Like thousands of development professionals, Grace Tran, founder of Athena Insight Consulting LLC, and Taylor Williamson, director of Cadence Advisory, lost their jobs last year as a result of the dismantling of the United States Agency for International Development. Both have since transitioned into independent consulting — a shift they discussed during a recent Devex event, reflecting on the challenges of their first year and on navigating the unpredictable nature of project- and client-based...

Skills in the use of artificial intelligence tools are increasingly becoming an expectation in hiring for global development roles — even when AI is not in the job title. As organizations across the sector operate with limited resources, many are looking to use these tools to improve efficiency.Use of AI among humanitarian professionals is currently clustered around document review, language translation, and support for daily operations, said Ka Man Parkinson, communications and marketing lead w...

Last year’s dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development, alongside wider foreign aid cuts from European donors, had far-reaching consequences across Africa, forcing the shutdown of programs and organizations across the continent, and leaving thousands of development professionals without jobs.During a recent Devex event, Allwell Akhigbe, CEO and cofounder of Travaille Ensemble, described the impact as catastrophic, noting that aid organizations and United Nations agencies had pr...

Applications open next week for the World Bank Group’s new internship initiative for entry-level talent. Rudy Perecin Mareño, global program lead for talent discovery at the World Bank Group, and his colleague, Nidhin Sathianarayana Unni, program lead for the Pioneers internship program, shared exclusive tips for applicants hoping to stand out during a Devex event earlier this week.The Pioneers internship program will offer more than 100 placements across the bank’s five institutions and in more...

In the wake of last year’s sweeping funding cuts and layoffs, many development professionals are entering 2026 still searching for work in a highly competitive job market.For those feeling frustrated at the lack of callbacks from roles they feel more than qualified for, career coach Spencer Campbell has a message: Don’t take it personally. It’s the reality of the current job market, he said, likening the current upheaval in the social impact sector to how the COVID-19 pandemic or the 2008 financ...

After widespread layoffs this year, professionals across the sector hope to see an uptick in hiring in 2026 as organizations explore new partnerships and funding models. During a recent Devex digital event, leading recruitment and career experts discussed how the effects of the U.S. funding cuts continue to shape the job market, sharing insights into where demand for expertise is growing and how those on the hunt for a job can leverage transferable skills to remain competitive.There is some good...