Sector

Working in Peacebuilding, social justice and Rule of Law  

• Why this Path? Since starting his career in local peacebuilding and youth work initiatives, Sever’s activist drive and passion for social issues have played a constant role in his professional development. He reflects upon his experiences across sectors as means to bridge gaps between policy, research and practice by working across sectors to advance positive social change.  

• What’s in the Sector’s Future? When reflecting on relevant trends of the sectors in which he is active, he mentions the increasing “winds of change” blowing across the development sector. He highlights the need to accelerate fundamental change within a sector in the mindset of tweaking existing agendas, often stemming from persisting Western ideals which can inhibit the balance of power between actors. He calls for the inclusion of community perspectives and advice to pay attention to language – such as referring to locally led development instead of localisation as a means individuals can help shift power balances within a large system.
• Sever also highlights the significant need for increased co-creation between policy makers, researchers, and practitioners to properly address relevant and complicated issues, such as navigating challenges. For example, the rise of right-wing populist politics 

Skills

Want to find out how Sever landed the role he’s currently in? 

• Stakeholder management – Sever’s roles in research, communication, community groups and government have served him well in learning to communicate effectively with different target groups across sectors.  

• Communicating with the audience in mind – This ability to see things from the perspective of whom he is interacting with is a skill developed through experience and hands-on-learning, an overarching theme throughout his professional life. “I speak differently and can step into different roles when I am communicating with grassroot movements and activists as compared to government officials. It is a strength to have experience from both worlds.”   

• (Applied) research methodologies – This transferable skill has served Sever greatly as a strong understanding of gathering, analysing and sorting through large amounts of information is a foundational building block of Sever’s work. 

Advice & Tips

What advice would you give to students and young professionals?

• “Do not refrain from seeking advice on your personal development. If you feel stuck in your career or find it difficult to position yourself in the sectors you are interested in, consulting a career or personal development coach can allow someone else to help you identify your strengths. Methods such as skills stacking and Ikigai are great!”    

• Sever highly recommends attending and making oneself visible at events to network and engage in current discussions. “Make sure to say something in the group setting to get the attention of attendees ahead of the networking. If people already recognise you, it is easier to start a conversation with them later.”

Curriculum Vitae