Margaret Munroe
University degree: Master in Development Studies
Job: Assistant Programme Officer – West, Central and North Africa
Mercy Corps
How did you start your career?
The year after my undergraduate degree, I worked as a research assistant for a
non-governmental organisation, in Washington, that focused on lobbying the US
Congress on hunger and poverty issues. After that, I was in the Peace Corps in Mali
for two years and then worked at Peace Corps headquarters in Washington as a
Programme Assistant on a grant programme funded by USAID.
Why did you choose to study at the Graduate Institute?
The Institute had a good reputation and was more financially feasible than American
universities for someone planning to pursue non-profit and government work. I also
wanted to gain more experience living abroad and was particularly attracted to the
possibility of taking coursework in French.
Why did you choose a career at Mercy Corps?
Mercy Corps has a good reputation in the field. A former
supervisor and mentor advised me that working for the
organisation was a good move. I also like the
organisation’s stance on development, particularly that
they encourage hiring staff members from the countries
where they work and strive to work in close partnership
with local organisations.
“My French was at a
decent level was one
of the competitive
advantages I had to
be hired”
In your opinion, what are the qualities necessary for a successful career at
Mercy Corps?
Programme management and organisational skills are very important, as the work
can be fast-paced and there is usually a lot going on even as you want to make sure
the programmes you are implementing are high-quality. My language skills have
also been useful, as have good writing skills for donor reports and proposals.
Did the Graduate Institute prepare you well?
I think I have a deeper knowledge of the field of international development after my
degree. The opportunity to take a programme management class was also useful,
CP 136 - CH-1211 Genève 21 | +41 22 908 57 00 | graduateinstitute.ch
as it acquainted me with some programme management concepts that I now see
are used regularly in the field.
What advantage did the Institute give you from an intellectual point of view?
I think the fact that my French was at a decent level was one of the competitive
advantages I had to be hired, so the opportunity to pursue some studies in French at
the Institute was good. I have also been involved in some research related to
programme development recently, and after writing many 20-page papers for the
Institute, I felt well-prepared to tackle that project.
How did you benefit from your position at Mercy Corps?
Since I started my employer has been really good at providing training opportunities.
Within just a few months of working here, I participated in a week-long training on
programme management, and another training on US government rules, regulations
and compliance (useful information to have for this field). They have also been
responsive to developing my interest in food security; recently I have been
supporting research for a big food security proposal, and I will travel abroad to help
with the programme design workshop in a few weeks.
CP 136 - CH-1211 Genève 21 | +41 22 908 57 00 | graduateinstitute.ch