Devex • 15th August 2025

How will the next generation get into the global development industry?

The long-used pathways into global development work are having what some see as an unprecedented shake-up. Internships and training programs are being scaled back due to job freezes, artificial intelligence is able to take on much of the work normally handed off to entry-level hires, and NGOs are making an effort to hire more from the global south. What does that mean for those hoping to break into the industry — and who is well-placed to do so? Katherine Raphaelson, president of the U.S. chapte...

Devex • 15th August 2025

How will the next generation get into the global development industry?

Sectorwide budget cuts and hiring freezes are shrinking traditional entry points for global development professionals. Meanwhile, AI and the push for localization are reshaping where opportunities do arise.

Devex • 27th February 2025

What development pros need to know about fisheries and aquaculture

With aquatic animal production expected to reach 205 million metric tons by 2032, the potential of aquatic foods to contribute to food security, nutrition, and poverty reduction is increasingly recognized across global forums. Fisheries and aquaculture are critical elements for global food security, said Carlos Fuentevilla, fishery officer for technical program coordination with the Food and Agriculture Organization, or FAO. For 40% of the global population, aquatic foods provide at least 20% of...

Devex • 12th December 2024

Staffing priorities for the Gaza humanitarian crisis

The ongoing war in Gaza has resulted in a devastating loss of life, with at least 44,000 Palestinians killed, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The humanitarian affairs agency also reports that more than 100,000 people have been injured, and an estimated 1.9 million — nearly the entire population of 2.1 million — have been forcibly displaced.Many aid organizations have shifted their programming priorities and scaled up the delivery of services o...

Devex • 24th October 2024

The do’s and don’ts of competency-based interviews with the UN

Preparation is crucial for succeeding in the United Nations competency-based interviews. Also known as structured, behavioral, or situational interviews, this interview style is an effective predictor of future job performance and is widely used throughout the United Nations system. Christine Nylander, associate director of people in humanitarian action at UNICEF, advised candidates to begin preparing as soon as they submit their applications. In addition to drafting examples, candidates should...

Devex • 23rd October 2024

How to prepare for a competency-based interview at the UN

Competency-based interviews, also known as structured, behavioral, or situational interviews, are widely used throughout the United Nations system. According to Michael Emery, director of human resources at the International Organization for Migration, research shows that this interview format is the second-strongest predictor of job performance. The process focuses on “drilling down on the competencies that define success for that particular role and ascertaining if the candidate [can] demonstr...

Devex • 25th June 2021

Globaldev careers: The community accountability coordinator

A psychologist by training, Jennifer Piñeros worked in data-related and programmatic roles in the field before starting as Mercy Corps’ community accountability and reporting mechanism coordinator for Colombia.

Now responsible for ensuring that the organization is accountable to the participants and the communities it serves, her team of seven reviews feedback and brings forward allegations of fraud, waste, and corruption.

Devex • 8th June 2021

Globaldev careers: The reproductive health expert

For more than five years, Dr. Mirela Rista has been working with Youth Center “PO” — the only clinical center in Tirana, Albania, that provides free services related to sexual and reproductive health, or SRH. It is a branch of the Albanian Center for Population and Development, or ACPD — a member association of the International Planned Parenthood Federation — and trains health personnel in reproductive health, post-delivery contraception, and safe abortion techniques.

As a gynecologist, Rista

Devex • 27th April 2021

Globaldev careers: The humanitarian policy director

As director of humanitarian aid policy at the International Rescue Committee, Lauren Post leads on strategies to improve humanitarian assistance and ensure aid dollars are spent more efficiently. Her role involves reading to develop deep subject expertise and analyzing policies on, for example, the economy or the impact of sanctions on humanitarian access. She is currently overseeing a new report on how the United States government can improve its response to the COVID-19 pandemic in fragile and

Devex • 4th February 2021

Recruiter insights: How to land a job with NORCAP

While part of the Norwegian Refugee Council, NORCAP operates in quite a different way from its parent organization. Established in 1991 to provide support to the UN Refugee Agency, NORCAP is now one of the largest providers of standby expertise and, through a roster, deploys personnel across the humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding sectors.

Last year, NORCAP recruited over 200 new experts, said Peder Apall-Olsen, head of recruitment and development unit at NRC. And with 300 individuals

Devex • 2nd February 2021

Globaldev careers: The mental health coordinator

While COVID-19 has helped shift attitudes around mental health and highlighted the need for greater investment in this area, it has also created new challenges for teams working to support the well-being of vulnerable populations in humanitarian settings.

Glaucia Pereda, coordinator for HIAS’ mental health and psychosocial support — or MHPSS — program, heads up a team in Venezuela that provides training and designs interventions to prevent further harm to the mental health of the communities it

Devex • 26th January 2021

Globaldev careers: The technical adviser

Molly Schneider is a technical adviser for rural livelihoods at the International Rescue Committee, a role that is similar in function to a program officer at many other organizations in bringing technical expertise to program development, grant applications, trainings, and projects.

Schneider is the focal point for country programs in Africa’s Francophone Great Lakes region and the Sahel region of West Africa. Depending on the country, she supports a range of emergency and recovery programming

Devex • 21st January 2021

UN Women launches program for aspiring globaldev leaders

UN Women is hoping to support women's rights advocates from the global south in launching its international development careers through a new professional development program.

The initiative is motivated by ongoing discussions around diversity and representation at UN Women, said Irena Sabados, a human resources specialist at the agency and focal point for the program. The events of the last year also prompted considerations around access to career opportunities at the agency and what barriers

Devex • 19th January 2021

Globaldev careers: The chief of party

Chief of party is not only one of the most senior positions on a project team but also one of the most intriguing and unusual job titles in the global development sector.

It’s essentially a fancy word for a project director, said Mama Laryea, who is based in Ghana as FHI 360’s chief of party for USAID’s Partnership for Education: Learning. This role is responsible for overseeing a project, including operational, technical and financial activities, and ensuring deliverables are met.

Devex • 11th December 2020

Recruiter insights: How to land a job with Tetra Tech

BARCELONA — Whether you are a seasoned development professional or transitioning from another sector, tailoring your CV and demonstrating those all important soft skills is key to landing a job with Tetra Tech.

Maria Chaney, a staffing specialist with the organization, gave Devex some insights into how to make your application stand out. She discussed the importance of cover letters and shared tips for professionals looking to transition to development work or make a career move within the sect

Devex • 1st December 2020

Globaldev careers: The advocacy specialist

BARCELONA — A career in advocacy is not for those easily disheartened. Making change happen and ensuring that progress isn’t reversed involves constant hard work and there can be a few knock backs along the way.

But it’s also an extremely rewarding career for anyone who cares about an issue and wants to help create change, said Joanna Shepherd, policy and advocacy adviser with Plan International. A genuine passion for the issues is important because the job centers around them.

Devex • 27th November 2020

Recruiter insights: How to land a job with ICRC

BARCELONA — The International Committee of the Red Cross is undergoing a digital transformation that requires bringing new skill sets to the team. This is creating opportunities for professionals from other sectors, such as business and information technology, to find roles with the organization, in addition to seasoned humanitarians or development professionals who can demonstrate adaptability and negotiation skills.

But anyone applying to work for ICRC should have a strong understanding of th

Devex • 20th November 2020

How to decide if an employer is a good fit without visiting the office

BARCELONA — With interview processes going virtual as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, candidates have fewer opportunities to connect with potential colleagues and get a sense of an organization’s work culture.

In the past, candidates might have had the opportunity to visit the office and meet team members several times before deciding whether to accept a job offer. And while sites such as Glassdoor can help candidates get an impression of an employer, these can “skew to the extremes” as the

Devex • 17th November 2020

How to stay relevant during your job search

BARCELONA — In the past year, many professionals in the global development sector have found themselves out of work as projects, fundraising events, and hiring were put on hold because of COVID-19.

While significant gaps in a candidate’s CV might normally be a concern for potential employers, they will be more understanding at this time since the pandemic has clearly impacted people’s careers, said Jennifer Bangoura, a career and workforce development expert.

Devex • 13th November 2020

Recruiter insights: How to land a job with UNDP

BARCELONA — Flexibility and adaptability are key skills for a career with the United Nations Development Programme. It is not only looking for staff members who can be mobile and apply their field experience to different contexts and posts, but also professionals who can embrace new ways of working to advance sustainable development, according to Lykke Andersen, chief of talent acquisition and people programs at the agency.

UNDP is currently hiring for a number of consulting, support, and techn

Devex • 28th October 2020

Here's how some UN agencies are becoming more family-friendly places to work

BARCELONA — While organization-wide policies guarantee all United Nations staff the same family leave, some agencies have been working to update the entitlements they offer and become more family-friendly employers.

Current policies mean U.N. staff can take up to 16 weeks fully paid maternity leave, starting no later than two weeks prior to the expected delivery date. Paternity leave is just four weeks, or up to eight weeks for internationally recruited staff serving at non-family duty stations

Devex • 25th September 2020

Remote work takes a toll on development professionals' well-being

BARCELONA — Development professionals are feeling more stressed and isolated and are working longer hours, as the shuttering of offices during the coronavirus pandemic takes a toll on workers’ well-being, according to a Devex survey.

Our most recent COVID-19 Trends Tracker survey highlights how the new realities of work are creating challenges for staff members.

Nearly 60% of professionals said they have seen negative changes in their work, with respondents citing “heightened emotional stress,

Devex • 20th August 2020

Could remote internships equalize opportunities?

BARCELONA — Internships in the humanitarian and development sector have traditionally been based out of headquarters offices in development hubs such as New York, Washington, or Geneva. These are expensive places to live, and international students or young professionals unable to relocate often face obstacles in gaining hands-on experience with top development employers.

Atinuke Adigun, a final-year student from Nigeria who is currently completing an internship in Washington, told Devex how in

Devex • 20th August 2020

COVID-19 job losses accelerate in development sector, survey results say

BARCELONA/BRUSSELS — A majority of development workers now report that they or someone they know has lost their job due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to new data from Devex.

Devex’s latest COVID-19 Trends Tracker surveyed 650 development practitioners in 113 countries this month. Some 59% said they or someone they know had lost their job, up from 36% in April.

More organizations are losing funding, too. In April, 37% of respondents said the organization they primarily work with had lo