OXFORD

INTERNATIONAL POLICY + DEVELOPMENT
INTERNATIONAL POLICY + DEVELOPMENT
Dr. Juliet Bedford
Founder and Director,
Anthrologica Ltd
Worcester College,
BA Hons Music, 2001
DPhil Anthropology, 2008
WHAT: Anthrologica (www.anthrologica.
com) is a research-based consultancy
specialising in applied anthropology in
global health. We conduct formative and
operational research across health sectors,
focusing on the interface between the
provision and uptake of health services,
particularly in fragile and resource-scarce
settings. We incorporate the needs and
perceptions of intended beneficiaries into
policy and programming to ensure that
interventions are contextually relevant and
that opportunities for improving health are
maximised. Anthrologica works in both
development and humanitarian contexts,
and is increasingly involved in public
health emergencies, including the recent
Ebola and Zika outbreaks.
WHY: I set up Anthrologica four months
after submitting my DPhil, seeing an
opportunity to apply high quality rigorous
social science research in the arena
of global health. I focussed initially
on developing the portfolio, refining
methodologies for rapid data collection
and analysis, and building an evidence
base to demonstrate the value of
incorporating social science. In parallel,
I had to quickly learn how to run
a business, recruit and manage a
dynamic team, and translate and
operationalise research for a wide
variety of audiences. Since I started
Anthrologica, we have worked in
over 30 countries.
CHALLENGES AND TIPS: I am
fortunate that my work enables
me to spend time with incredible
people in incredible places. Setting
up your own company is immensely
rewarding but life-work balance is
a daily challenge, particularly when
the buck stops with you. You need to
have energy and be resilient, but you
also need to be gutsy and take risks.
To get things done in difficult
situations you need to combine
technical knowledge with diplomacy
and professional ethics. Think big,
but focus on getting the little things
right first. The quality of your output
is critical. Create opportunities, build
your experiences and learn from
both the positives and negatives that
happen along the way.
Maira Seeley
British Embassy Amman
Harris Manchester College,
BA Archaeology and
Anthropology, 2013
MA Refugee and Forced
Migration Studies, 2014
WHAT: I work in Jordan in peacebuilding
and humanitarian programmes for
Syrian and Jordanian youth.
GETTING IN: Students interested in the
humanitarian or development fields
should focus on developing practical
skills, especially languages, in addition
to your degree. Over the past few years,
I’ve found that employers and recruiters
show most interest in skills that weren’t
part of my degrees.
TOP TIPS: Find out what skills or
languages will make you stand out, see
what you enjoy, and focus on developing
those abilities as much as you can during
your degree.
LANGUAGES: Learning a language
to a professional level can be key,
and especially if it’s an uncommon
one such as Arabic, Farsi, or Swahil:
French is useful and actually required
for some jobs but is sometimes treated
as a minimum requirement! I never
anticipated just how important Arabic
would be for my career, but it’s proved
essential. Consider language learning
programmes but I don’t think you have to
pay for a course to learn effectively:
you can make a lot of progress (plus
it’s fun) through language exchanges
(chats and discussions) with other
students and friends.
Also, consider ways to intern, travel,
or work in the country or regions
where the language is spoken, and
really commit to learning as much
as you can – some colleges and
departments have travel grants that
may help finance this.
OTHER KEY SKILLS: Training
and experience in working with
vulnerable people and minors,
creating social media campaigns,
and web design are all useful if you
are interested in working for nonprofits
or humanitarian organisations.
Find opportunities to really develop
specific skills, and stick to them.
If I’d appreciated how important
Geographic Information Systems
would be, I would definitely have
taken the courses at IT Services, for
example.
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