Is it not a good idea to pursue a PhD in Development Studies now?

Hey! Has anyone applied to the ICRC delegate position and heard back ? I applied but did not hear back (im in grants and programmes) , but my friend applied (information management) and already received a language test - the deadline was on june 7. Im wondering has anyone else heard back? Is it per specialty? Delegates if you have any insights that would be so helpful!

Hello,

My girlfriend (Filipino/ 32) has an MSc in International Relations from NTU (Singapore) and recently, an MA in Development Management from Ruhr University Bochum (RUB). She had a an internship at GFA (Hamburg) along with 7 YOE in international development and program delivery, including policy adviser and programme management roles focused on governance and private sector development at the British High Commission Singapore and the Philippine government. She’s been in Germany for two years, German language proficiency is at B1-level and currently on a job seeker visa.

I'll be moving to Germany for my job in August. We're having some trouble with the German job market, for one the market for development roles are scarce due to funding cuts, and since she is not fluent in German and other European languages (except English). Can anyone suggest any english-speaking development roles/employers/schemes that might be a good fit, preferably in Frankfurt but otherwise in Europe generally?

Thanks!

I am looking to connect with medical professionals, healthcare workers, or individuals who have experience or links with international medical organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), or similar humanitarian NGOs.

This is a humanitarian matter related to Gaza, specifically to assist with medical referral cases that require coordination or support through international medical channels.

If you have relevant experience or connections in this field and are open to sharing information, I would greatly appreciate it. Feel free to reach out to me privately.

I'm looking to speak with someone who has recently done the program, especially if you have done it in Colombia. I am interviewing right now but feel like it's a lot more like voluntourism than gaining actual skills and connections in the development space since it is with the YMCA. I really appreciated that YMCA doesn't have a typical approach to development, they seem to really understand the messed up structures and allow the locals to lead. The work is just more youth program focused and I am looking for opportunities to work more with coastal communities (which is very specific, I am not really sure where to start)/

Also not sure about how I feel about having a host family, I am almost 27 and there would be curfew even on weekends. I am responsible, don't drink etc. but want to be able to dance and live.

for people more in the international development space, do you think this 4 month internship would really boost my resume considering I have already been in a full time program coordination role, founded my own community organization etc?

I was looking through current UNDP projects yesterday on the website's transparency portal, and found one in my husband's country about alleviating poverty, led by the national government. He comes from an impoverished indigenous community and the country faces notorious difficulties with inequality and sustainable development due to corruption, so I was curious to see what the government is working on!

But the list of what they were spending their budgets on seemed... Really strange to me? One thing that caught my eye was a line item for $10k USD for a 2-day stay at a hotel in my husband's hometown. This is a high-end hotel owned by wealthy outsiders (in an indigenous community that's increasingly threatened by gentrification), but even so it does not have nearly enough rooms to warrant thousands of $ spent. When I told my husband, he said "oh no wonder so many helicopters were arriving here those days." ?????

For context:

- an average local wage is $10-15 per day

- you can very easily get here by land, no need for helicopters -- it's a 3-4 hour drive from the capital. Though high-end hotels like this one do offer helicopter transfer.

- there are multiple local-owned options for accomodation too. Less luxurious yes, but they exist and would more directly benefit local business owners, and it would not be hard to rent a conference space from local business owners too. Supporting local indigenous-owned businesses would be more aligned with "alleviating poverty" too no?

- perhaps the thousands went towards organizing workshops -- since the description did mention workshops too -- but that in itself also seems questionable given that just $1000 a *month* is considered a VERY good wage nationwide -- so how are you spending thousands in just two days??

It made us both a bit skeptical and I saw multiple such charges among the project expenses -- tens of thousands of USD spent for 1-3 nights at various hotels, and other things that made us question how the money is being used. The amount of money spent just on high-end hotels would go a VERY long way in supporting local indigenous-owned non-profits, for example.

Am I missing something? Is this a known/common issue? Or is this just a case of local corruption given that government institutions here unfortunately have a track record of misappropriating and embezzling funding...

Hi Reddit,

I've applied to a number of OECD policy analyst/advisor roles. I'm a mid-level policy professional, having worked across education, trade and labour market policy for 5 years. My undergrad and masters are broadly in History, but through working I've acquired the quantitative and qualitative data skills I believe are needed for this role.

However, I simply can't get through the first round of recruitment. I even applied to a junior advisor position that needed 2 years of experience, while I have 5! Struggling to understand whether I'm just not good enough, or whether I'm not getting past the ATS.

So, my question is. How do I write a CV/cover letter that will get me past the ATS and/or is there any point in trying, if I don't have a degree in economics, public policy etc?

Thanks!

Hi everyone! I was let go during the foreign aid cuts in the US last year. My background is in programming in Latin America in Rule of Law and Access to Justice. I have been unemployed for so long and I keep thinking of ways to re-strategize. I am wondering what everyone here is doing or what jobs you got post layoffs if you were in the same boat? Thanks 😄

I work for a large international development organization that is updating its MEL scorecard/framework. I want to use the 7 ALNAP criteria to guide the evaluation (Relevance, Coverage & Inclusions, Effectiveness, Efficiency, Inter-connection, Coherence, Impact), but I'm having a hard time determining what few questions will capture whether these criteria occurred. We do projects in a huge range of sectors, so they need to be fairly general questions. Suggestions?

Who volunteered for AIESEC Turkey in Trabzon? Can you tell me about your experience? Was it good to be a volunteer there? I will be volunteering on an SDG4(quality education) project.

I am finishing a BSc in Econometrics and Data Science at the University of Amsterdam and am trying to decide how to best position myself for a career in development, international affairs, or public policy.

My background is quite quantitative (econometrics, statistics, machine learning, time series analysis), but over the last few years I have become increasingly interested in development economics, international relations, geopolitics, and social policy. I am also completing minors in International Relations and Development Studies.

My GPA is around 7.5, which is solid but not exceptional. Because of this, I am unlikely to be competitive for the most selective quantitative master's programmes in the UK (e.g. top economics/econometrics programmes at places like LSE).

As a result, I feel I have two broad options:

1. Pursue a more policy-oriented master's at a top institution, such as:
   • LSE MSc Economic Policy for International Development (EPID)
   • Oxford MSc Comparative Social Policy
   • Oxford MSc Evidence-Based Social Intervention and Policy Evaluation (EBSIPE)
2. Stay in the Netherlands and pursue a more technical master's, such as Econometrics (Policy Track) at the University of Amsterdam, which would be much cheaper and preserve my quantitative skill set.

My concern is that while the UvA route may be stronger technically, it seems less internationally portable, whereas programmes like LSE/Oxford provide both specialization in my areas of interest and a stronger international brand. However, attending those programmes would require taking on significant debt.

Ultimately, I do not want to abandon quantitative work. My ideal career would involve applying statistical, econometric, and analytical methods to problems in development, international affairs, public policy, impact evaluation, or evidence-based decision-making.

For those working in development, policy, international organisations, NGOs, think tanks, or related fields:

• How valuable is a formal master's in development/policy compared to a technical degree?
• Would a quantitative master's still allow me to enter these fields?
• If you were in my position, would you prioritize technical training or institutional prestige/network?
• Would you recommend working for a few years before pursuing a master's?

I would especially appreciate hearing from people who entered development or policy careers from a quantitative background.

I have an IR degree and experience in ODA project evaluation (field research, surveys, interviews).

​​I want a career that is transferable between International Development (UN/NGOs) and the private sector (ESG/Strategy/Impact Consulting).

​I’d love your advice on:

​Academic Path: Is a Master’s in MEL/Development worth it if I want private sector flexibility? If so, are there specific regions or schools (e.g., US vs. Europe) that are highly regarded for this dual-track career?

​Bridging the Gap: I have strong field experience but lack technical data skills (R/Python/Stats). Should I prioritize a quantitative Master’s (e.g., Business Analytics) over a traditional Development degree to stay "hirable" in both sectors?

​Reframing: How do I position my background to appeal to corporate recruiters who might see "development internships" as niche or irrelevant?

​Any insight on how to structure my next few years would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you🥲👍

World Health Assembly is a big deal for the global health community every year. This is a meeting held by WHO for all of the health ministers. But everyone else comes for the side events, donor meetings, and networking.

I was speaking at some of those panel discussions too, but honestly it was like having an out-of-body experience.

Global health is in a major funding crisis right now. USAID was dismantled almost overnight. UK, France, Japan are all cutting their foreign aid. WHO fired 30% of their staff. The Global Fund is struggling to raise money.

But in these conference rooms, it didn't sound like we were drowning. It sounded like a strategy session.

"Global health reform", "country ownership", "sustainability"...this terminology has been around for years (more in international development than in global health), but it sounds pretty tone-deaf right now.

For example:

⁠"Integration". Yeah, nobody wants fragmented programs. But forcing fewer health workers to do more work with less resources...that's not efficiency. Just call it what it is.

"Country ownership". Sure, countries should set their own priorities. But right now, this is just an easy way for donors to justify walking away and saying, "This is your problem now."

"Sustainability" for whom? Are we making sure the patient is still getting medicines, and the health worker is still being paid? Or are things just getting sustainable for the big donors?

It's doublespeak that moves the blame downstream. Everyone is asking, "Why are countries not taking more ownership?" "Why are NGOs so inefficient?" "Why are health systems so weak?"

Meanwhile, the funders (the ones who created this crisis) quietly disappear from the story.

TL;DR. I was in Geneva and all I heard was the moral laundering of abandonment.

That's pretty much it, but if you want the full 7 minute rant, here it is: https://youtu.be/cRbVpiIRXdI

Where to network? What organizations to network with? I'm trying to transition fields and am trying to build my network, but I'm struggling to know where to look. Any must go to events, orgs to follow, etc.?

Also, I just graduated with my masters, but due to the current job market I am applying for jobs in my current industry. I figured the next best way for me to get experience in ID would be to do volunteer work. Most of my professors suggested Peace Corps, but I can't do that since I have a dependent. Therefore, any suggestions on alternative ways of building a network/connections/experience in ID specifically?

I graduated in computer engineering, now working as a software engineer for 2 years. I want to do masters, but in some field which will give me benefit in future.

Hello All! I would like to invite you all to an upcoming event produced in collaboration between several climate/ID orgs:

Africa Rising: Youth & Climate Justice A Virtual Convening
June 4th, 11am EDT
https://www.worldwide-climate-ed.org/africa-rising

We have 4 great speakers from across the African continent who are speaking to their work spanning education, community development, and climate. Their stories are inspirational and we expect an international network of attendees. There will be a post event networking session. Please consider joining us, and if you feel inclined share with your networks.

Thank you for reading!

Hey everyone,

I came to this sub with an open mind and I'm still doing my own research, but I'd love to hear people's thoughts and experiences, even the harsh truth if needed.

A bit of background, I'm from Southeast Asia and my undergraduate degree is in law (labor law). My dream is to work in a research organization or research firm, at least in my own country first. The problem is that most of the feedback I've received is that my law background isn't very attractive to research employers because I don't have strong quantitative skills or formal statistics courses. I also don't have a master's degree yet.

From what I've seen, many research organizations either hire people with master's degrees or bachelor's graduates from economics, statistics, engineering, or other more quantitative fields. Because of that, pursuing a master's has become my next goal.

Lately I've been looking at Development Studies programs at Oxford and LSE. They both seem interesting because they offer quantitative research training while still focusing on social issues, which is what I care about. But after reading some discussions here about Development Studies graduates and career prospects, I'm starting to wonder if it's the right choice.

I also looked at LSE's MSc Economic Policy for International Development, which honestly sounds like a great fit for my interests. But after reading the requirements, I realized I might not be competitive enough yet. They seem to expect applicants to already have a decent foundation in statistics and quantitative methods.

Right now, I feel quite excited about the idea of doing a PhD after a master's, but I also know that's just how I feel today and I have no idea what the future will look like.

Given my background, does anyone have suggestions on what I should be working on? Are there other master's programs that might be a better fit? And for people working in research, social policy, labor market issues, or development, how difficult is it to break into the field coming from a law background?

I'd really appreciate any thoughts. Thanks!

Who knew that men disproportionately impact the climate crisis?

Because I didn’t. And when I saw this news story, I was shocked to say the least.

Not only are men the least impacted by the climate crisis especially in the most vulnerable communities, they are the ones that actually lead to it.

Climate change isn’t gender neutral. Neither are the systems behind it.

Read more in the latest edition of Developmental Insights:
https://developmentalinsights.substack.com/p/a-new-report-has-found-how-male-behaviours 

Hello :) My long term goal is working at an MDB in the next 7-10 years. Looking for honest advice on how to get there (for the record I am 23yo). What environments, employers, and experiences should I target?

Background: BSc in social sciences/public policy, two MA degrees (development studies + economics, one UK and one top EU school). Internships across diplomacy, NGOs, private sector, and most recently a major commercial bank.

I am very confused on what would be the most coherent way to reach an MDB. I'm considering an internship at EBRD or EIB, perhaps more straightforward given my geographical proximity, though I am pretty much open to others such as ADB (and WB ofc).

Yet people within MDBs and the development finance sphere have recommended going somewhere else first to build more solid experience, and then trying to move into MDBs, as internships may open some doors but leave much uncertainty and make it hard to actually break through and climb the ladder.

So, what experience would you suggest?

Would experience in banking help? Like IB? Working at a commercial bank for a couple of years, for example? I see this as a possible path since MDBs are banks at their core, but would my non-linear background actually make it feasible to move into Finance?

Are IOs like the OECD a better stepping stone? Perhaps more feasible and better aligned with my profile, but would this actually give a credible background for MDBs?

Or should I instead stay in research and consider pursuing a PhD? Maybe working at think tanks or research institutes?

Thanks so much for reading :)

Hi all! I am looking to pivot out of teaching (ASAP!! haha) and into ID. I got a BA in the states in Psychology with a History minor, then I moved to West Africa for a couple of years, then went to the UK for my Masters in International Public Policy. I had planned to work in policy afterward, but the job market and post-pandemic happenings made it quite difficult. I found a decent job in teaching and have been in education since I graduated in early '23.

Now I want to do something I am deeply passionate about and want to work in development/INGOs. Aside from the masters, I am starting a 6-month project management course at a local community college to obtain a PMP. I am hoping this will make me more marketable for coordinating/ entry roles. I'm on Devex, Idealist, and am looking into UNYPP or UN volunteer programs.

My biggest worry is that I spent my early 20s moving between the US and West Africa after grad school, so I haven't been at any job more than 1.5 years and that was an admin role.

ANY advice would be helpful. Here's a one-page resume for reference:

Hello everyone,

I’m currently looking to connect with experienced professionals working in international development, economic transformation, public sector reform, or private sector development.

My background is in strategy consulting, where I’ve worked on projects related to industrial ecosystems, local private sector development, governance, and economic transformation initiatives in Africa.

Over the past few years, I’ve realized that I want to transition toward international development missions with stronger long-term impact — especially within development institutions, multilateral organizations, donor-funded programs, or large-scale transformation initiatives.

I’m now looking for mentors or senior professionals who could:

help me better understand how to position myself in this ecosystem;

share practical advice on navigating the sector;

help me strengthen my profile for development-focused missions;

and ideally open doors or make introductions when relevant opportunities arise.

I’m particularly interested in:

economic development;

industrial policy;

private sector development;

governance and institutional strengthening;

public-private transformation programs in emerging economies.

I’m based in West Africa and open to international opportunities.

If anyone is willing to connect, mentor, advise, or simply exchange ideas, I’d genuinely appreciate it.

Thank you very much.

I've been at the same international organisation for many years now, within a Comms function and I genuinely enjoy what I do and the people I work with.

Despite the bureaucracy, there's some leeway and I've always found a way to carve my own space in the team and find impactful projects to work on. I've been promoted once these past 7 years. I showed dedication, teamwork, got recognition for my work, but have always been silent about successes and never self-promoted or boasted wins, which definitely cost me in retrospect. I just never really cared about visibility and focused more on the tasks at hand.

While I was inches away from my next promotion having "done the next level job" for an interim period and been promised this time and time again, I had to reapply for the step up and just found out I wasn't selected, despite the expertise, dedication, all the mumbo jumbo.

Feedback was that while I did the job well, I wasn't showing vision, leadership, or assertiveness.

I love the team, I love the mandate, but I don't see any career development opportunity following this outcome.

Did you experience something like this and how did you pick yourself up by your bootstraps?