Rural Development and Gender
Master of Management of Development
Career opportunities
The master is intended for professionals working within Government and Non-Government rural development organisations as a project/programme coordinator/manager or as a specialist/consultant.
In the position of project/programme coordinator/manager, professionals coordinate the work of their department. They implement national or organisational policies into departments' programmes of activities. They facilitate necessary processes of change so that new policies are adequately mainstreamed in the mandate and activities of the organisation. They contribute to and supervise in the development and implementation of monitoring and evaluation programmes. They are responsible for and collaborate in capacity building of their staff. They establish and maintain networks with related organisations and institutions.
In the position of specialist/consultant, the specialists work in a specific professional field. They advise the management and staff members with other disciplines on issues related to their specialisation. They contribute to the effective incorporation of these issues in the organisation. They work in interdisciplinary teams. They collaborate in development of monitoring and evaluation tools and in programme and project planning. They do research in their specific field of work. They provide training for staff of their own organisation and related organisations. They make sure that issues related to their specialisation are on the agenda of their organisation and on the agenda of related organisations.
Within these positions, professionals perform some or all of the following roles: advisor, planner, facilitator, lobbyist, manager, policy maker, and researcher.
Organisations that need to respond rapidly to fast-changing circumstances have a considerable demand for fully qualified managers. By improving organisational structures, better management stimulates good governance. Many NGOs and public service organisations are currently reassessing their activities, and view one-year staff-training programmes as a worthwhile investment. Similarly, donor agencies require gender to be integrated within their programmes and projects. There is also a great demand for professionals who can facilitate change and transform social processes.
"Now I have got the knowledge that helps me in dealing with gender issues."
Aberash Tsehay from Ethiopia
Programme coordinator NGO
"From this master course, I have acquired the knowledge that helps me to deal with gender issues. The course has improved my communication, managerial and leadership skills. Above all I would like to say it has developed my confidence to work in the area of gender, in any organisation, at any post. At this moment I am working as a programme coordinator in an International NGO (religious based). Even though there are other programme areas, women empowerment is the major focus of the organisation. In my part time I have got the chance of giving gender training to experts and development agents working in another organisation. Ethiopia is a developing country with huge development challenges. Due to the deep rooted traditional and cultural practices the gap between women and men is enormous. Women are at the bottom of the ladder in social, economic and political aspects. Although it is difficult to bring change and achieve gender equality within a short time, I will try to contribute to the ongoing efforts of Governmental and Non Governmental Organisations."
Mary Kombe from Tanzania
Alumna
"Learning about gender helps me to look critically at aspects of men and women in my work. It gave me the pportunity to enhance my experience of working with people in the work place and in the community. I also learned to deal with gender issues that are normally overlooked and taken for granted. My present job gave me the great pleasure to work in collaboration with the Community department during International Women's Week. This collaboration would not have been successful without the knowledge I acquired as a student of Social Inclusion, Gender and Rural Livelihood (now: Rural Development and Gender) at Van Hall Larenstein. During the week we connected rural women and shared their ideas, views and stories about women's legal and human rights. They concluded that the existing legal system does not reach the majority of women who live in rural areas. There are inadequate legislative protection mechanisms such as protection orders. Likewise customary laws and practices remain discriminatory on issues of property inheritance, particularly on land. The women suggested that awareness creation and trainings should be given to the majority of rural households."
"I learned to deal with gender issues that are normally overlooked and taken for granted."