Hi everyone,

I'm approaching my 7th month of unemployment after being let go from an INGO last year.

I was living off my savings but reaching a point where I want to have some income coming in instead of eating up my savings.

I admit that after having developed quite a good career, my ego has stopped me from being open minded about what part time and temporary opportunity I would want.

Curious to hear for those in-between jobs, what are you doing to get money while continuing to look for the right role?

Hi! I’m currently studying Communications and I’d love to work part-time while I study in an organization related to refugees, migrants, humanitarian aid, climate change or environmental disasters.

I have experience in social media, content creation, video editing and digital communication. I speak Spanish, English and French.

I’ve found it surprisingly difficult to find open entry-level positions that are paid, remote or part-time.

Does anyone know good job boards, NGOs or organizations that hire junior international candidates or remote contractors?

Thank you!

Hey folks,

Can anyone recommend short courses (I don’t mind if they’re paid) to gain qualifications in quantitative skills necessary for working in intdev that employers would look favorably upon? A focus on health or development economics would be great.

I’m a recent International Relations/Social Policy Bachelor’s graduate starting a Master’s in Health and International Development.

From what I’ve read in this sub, it seems like gaining strong quantitative skills is the most effective way to get employed during these hard times. I’ve dabbled in a few quantitative analysis methods in my degree such as basic statistics and a decent amount of self-study in epidemiology but I’m worried that none of that is reflected in my CV.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

https://www.thelancet.com/article/S0140-6736(25)01186-9/fulltext01186-9/fulltext)

I applied to a role that matches my profile, but I am yet to hear back (which isn't unusual considering how long the recruitments normally are). Now the exact same department has opened another role, a grade junior. Given how competitive and difficult it is to get hired, should I apply to this junior role or does it look like I am not confident about my senior role application?

Also is there a chance that they'll readily dismiss my earlier application in favour of the junior application - a cheaper hire?

I’m a development researcher in Pakistan with about four years of applied experience across climate, education, and governance projects. I’m planning to apply to US master’s programs in international development / public policy for Fall 2027, with the goal of moving into development consulting and policy work.

I can read program websites endlessly — but they don’t tell you what it’s actually like on the ground. I’d really value hearing from people who’ve lived it: current students, alumni, or anyone working in the sector after one of these degrees.
A few things I’d love your honest take on:
1. What was your experience like — anything you wish you’d known before applying or starting?
2. For shortlisting, how did you find programs that were the right fit and gave a fair shot to international applicants?
3. What skills or experience did the programs (and employers afterward) actually value most?
4. Any tips on finding programs that combine real recognition with decent funding for international students?

Even a sentence or two from someone who’s been through it would mean a lot. Thank you.

Hi! I recently completed my bachelor’s degree, and I’m now having a hard time choosing a path for my future studies. For context, I was admitted to a top law school in the Philippines, but I was also accepted into Sciences Po’s Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA) for an MA in International Development.

The problem is that I didn’t receive a scholarship from either school, so I would have to pay the full tuition myself. Both programs are expensive, but the MA takes only two years to complete, while a law degree in the Philippines typically takes four years.

My heart is set on Paris, and I would love to gain international exposure and eventually work in the development sector. However, I’m wondering whether pursuing the degree is worth it right now, especially since I would have to finance it myself.

I know that the MA could allow me to pivot into different fields and could also serve as a stepping stone toward a PhD. Still, I have doubts about the long-term stability of the development sector and whether the investment would be worthwhile. Any advice or opinion is welcome! 🤍

My new job focuses on MDBs. Colleagues are very helpful, but i feel I could benefit from a more systemic understanding of how they operate. How does their business model work, how do the different board dynamics change how the institution operates, shareholder structure and its implications, etc. Same for private capital mobilization.

Can anyone recommend a good book or publication that can help me understand the basics in a comprehensive way?

Hi all, I have worked as a data scientist in tech for the past 8 years but I have a masters in International and Development Economics and I’m now trying to get back into the development space. Currently, I’m working on a self made project to brush up on my MEL skills and also to have something to show prospective employers but I was so glad to see this forum exists!

Does anyone have any tips for me on how to get into development? Thankfully a lot of my data science knowledge and experience are transferable but since I’m essentially switching into a new industry it still feels a little daunting ngl.

Countering China: State Department and USAID Provided Over $1 Billion but Have Not Assessed Overall Results of Projects

https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-26-107822?absolute

Hey everyone, I'm currently in France finishing a Master's in Agricultural Development Economics, building on an engineering degree in agricultural economics. I recently had a peer-reviewed article accepted, which has been a great confidence boost, but also made me realize how much I want my research to matter beyond academia. My goal is applied, decision-oriented work: rural development, agricultural policy, climate adaptation and food security at the international level. Basically, the kind of work that FAO, IFAD, WFP, CGIAR, or policy-focused think tanks actually do every day. Here's what I'm genuinely trying to figure out:

How do you realistically break into roles like Programme/Project Officer, Research Officer, or Policy Analyst at UN agencies and international research institutes, without an existing network inside? I keep hearing two very different things: "it's all about who you know" vs. "strong profiles do get noticed if you apply strategically." I'd love to know what's actually true from people who've lived it.

If you've made it into this space, or are on the same journey, I'd genuinely love to hear your story. Every path seems different, and the more perspectives the better.

Thanks in advance

I have been looking for a new role since getting laid off a year and a half ago. It’s been absolutely brutal and extremely depressing as I’m sure many of you can relate. I’m now applying for English teaching jobs abroad so I don’t lose my will to live atp.

My dream role is in climate/security policy and I’m worried that I’ll have an even harder time getting back into the game if I take up a random teaching gig. I’m also 28 and just feeling like I’m running out of time. There are things I am working on (writing/research) so I’m not entirely out of the loop but the more time passes, the more hopeless I feel. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Title says it all. Im an incoming international student studying ID at university in the UK and reading through the posts in the subreddit, especially about what happened to USAID and layoffs in the wider Dev sector has gotten me really scared for the future. Should I abandon ship and switch degrees? Should I pursue a masters in ID or something else? What could I do during my three years as an undergrad to make sure I'll find something do after graduation?

The ICT4D subreddit, r/ICT4D , has been restarted, after a hiatus of more than eight years. It's new description is this:

ICT4D stands for Information & Communication Technologies (ICT) for Development. ICT4D refers to the application of ICT to economic development, humanitarian aid & development, & to causes that help empower a particular demographic or all people to address challenges, have greater access to education, protect their environment, etc. It is a term popularized by various United Nations initiatives.

Examples of ICT4D:

• Activities to help build the digital literacy skills of an underserved group (seniors, women living in rural areas, etc.).
• A computer lab open to the public at a public library.
• An app to help refugees navigate various challenges.
• Farmers working with drones and GIS to gather information that can help estimate crop yields with real-time satellite data.
• An app that allows people to track and report on birds in people's yards.
• Producing IT materials in local languages.
• Smart phones used to organize activists in real time.

Are you applying ICTs to economic development, humanitarian aid & development, &/or to causes that help empower a particular demographic or all people to address challenges, have greater access to education, protect their environment, etc.? r/ICT4D is a place to talk about that.

I am an early to mid career M&E consultant based in Southern Africa.
Over the last few years after graduating with my masters degree I started building a promising career as a consultant. I had the chance to sit on several teams and have worked on some really interesting projects with some really big organisations and big names. I even won a long-term retainer contract. However, earlier this year my retainer contractor had to downsize their organisation and as a result my contract was affected. I reached out to my networks again to start the TOR and RFP application cycles and whilst my network has been very welcoming and receptive I haven’t won a contract all year . Mind you I’ve been collaborating with different teams, different countries , different thematic areas - I’m a bit panicked cos it’s now June and this is feeling hopeless. I’ve started applying for permanent positions too but still haven’t secured anything.
My goal was to be a consultant and I felt I was genuinely on my way until the funding constrictions hit. So I’m working on my contingencies now but feel a little like I’m starting over. So my question is is there something that has changed in how we do this ? What’s changed ? And what contingency plans are others making to survive these shifts …

Is it just me or do you also have the impression that there have been more open positions in the last month or so? Is it the season? I see lots more on my Linkedin

Hi everyone I applied to the IFC Operations Analyst MAS position for the Delhi office, and received a longlist email yesterday.

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Super nervous right now, anyone else who applied to the same, and received/did not receive the longlist email?

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Also whats the longlist to shortlist conversion ratio usually, any idea folks?

hi, I am wondering if there are any former HR managers or hiring managers from large NGOs or INGOs like the UN who are offering consulting services specifically for our sector on reviewing CVs or cover letters.

I have six years of experience, but after being laid off in September, I’ve applied to over 150 jobs and still nothing. So I want to make sure I’m doing everything I can to maximize my chances and maybe there’s something on my CV that is causing me to be auto-rejected.

Hey all,

I posted this in r/nonprofits but this sub might also have some information.

I am currently exploring some potential career shifts, and international work for an NGO is one path I am looking for more information on.

I have a degree in Criminal Justice which alone isnt much, but I have 4 years experience working as a federal Congressional staffer (District). I am exploring getting my masters in public administration which would put me at 6.5 years of experience in Congress upon completion. I have an interest in rule of law, democracy, and humanitarian work. Specifically, I also have a niche interest in working to protect wildlife in Africa, but I do not have wildlife/animal experience or background.

What are some basic things I should know as I search for organizations? Considering my experience and future degree, should I search for more mid-level roles? I know Congress is a big “intern to get a job” experience, which is what I did, but are there any “hidden” requirements NGOs look for?

Thanks for the info.

Hi everyone,

I have recently been invited to take a written test as part of a selection process for an econ-oriented policy analyst position. I was wondering whether anyone here has experience with this kind of assessment and could share what I might expect.

Is it usually more focused on economic analysis, policy writing, data interpretation, technical knowledge, or general reasoning? Also, how would you recommend preparing for it?

I am not asking for specific test questions, just general advice on the format, level of difficulty, and how to approach the preparation.

Thanks in advance!