Although Fellows are selected and appointed by ODI, they are employees of the governments or public bodies for which they work. The latter bear local employment costs while ODI supplements Fellows' income and meets the costs of the Fellows' travel and other related expenses. The precise division of responsibilities is normally as follows:

The local employer is responsible for:

• Paying the salary for the post which would be payable to a locally recruited national with similar qualifications and experience.
• Providing similar conditions of service (e.g. accommodation, end-of-contract gratuity, leave, travel allowance on duty, medical treatment, vehicle purchase loan) as for national staff in similar grades.
• Contracts of employment between the host government and individual Fellows determine the Fellow's salary and other terms and conditions of service. These vary from country to country according to the post held, cost of living and other local factors.

ODI is responsible for:

• Recruitment and selection of Fellows; arranging placements; providing Fellows' pre-departure briefing and allowances.
• Paying monthly supplementation which takes into account local income and costs. Supplementation is designed to absorb the extra cost of living in the local country and is revised annually.
• Fellows' passage and baggage expenses at the start and end of the two-year contract.
• Medical emergency insurance cover in post.

Total emoluments, including supplementation and gratuity, at presently amount to around £21,000 per annum (2012).