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Languages and short courses for aid workers

  • Last updated:March 20, 2025
Short courses for development workers
Photo: Bruno Abarca

The academic training you receive is important. The combination of your undergraduate and postgraduate studies largely determines which positions in international cooperation you will be eligible for and the professional profiles you can start developing in your career. However, this education never covers everything that would be desirable. All job listings emphasize the need for the ability to communicate in several key languages and, in some cases, many topics where additional training would be beneficial.

Languages are essential for an international aid worker

For many positions, a solid proficiency in multiple languages is essential

Anyone working in international cooperation and humanitarian action will eventually need to master at least one additional language. It's not uncommon for professionals in this field to speak four or five languages, each at varying levels of fluency.

The languages you can express yourself in (speaking, listening, writing, and reading) will determine your ability to learn and work in the destination country and with the headquarters. Furthermore, most guides and relevant documentation for humanitarian work in health are exclusively in English, as are a vast number of courses on various topics. Typically, international positions require a good command of the destination country's language and, ideally, proficiency in one or two additional languages to enhance communication with the headquarters and other countries (not all documents are translated), and to facilitate geographical mobility.

It's not just about having a degree. While degrees look great on a resume, an advanced language qualification is of little use if you haven't practiced it in the last ten years. You will need to demonstrate your language proficiency during the selection process, both in interviews and in technical assessments (if applicable).

Which languages are most important for aid workers?

The most commonly used language in humanitarian action is English, and basically anyone who wishes to work in this sector must be proficient in it. It is a language that is used in almost all jobs to varying degrees. However, English alone is not enough. The next two priority languages are likely French and Spanish. French is particularly important for work in West Africa (and, of course, France), while Spanish is essential for communication with Latin America.

Other languages, such as Arabic or Portuguese, can also be desirable, although they are rarely mandatory requirements. In most Arabic-speaking countries, much of the work at headquarters can be conducted in English or French. However, speaking Arabic can be immensely helpful in facilitating communication with national staff, local partner organizations, local authorities, and the beneficiaries or participants in projects. As for Portuguese, it is also desirable in countries like Angola or Mozambique, among others. Someone who is fluent in Spanish can learn at least a minimal amount of "Portuñol" with relative ease and determination. As a result, it is not always a requirement for those who already speak Spanish.

How to learn new languages and improve the ones you already speak?

Beyond courses and academies, it can be a great idea to strive for linguistic immersion in the languages you want to learn or improve, even from home. Not everyone, of course, has the opportunity to take a language course at a private academy and then travel to another country to study for their master’s degree in that language.

Today, it's very easy to access (almost) any audiovisual content (with or without subtitles) and read articles and books in their original language. E-books make it incredibly simple to download a novel you want to read in another language within seconds. Additionally, they allow you to look up explanations (in the same language or translated) for the meaning of a word you don't know by just tapping on it. Committing to take short courses on online platforms in other languages is also a great idea. These courses can be relatively easy for someone who is still at a lower level in that language, as they include subtitles and provide a lot of key vocabulary. There are also many online platforms that make it possible to do language exchanges or practice the language you want with people who are learning yours in your own city.

Finally, once you start working in another language, you'll have the opportunity to progress very quickly in it if you make an effort to consolidate what you learn.

Short courses for aid workers: in person and online

In addition to the many centers and institutions that provide classroom and online training of all kinds, today there are many web-based training platformsIn addition to the numerous centers and institutions that offer various in-person and online training programs, there are now many web-based training platforms. Some of these are affiliated with major universities and organizations. These platforms provide a wide range of courses on topics that help individuals train in humanitarian health and international cooperation, often aligning with the requirements listed in job descriptions.

There are a number of platforms such as Open WHO, Global Health eLearning Center, Kaya (from the Humanitarian Leadership Academy), Disaster Ready, and UNICEF Agora. These websites offer many short courses (1-2 hours) that typically feature highly specific content.

Other platforms like EdX, Coursera, and Future Learn offer more comprehensive short courses. These courses can be completed in a few weeks with a modest commitment of 3-4 hours per week, making them sufficiently relevant for inclusion on a resume (if they meet a key training need). Moreover, they can be combined with other more intensive training or even a full-time job. Over time, most of these courses have evolved into a self-paced format, which means there are no fixed schedules or predefined deadlines, providing great flexibility for completion. Additionally, they often include subtitles in multiple languages and are affordably priced (with a certificate) or offer the option to take them for free (but without a certificate).

Here are some examples:

Short courses on humanitarian emergencies and humanitarian action in general

  • Humanitarian Response to Conflict and Disaster. 20 hours with Harvard University at EdX.
  • When Disaster Meets Conflict. 12 hours with Erasmus University Rotterdam on Coursera.
  • Refugees in the 21st Century. 24 hours with the University of London on Coursera.
  • Disaster Preparedness. 14 hours with the University of Pittsburgh on Coursera.
  • Humanitarian logistics. 54 hours, with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology at EdX.

Short (and not so short, mind you) global health courses

  • Global Public Health. 50 hours, with the SDG Academy at EdX.
  • Essentials of Global Health. 70 hours with Yale University on Coursera.
  • Foundations of Global Health. 80 hours with Johns Hopkins University on Coursera.
  • Readings in Global Health. 40 hours with Harvard University in EdX.

Short courses for aid workers on health in humanitarian crises

  • Health in Complex Humanitarian Emergencies. 8 hours, with Emory University on Coursera.
  • Global Health and Humanitarianism. 12 hours, with University of Manchester on Coursera.
  • Public Health in Humanitarian Crises. 30 hours, with Johns Hopkins University on Coursera.

Short courses on infectious diseases and outbreak control

  • Disease Outbreaks in Low and Middle Income Countries. 12 hours with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine on Future Learn.
  • Epidemics - the Dynamics of Infectious Diseases. 17 hours with Pennsylvania State University on Coursera.
  • The Global Challenge of Vector Borne Diseases and How to Control Them. 18 hours with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine on Future Learn.

Short courses on sexual, reproductive, maternal and child health

  • Improving the Health of Women, Children and Adolescents: from Evidence to Action. 24 hours, with London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine on Future Learn.
  • Maternal and Child Health Foundations. 40 hours with George Washington University on EdX.

Short courses on community health and community health workers

  • Strengthening Community Health Worker Programs. 18 hours, with Harvard University on EdX.
  • Community Change in Public Health. 10 hours, with Johns Hopkins University on Coursera.
  • Participatory Approaches in Public Health. 60 hours, with Imperial College London on Coursera.

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