International Monitoring

Helping with Transitions From Conflict to Peace

By Kara C. McDonald

Assignments

The tasks of international monitors range from elections observation to human rights reporting to community development and civic education. The specific nature of the job depends upon the degree of stability in the country. The work may include visits to field sites to report on events, interview locals, and correspond with civilian and government counterparts. Elections often involve working with a local staff in a particular region to prepare for upcoming votes. Community and civic development could involve working as an intermediary between local groups and the international community. One of the most recent civilian peacekeeping missions, the Kosovo Verification Mission, calls on monitors to verify a cease-fire and to report on all breaches. (Most missions, however, are not this dangerous!) All assignments involve working with locals, international organizations, the military, and NGOs (nongovernmental organizations) in the field.

Skills

Depending upon the nature of the mission, you may be required to have a professional degree (law, political science, international relations, etc.). Many of the missions are staffed through a government seconding process to an international organization, and governments vary in the skill levels they require of their volunteers.

Because these missions arise at short notice, do not pay a salary, and offer only short-term opportunities, professionals often cannot leave their full-time work. Volunteers have included graduate students, retirees, and part-time workers with varying backgrounds. International experience isn’t always necessary if you have functional experience in social work, community development, human rights, etc. (One election mission to Bosnia included many U.S. municipal election workers who had never been abroad.)

Besides job-related experience, all missions require inordinate amounts of patience and flexibility. You must be ready to deploy at a moment’s notice or to wait with your bags packed for days, sometimes weeks, while bureaucrats make the necessary arrangements. You must also be willing to serve anywhere in the country of assignment. Not knowing where you will be placed requires packing lightly for all kinds of weather. Finally, monitors often travel in large groups and in clumsy operations, so mental flexibility and physical stamina are crucial.

It goes without saying that you must be in good health. Access to Western-style hospitals may be limited.

Compensation

While the U.S. government usually does not provide a salary to its volunteers, the per diem package ranges from approximately $45-$110 per day (depending on the country of assignment) and usually allows volunteers to take some cash home. The rates are meant to cover Western-style lodging and three hotel meals per day. You will most likely have a much cheaper housing arrangement. In the end, you may find that volunteering pays better than many jobs back home.

Finding a Mission

The first place to start looking for mission opportunities is the Internet. Check the web sites of the State Department and international organizations like the OSCE, OAS, and OAU (see below). Keep up with foreign affairs. When news sources start mentioning a "possible monitoring mission," get on the phone to the regional officer at the State Department or to an officer with USAID and ask about the staffing of the mission: Will the U.S. be sending a contingent? Who will be responsible for hiring the volunteers?

Once you’ve found the personnel contact, you will most likely be asked to send a resume. Don’t be surprised if government officers are a bit curt--if the deployment of a peacekeeping mission is underway in their region, they will be extremely busy. Also, don’t be discouraged if they don’t call you back. Hiring for missions depends upon unpredictable funding. Check weekly on the status of the hiring. Timing is everything. The decision to begin deployment of staff may be made with as little as 24 hours notice, and a government worker won’t have the time to search diligently through a stack of 500 resumes.

Picking a Mission

Before you accept an offer to leave on an international monitoring mission, ask the following questions: Will health insurance (including emergency evacuation) be covered? What is the per diem rate? What kind of training will you receive? Training will be invaluable, especially if this is your first international mission.

In areas that are conflict-ridden, tense, or politically hostile to Americans, take appropriate precautions. Ask about the security situation in-country. Who is directly responsible for your safety (your hosting government or the international organization)? Ask about evacuation procedures. Peacekeeping missions don’t need martyrs or war heroes, so don’t apply if you are looking for a front-line adventure. On the other hand, don’t let tense conditions scare you off.

Long-Term Opportunities

Many civilian peacekeeping missions look for volunteers who can stay in-country beyond the period of assignment to help with the logistics of repatriating other volunteers, wrapping up mission projects, and paving the way for a new round of monitors. Get to know the breadth and activities of the mission while you are out there and set up informational interviews. By being a willing and able body, you can often find ways to extend your work with the mission.

Working with an international mission can be a most rewarding job. In fact, it will probably change your life. You will gain practical experience, but, most importantly, you will have the chance to work alongside locals who want peace.

Useful Websites

International Organizations: The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, www.osce.org; the Organization of American States, www.oas.org; the United Nations, www.un.org; the United Nations Development Programme, www.undp.org; the UN Volunteers, www.unv.org.

U.S. Government: The State Department, www.state.gov; USAID, www.usaid.gov; the Peace Corps, www.peacecorps.gov.

KARA McDONALD works at the Center for Democracy and Governance at USAID in Washington, DC. She has participated in three missions to Bosnia and is now involved with efforts in Kosovo. She holds a Masters degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy.