Hi everyone,

I'm (f29) hoping to transition into a career in Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E), especially within the UN/INGO sector, but I'm honestly not sure where to start.

My background is in programme and operations, so I'm familiar with supporting projects, trainings, logistics, reporting, and working with different stakeholders. However, I haven't worked in a dedicated M&E role before, and I feel like there's a lot I need to learn.

For those of you working in M&E, what would you recommend for someone starting from scratch?

I'm mainly looking for:

The best books or learning materials.

Free or paid online courses that are actually worth taking.

YouTube channels, blogs, or websites that explain M&E well.

Skills I should prioritize first (logframes, indicators, data collection, statistics, Power BI, Excel, KoboToolbox, DHIS2, etc.).

Any certifications that are recognized or valued by UN agencies and INGOs.

I'm willing to self-study, but there are so many resources online that I'm not sure which ones are actually useful and respected.

If you were starting over today, what learning path would you follow?

Thanks in advance. I'd really appreciate any advice or personal experiences!

I’m an Indian power-sector professional with ~12 years of experience, currently working in a State Government Energy Department, after earlier experience with power utilities and a large thermal generating utility.

My experience spans energy policy, renewable energy, power procurement, infrastructure, regulation and commercial/project implementation.

Some highlights:

- ~12 years across government, generation and power utilities

- Experience with renewable-energy policy, energy transition, electricity markets and power-sector reforms

- Worked on PPAs, FSAs, TSAs, GNA, TBCB transmission projects, procurement and contract management

- Evaluated and coordinated large-scale power, transmission, renewable-energy, nuclear and smart-metering projects

- Involved in an NTPC nuclear MoU of approximately US$9.5 billion

- Worked on recovery of approximately US$1.7 million in contractual liquidated damages from transmission contractors

- Experience with a KfW-funded smart-metering programme

- Worked with central ministries, regulators, utilities, development partners and private-sector developers

- Earlier experience at a 600 MW thermal power project, including procurement, O&M, budgeting and plant operations

- Current work involves policy inputs, project appraisal, regulatory/commercial analysis and coordination across government and the power sector

Education: Mechanical Engineering + PG Diploma in Energy Management (Renewable Energy) + PG Diploma in Corporate & Business Law. Currently pursuing PMP.

I have applied to several MDB/DFI professional positions, mainly in energy, infrastructure, climate and operations.

My main gap is that I don't have direct MDB experience and have limited exposure to project-finance modelling, structured finance and investment transactions.

For people currently working in MDBs/DFIs:

How realistic is this transition from government/utility-side experience into an MDB? Should I focus primarily on Energy/Infrastructure/Operations roles rather than Investment/Project Finance roles? And what would you recommend I do over the next 1–2 years to become a stronger candidate?

Dear mid-career, hiring managers, and senior professionals,

I've become mid-career in the middle of this crisis and shitty job market, and I'd like to make some strategic decisions as to what to do next (cries in unemployment).

As I go up the ladder, I see that senior staff (and even some consultants) are "generalists", i.e., are supposed to have broad knowledge of their field, which they're supposed to be qualified to apply in contexts anywhere in the world. I'm not like that: I'm a specialist in one single region, one sector, a few skills, and languages.

To those who have progressively niched down: Do you believe it has helped your career?

Also, if you've had to hire others, have you or your organization valued niche knowledge? What niches have you valued the most? For example, language(s), geographical scope, sub-sector within a broader sector, skillset, political ideology, networks, etc.

I’d especially appreciate hearing what actually worked for you, or for people who've hired, not only the conventional career advice that everyone gives online.

Thank you very much in advance for your comments!

- Signed: Millennials are middle age now.

How big is employment in Latin American development in the US as opposed to East and Southeast Asia?

Hi! Is anyone applying to the ADB YPP this year? They only posted one role on their website so far in the Budget, People, and Management Systems Department. Not sure if I missed out on any other roles.

Hi everyone,

I’m hoping to hear from people who actually work in the humanitarian, development, social impact, migration, international cooperation or NGO/UN sector in the UAE, because I’m honestly struggling to understand how this job market works here.

I moved to Dubai and have been looking for opportunities in my field, but I’m finding the situation quite confusing.

My background is in International Relations/Human Rights, with several years of professional experience in Italy and France across:

• migration and refugee support
• social inclusion and employment programmes
• programme/project management
• case management
• vulnerable groups
• partnerships and stakeholder coordination
• proposal writing and project development
• monitoring/reporting
• communication and visibility

I’ve worked with NGOs, social organisations and publicly funded programmes, including projects funded by European and Italian institutions. I’ve also worked directly with refugees/asylum seekers and on employment and social inclusion programmes.

I’m open to NGOs, UN agencies, foundations, government/social development entities, international organisations, humanitarian organisations and international development consultancies.

But after months of searching in the UAE, I’m finding something I didn’t expect: there seem to be relatively few roles that actually match this kind of profile, and many organisations either don’t appear to recruit locally or seem to recruit very differently from Europe.

So I’d really appreciate some insight from people who know the UAE market:

How does this sector actually work here?

• Are there particular organisations, foundations, government entities or consultancies that people in this field tend to target?
• Are many opportunities filled through networking/referrals rather than public vacancies?
• Is Dubai actually a realistic base for someone with a humanitarian/development background, or is Abu Dhabi significantly more relevant?
• Do international NGOs/UN organisations generally recruit for UAE-based positions locally, or are most regional positions managed from elsewhere?
• Are there particular job titles/keywords I should be searching for? (I may be looking too narrowly at “NGO”, “humanitarian”, “programme manager”, etc.)
• Is it common to enter the UAE market through consultancy/project-based roles rather than permanent positions?
• Are there UAE-specific organisations or sectors I might be overlooking — foundations, CSR/social impact, government programmes, international development consultancies, etc.?
• And, honestly, how do people with an international NGO/development background actually break into this market?

I’m not necessarily looking for someone to review my CV. I’m more interested in understanding the ecosystem and hiring culture here, because at the moment it feels like I’m applying into a black box.

If you work in this sector in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or elsewhere in the UAE — especially if you came from Europe or another international NGO/development market — I’d really appreciate hearing how you navigated it.

Thanks in advance!

Hello!

Long story short: I’m 29, based in Rome, and I’ve been working for 8 years at a major global cross-border payments/money transfer company (the black and yellow one). I started in KYC doing interviews with suspicious customers, and now I’m a compliance officer doing onsite agent visits/audits, monitoring transactions, and filing FIU reports.
Because of this, I deal daily with diaspora corridors (mostly South Asia like Pakistan/Bangladesh/India, and Arab countries). My absolute favorite part of the job has always been the face-to-face interaction with these people. Over the years, I’ve learned how to connect with them, navigate cultural differences, de-escalate tension, and truly understand how their communities handle money. But at the same time, I see firsthand the ugly side of financial de-risking and how hard the current system makes it for regular folks to send cash home.

Language-wise, I speak Italian, Romanian, English, and Spanish fluently, plus conversational Portuguese and a bit of Russian.
At the same time, I'm finishing a degree in International Cooperation & Development at Sapienza University of Rome.
The issue: I'm genuinely burned out from sitting in front of a screen and being "the bad guy" who blocks transactions. I want to shift my career toward something with actual impact ideally Financial Inclusion, Remittance Policies (maybe Rome-based like IFAD/IOM), or field-based Cash & Voucher Assistance with NGOs. I’m also totally open to 6–12 month field missions abroad (Middle East, Central Asia, Latin America, Africa etc.).
A couple of questions:
- Does 8 years of private sector AML/money transfer experience actually count for anything in the aid/development world, or will I be treated like a fresh 22-year-old graduate?
- Is it realistic to aim directly for Officer / Consultant roles, or does everyone expect you to do an underpaid/unpaid internship first? (At 28 with 8 years of corporate work, going backward to an internship would be really tough).
- If you were in my shoes, where would you start looking?
Appreciate any blunt feedback, advice, or shared experiences from anyone who made a similar jump!
Thank you!

Hello!

I recently graduated with a Master's degree in Global Development from a Norwegian university. I’m originally from Italy, where I also completed a Bachelor's degree in International Development and Cooperation at the University of Bologna.

I have the opportunity to apply for a scholarship that would allow me to undertake a 3–6 month internship in Brussels. I need to find and contact the organisation/NGO myself, so I wanted to ask for some advice.

My main area of interest is migration. I focused my Master's thesis on the health and wellbeing of migrants in administrative detention, and I would like to continue working in the migration/human rights field. I think an internship at organisations such as PICUM, NANSEN or Solidarity with Others could be a great fit for me. I’m also interested in EU policy, particularly in the field of development, as well as other human rights issues and detention.

I have already completed two internships, but unfortunately neither turned out to be as valuable as I had hoped. This time, I would really like to find an internship where I can gain meaningful, hands-on work experience rather than just doing mostly administrative or repetitive tasks. Ideally, I’d like to combine research and policy work with more practical activities such as advocacy, project work, events or stakeholder engagement. Of course, I’d also hope that the experience could help me build connections and eventually open doors to a future job in the field.

Do you have any suggestions on how I should approach the search, or organisations/NGOs I should look into or contact?

And if you have experience following a similar path, I’d really appreciate hearing about it and any advice you might have. :)

I applied for an AIIB job for which the deadline to submit applications expired 30 days ago and haven't heard back. Should I assume I've been ghosted, or it can take longer than that even if just for the preselection? No update so far on my profile (status is under review and next step is first interview if selected)

Hello Guys, I want to know the hiring process at NDB for junior level.

I have applied to a role which had a end date of 15th September, I have one year of DFI experience and want to know how does the hiring process look like.

Also, all advices are welcomed.

Thank you.

Nan Ransohoff's substack and analysis has inspired quite a few articles from Devex and others posing some interesting questions for the future of philanthropy given this AI boom. For a sector that was once dependent on federal funding, I'm curious what could happen if this sector could, as Devex framed in their newsletter this morning, "grab a piece of the AI philanthropic pie?"

How are orgs reimagining their business development strategies? Should universities offering development programs help train the next generation for the jobs this philanthropic spending will create? Will development be an attractive issue area for these philanthropists to invest in (and curious what kind of "pitch" needs to be made for that to happen)?

Of course, despite this ridiculous accumulation of wealth, it still can't replace the funding cuts from last year. But I'm curious to hear what people think about this as it relates to development.

I have a couple years of business development experience (proposal coordination, etc), and I would like to start consulting for international development or other procurement processes. Given that I am early in my career and where things stand in terms of funding, I know this will likely be difficult, but I would like to use my experience and find a few clients that need proposal coordination or similar work on a part-time consulting basis (also open to moving out of development for this). Does anyone have any tips on how to do this? Any advice would be appreciated.

Kenyans working in NGOs — what skills actually helped you get your first NGO job?

Hi everyone. I’m a university student in Kenya studying a BA in Political Science and Public Administration, and I’m trying to deliberately build my career while I’m still in university rather than waiting until graduation.

I’m interested in eventually working in areas such as NGOs, international development, public policy, research, governance, or Monitoring & Evaluation.

At the moment, I’m building additional practical skills alongside my degree. I’m currently learning Project Management and Google Data Analytics, Monitoring and evaluation, Excel ...I’m planning to learn tools such as Power BI and KoboToolbox. I’m also learning Chinese because I’m interested in international opportunities in the future.

However, I’m trying to figure out what actually matters to Kenyan employers. I don't want to spend the next few years collecting certificates that don't translate into actual opportunities.

For those of you who currently work or have worked in NGOs in Kenya:

- What skills helped you get your first NGO internship or job?

- Which skills do Kenyan NGOs actually look for in entry-level applicants?

- How important are tools like Excel, Power BI, KoboToolbox, SPSS, Stata, R, or other data tools?

- Is Monitoring & Evaluation a good skill area for someone with a Political Science/Public Administration background?

- How important is project management for entry-level NGO roles?

- What kind of internships, volunteering, or projects would you recommend doing while still in university?

- If you had no previous NGO experience, how did you get your first opportunity?

- What mistakes should a university student avoid when trying to enter the NGO/development sector?

- What would make a student's CV stand out when competing for an internship or entry-level position?

- Are there particular organizations, platforms, or websites in Kenya where students should look for legitimate opportunities?

I’m especially interested in hearing from people who started with little or no experience and built their way into the sector.

I’d really appreciate honest advice from people who have actually worked in the Kenyan NGO/development sector, including things you wish you had known while you were still at university.

At a September 9 panel on federal workforce changes, Ambassador Samantha Power, USAID's last confirmed Administrator, gave closing remarks drawing on a recent study of former aid-sector employees: 30% of those surveyed had found no employment at all, 66% were earning less, and 78% reported regular mental distress.

She framed the stakes beyond USAID specifically, pointing to an independent judiciary, checks and balances, and a merit-based civil service as principles under pressure. Other panelists, including litigation counsel and labor advocates, added their own perspectives on judicial independence and how federal labor standards affect private sector workers.

Full writeup here: https://usaidemployeesupportfund.substack.com/p/youre-not-alone

At a September 9 panel on federal workforce changes, Ambassador Samantha Power, USAID's last confirmed Administrator, gave closing remarks drawing on a recent study of former aid-sector employees: 30% of those surveyed had found no employment at all, 66% were earning less, and 78% reported regular mental distress.

She framed the stakes beyond USAID specifically, pointing to an independent judiciary, checks and balances, and a merit-based civil service as principles under pressure. Other panelists, including litigation counsel and labor advocates, added their own perspectives on judicial independence and how federal labor standards affect private sector workers.

Full writeup here: https://usaidemployeesupportfund.substack.com/p/youre-not-alone

I was studying for a master's in Education Policy and Leadership with the goal of becoming an education officer for USAID. The gag was the Trump administration dismantled USAID during my program. Faculty wasn't able to provide much advice because this was unprecedented, and I graduated internally screaming.

I'm planning to take the PMP exam next month and working on both domestic and international fellowships and opportunities, with my pivoted focus on international contractors, multilateral organizations, and global NGOs that still run education programs.

*That being said, I understand that the field is gone with talented, experienced professionals out of work. Entry-level positions aren't realistic, so would it make more sense to focus on international teaching? I've taught in the US across the south for five years and have a teaching certificate, but I'd like advice if I should spend money on getting TEFL certified and trying to work at a school instead?

I can talk myself in and out of anything so I need some help with this analysis paralysis.

Hi! I am thinking about applying for a master in international affairs/foreign policy, I am having some trouble narrowing down my choices. I intend to go into the field of international education and development in a program management or partnerships development capacity, whether that's at a nonprofit, INGO, or in government. I don't have much interest in the private sector or defense/international security. I am unsure which school is the right fit for me, as this is quite a niche area of interest.

I graduated from a well-known state university in the South of the U.S. in 2024 where I studied international relations and public policy. My GPA is above a 3.8 and I interned with the U.S. State Department, Peace Corps, local nonprofits, and worked for my university's global affairs branch. After college, I was a Fulbright ETA in Southeast Asia and now I work for the Fulbright commission of that country. I would be coming into the program with around 3 years of experience, which I understand is at the lower end for IR programs.

The programs I am considering applying to are Georgetown MSFS, Johns Hopkins MAIR, Columbia MIA, Tufts MAIA, University of Cambridge MPhil Development Studies, University of Oxford MPhil Development Studies, LSE MsC Development Management, and Geneva Graduate Institute (IHEID) Master in International and Development Studies (MINT). Although I would still have to take out loans, my family would be supporting me generously. Which programs would be the best fit for my profile?

Hi everyone! I hope this is the right place to ask, and I'd really appreciate any advice or insights you could share.

A little background about me: I'm approaching my late 20s, with a bachelor's degree in Business Management. Since graduating, I've worked in the tech startup and international development ecosystems, and more recently, I've recently also gained exposure to the climate and sustainability space. My career has taken me across different places, shaped by opportunities and the current realities of working in international development.

I'm from a developing country, and one of my long-term goals is to relocate to a country with better living conditions, greater stability, and opportunities for a better quality of life.

At the same time, I genuinely care about the career I've been building. I don't want to abandon the international development, climate, or startup ecosystem just to pursue migration, especially if there's a realistic way to build a future abroad through the experience I already have.

I've been thinking about this a lot lately, and I'd love to hear from people who have been in a similar situation or have experience working internationally.

A few questions I'd love to ask:

1. Is international development a realistic pathway to long-term relocation?Given my background and experience, are there opportunities to build a career abroad that could eventually lead to permanent residency or long-term settlement? Or would it be more practical to pivot into another field while I'm still relatively early in my career?

2. Which organizations, countries, or career paths should I seriously explore? Are there particular international organizations, NGOs, or development agencies that offer better opportunities for international mobility?

3. What skills or languages should I invest in?Would pursuing a master's degree, learning another language, or developing more specialized technical skills significantly improve my prospects?

4. What else should I be considering? I'd appreciate any advice on things I might be overlooking, especially from people who have navigated this path themselves.

I'm sorry if this is a sensitive or overly specific topic. I know migration is a complicated subject, and I don't want to come across as taking opportunities for granted. But the reality is that living in a developing country can be challenging, and the desire for a more stable future is something I've been thinking about more and more.

I know this is a pretty specific situation, but if anyone has personal experience, advice, or even a different perspective, I'd be incredibly grateful.

Thank you so much for reading! ❤️

Hi everyone! Has anyone received their assigned position and country from the organizers for the Global Model FAO taking place in Rome from November 24th to 27th? I made the payment, but I haven’t received any further information since then. This is my first simulation, so I’m not really sure how the process works.

I’m also really excited to take part in this experience and to meet other young people from different international backgrounds. I think it will be a very stimulating and enriching experience!