issue is aligning one’s CV with employer specific requirements. One should also become acquainted with FCDO terminology and internal guides and regulations. Without the skills in the areas highlighted, it’s not easy to secure a position with the FCDO”

 

 

“One can be frustrated by slow processes. I found that job descriptions are vague and do not represent the actual work performed. Team building can be a challenge because there are frequent changes at the ministerial level and lots of movement at posts in embassies.”

 

 

 

“When deciding to apply for a FCDO position, the process typically occurs digitally. However, if you’re in a remote area or face limited internet access, this might pose challenges, potentially affecting the success of your application or meeting the deadline. To mitigate this, ensure you have a reliable internet connection, download application questions, respond offline, and then copy and paste your responses onto the online system when you’re ready.”

 

 

 

“A single cover letter won’t suit every job application especially for FCDO positions that often demand a diverse set of skills that might be challenging to encompass in one letter.”

 

 

 

“Need for International Experience: Many FCDO roles demand candidates with international experience or a profound understanding of global affairs, which can pose a challenge for some applicants to acquire.”

 

 

 

 

“One will face a challenge if there’s no demonstrated experience in managing and applying the FCDO Programme Operating Framework, including the mandatory aspect of the Accountable Grant Arrangement.”

 

 

DevelopmentAid: DevelopmentAid: How do you prepare for a FCDO interview?

“First of all you have to understand the job description – what the employer stipulated in the advert. From there, you will be able to figure out the questions that might arise during the interview which are relevant to the position. You must also try to check on the donor requirements if the position will involve enforcing compliance issues.”

 

 

“Personally, I search for and read relevant documents (guides, regulations, manuals), take training courses if possible, ask my contacts about the position, try to find out about the team I would be joining, in addition to the country/technical context, and prepare a list of questions beforehand.”

 

 

 

“Being shortlisted for an interview with the FCDO is a significant accomplishment, given the organization’s highly competitive nature and the large number of applications it receives. Perform the following tasks in preparation for the interview:

• Read the job description carefully and ensure that you understand the qualifications of the ideal candidate. Become acquainted with the role’s purpose, required responsibilities, and competencies, and ensure that your experiences and skills align with these.
• One should be well-prepared with compelling examples by proactively anticipating interview questions. Your examples will be more compelling if you apply the STAR approach: What was the situation (S), what task was undertaken (T), what action did you take (A), and what was the result (R)?
• Be consistent with the job description when presenting yourself. If the role requires a safeguarding expert, provide examples based on safeguarding throughout your interview.
• Practice! Practice! Practice! If you don’t practice, you are going to go into an interview nervously.
• Be authentic. Be yourself, and don’t try to cook data or be someone else.
• Do your research about FCDO strategies as connected to your role, then demonstrate how your experience and skills will help in achieving strategy goals.”

“Having specific examples from past experiences at hand is crucial for anticipated interview questions. For instance, being ready to discuss examples where office conflicts were managed effectively and steps were taken to resolve them. Additionally, having examples of situations where project progress fell short of expectations and the actions undertaken to enhance project activities is essential. Furthermore, being equipped with an example that demonstrates your contribution to both team dynamics and individual efforts to strengthen teamwork in field environments is invaluable.”

 

“Stay Updated: Be aware of recent global events, diplomatic issues, and policy changes that might be relevant to the FCDO’s work. Stay up to date on current affairs!”

 

 

 

 

“Ensure one has a deep understanding of the FCDO Programme Operating Framework and the mandatory aspect of the Accountable Grant Arrangement.”

 

 

 

DevelopmentAid: What are some mistakes that young professionals make when applying for a FCDO position?

“They just send the CVs to the employer without aligning it to the advert requirements, they don’t show knowledge of FCDO requirements which can be found online.”

 

 

 

“Young professionals may underestimate the time it takes to complete the hiring processes. They may focus on a job title rather than the content of the position. Many applicants do not seek/pursue appropriate training or do not give full attention to training. Academia rarely prepares applicants for work, and young professionals need to demonstrate capacity even if they do not have experience.”

 

 

“Ensuring your CV and application letters are tailored to each position is vital; revise your CV to align with the job’s requirements. Researching the FCDO’s work in the position’s location is crucial for informed applications. Avoid rushing through applications; taking the time to craft a strong, well-considered submission is key.”

 

 

 

“One’s cover letter cannot fit all applications – a major mistake young professionals make when applying. You need to look closely at the job description and profile and prepare your application to highlight your actual experience in line with the role.”

 

 

 

 

“Underestimating the Importance of Experience: Some individuals mistakenly believe that academic qualifications alone are sufficient without demonstrating practical experience. Your experience holds more relevance than the specific school or university you attended.”

 

 

 

“The CV and cover letter fail to demonstrate the candidate’s experience in managing the FCDO Programme Operating Framework and the mandatory aspect of the Accountable Grant Arrangement.”

 

 

 

DevelopmentAid: What are the main challenges and benefits of working for the FCDO?

“The challenge is that sometimes there is no renewal to the project, especially in Africa. The FCDO has diverted their focus to Education and Health so other programs are not taken as a priority. FCDO projects more time to be invested in understanding the templates and project design, and this is a challenge for some candidates. The benefit is that it’s more rewarding to work on FCDO projects. It improves your knowledge since you learn more due to the project design and templates.”

 

“One may be required to implement policies of the current government/minister that they do not support; opportunities to learn about other cultures and see different countries; pension and benefits are good.”

 

 

 

“Encountering challenges in remote work situations is not uncommon. For instance, dealing with time differences can be a hurdle, especially when collaborating with international teams. Additionally, a language barrier may arise among certain beneficiaries as the FCDO’s global operations primarily use English as the medium of communication. These factors can occasionally pose difficulties in effective communication and coordination within the FCDO’s framework.”

 

“Benefits: Exposure to programs and projects at an international level. Learning opportunities and the chance to collaborate with highly skilled and enthusiastic professionals. Challenges: Tedious reporting and tracking progress against outputs, outcomes, and impact. Management and monitoring of third-party suppliers. Establishing Value for Money frameworks, data collection, and reporting.”

 

 

“Some of the challenges: Complexity of Issues: Dealing with multifaceted global challenges demands a deep understanding of the political, social, and economic dynamics across different countries and regions. Pressure and Responsibility: The FCDO handles critical international matters, often requiring quick and well-informed decisions that can have significant implications. Adaptability: Working in an ever-changing global landscape requires continuous adaptation to new policies, international relations, and crises.

Some of the benefits: Impactful Work: Contributing to global stability, peace, and development provides immense satisfaction and a sense of purpose. Diverse Opportunities: The FCDO offers diverse career paths, including diplomacy, policy analysis, development work, and humanitarian aid. Networking and Collaboration: Working with global leaders, organizations, and diplomats fosters invaluable connections and experiences.”

 

“Challenges: Inadequate reference resources for the FCDO Programme Operating Framework and the mandatory aspect of the Accountable Grant Arrangement. Benefits: Being part of the team alleviating poverty, responding to global emergencies, saving lives, and supporting the capacity of local responders (national and local actors) to respond and maintain resilience by bolstering local systems instead of replacing them.”

 

See also: Working with the EBRD. Tips for junior development professionals | Experts’ Opinions

Starting a career within the FCDO can be a rather challenging process. Applying for a position within the UK’s largest development agency typically involves project management and communications, and a broad knowledge, among many other aspects. With the DevelopmentAid Individual Professional Membership, you will not miss a single opportunity as you will have full access to all the FCDO’s jobs, tenders and grants for individuals and other useful information.