The NGO CV format, section by section
A strong NGO CV follows a predictable order so a panel can score it quickly: header and contact, a short professional summary, work experience, education, certifications, skills, languages, and referees. Predictability is a feature here, not a weakness — it makes you easy to score.
Within experience, each role should carry the organisation, your title, location, dates, and two to four bullet points that each state an action and a measurable result. Avoid responsibility lists; panels reward delivery, not duties.
Make it ATS- and panel-friendly
Larger INGOs increasingly run CVs through applicant-tracking systems before a human sees them. Clean, single-column-friendly structure and real text (not text trapped inside images) is what passes. Sahan generates selectable, embedded-font PDFs — never a flattened image — so both software and people can read every word.
Mirror the vocabulary of the vacancy. If the advert says "monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL)", use that phrase where it's true of you, rather than a synonym the system won't match.
NGO CV checklist
- Header with phone, email, location and languages
- 2–4 line summary tied to the programme area you're applying for
- Experience as action + measurable result, not duty lists
- Donor and grant context where relevant
- Certifications: PMD Pro, MEAL, finance, safeguarding
- Referees who can speak to specific roles
Why people use Sahan for this
Sahan isn't a generic design tool. It's built for one job: making it effortless to keep a structured profile and generate a genuinely elegant CV from it — on any phone, in minutes — with optional verified badges on the claims that matter.
- Simple to build, satisfying to download
- Works fully on mobile — no app to install
- Update once, regenerate any time
- Verified badges, per claim
Frequently asked questions
- What format do NGOs prefer for CVs?
- A clean, reverse-chronological, two-page PDF with real selectable text. Some agencies also ask for a UN-style P11 or a personal-history form, but a strong PDF CV is the universal starting point.
- Does Sahan's NGO CV pass applicant-tracking systems?
- Yes. Sahan produces structured PDFs with embedded fonts and selectable text, which is what ATS software needs to parse your experience correctly.