Career advice
How to Get an NGO Job in Kenya (Even Without NGO Experience)
How the NGO sector in Kenya hires, the roles in demand, where to find genuine NGO vacancies, how to write applications NGOs shortlist, and practical routes in if you have never worked for one.
Kenya has a large non-governmental sector. Nairobi is a regional hub for international NGOs, and local organisations work in every county on health, education, water, agriculture, humanitarian response, governance and more. NGO jobs attract people who want meaningful work, and many offer competitive pay and benefits. They are also competitive, so it helps to know how the sector hires.
What kinds of jobs do NGOs offer?
Not everyone in an NGO is a field officer. Common roles include:
- Programme roles: programme officers and managers, field officers, community mobilisers.
- Technical specialists: public health, nutrition, WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene), education, livelihoods, protection, agriculture.
- Monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL): data collection, analysis and reporting.
- Finance and grants: accountants, grants officers, compliance.
- Operations: procurement, logistics, HR, administration, drivers, IT.
- Communications and fundraising
If you have skills in finance, procurement, HR, IT or data, you can move into the NGO sector from a private company, because those skills transfer directly.
Where to find NGO vacancies
- The careers pages of the organisations you want to work for. Most large NGOs advertise there first.
- ReliefWeb, the UN-run platform where many humanitarian and development organisations post jobs.
- JobsToGrab: we bring together verified NGO and international jobs from official sources, including ReliefWeb and employers' own careers pages. Browse NGO and international jobs, or narrow down to NGO jobs in Kenya.
Many NGO adverts close within two weeks, and some field roles in northern Kenya and refugee operations are filled quickly. A free job alert means you hear about them on the day they are approved.
How NGOs shortlist
NGO recruiters usually score applications against the "requirements" or "qualifications" section of the advert. They look for:
- The required degree and years of relevant experience
- Specific technical skills named in the advert
- Experience in the location or with the community the project serves
- Languages, including local languages for field roles
- Knowledge of donor requirements (for example EU, FCDO or other institutional donors' rules) for finance and grants roles
Your CV and cover letter should make it easy to tick each box.
Writing an NGO application that gets shortlisted
Tailor your CV
Put the most relevant experience first and describe results, not just duties: "Supported 12 community health volunteers to register 1,800 households for a nutrition programme in Turkana" says much more than "Worked with communities". Our free CV builder makes it easy to keep several tailored versions.
Write a cover letter that answers the advert
Many NGOs ask for a cover letter or a short statement on why you want the job. Address the main requirements one by one with evidence. Keep it to one page. See our cover letter guide.
Follow the instructions exactly
If the advert says "Send your CV and cover letter as a single PDF with the job title in the subject line", do exactly that. Some NGOs reject applications that ignore instructions, because attention to detail is part of the job.
Choose referees who know your work
NGOs check references seriously, often including a safeguarding check. Use recent supervisors and tell them to expect a call.
Getting in without NGO experience
- Volunteer with a local community-based organisation, or apply for national UN Volunteer assignments.
- Take short-term work such as enumerator or data collector roles in surveys and evaluations. They are often advertised and are a common entry point.
- Use transferable skills. An accountant from a SACCO or a procurement officer from a private company can apply for NGO finance and operations roles.
- Learn the language of the sector: logframes, theory of change, MEL, safeguarding. Free online courses cover these.
- Be open to field locations. Many entry roles are outside Nairobi, and field experience is highly valued later.
Salaries and contracts in the NGO sector
NGO pay varies widely. International NGOs and UN-funded projects often pay more than local organisations, but many jobs are tied to a specific project and its funding. Contracts are often for one or two years and renewed if funding continues. Before accepting, check:
- The contract length and what happens when the project ends.
- Medical cover, especially for field postings.
- Hardship or field allowances for roles in remote areas.
- Whether the employer pays NSSF and other statutory deductions.
Watch out for fake NGO jobs
Fraudsters often pretend to be well-known NGOs or invent "foundations" to collect application or training fees. Genuine NGOs do not charge job seekers. Check that the organisation exists and that the job appears on its official website. Our scam warning signs explain what to look for.
Interested in the UN too? Read how to apply for UN jobs in Kenya.
Frequently asked questions
What qualifications do I need for an NGO job in Kenya?
It depends on the role. Programme roles usually need a degree in a related field (such as public health, development studies or agriculture) plus experience. Finance, HR, procurement and IT roles need the same qualifications as in other sectors.
Where can I find NGO jobs in Kenya?
On the careers pages of NGOs, on ReliefWeb, and on JobsToGrab, where verified NGO and international jobs from official sources are listed together.
Do NGOs in Kenya pay well?
Many international NGOs pay competitively, while smaller local organisations may pay less. Pay also depends on the donor and the project budget.
Is it hard to get an NGO job without experience?
It is competitive, but volunteering, short-term roles such as data collector or enumerator, and transferable skills from other sectors are common ways in.
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