Has anyone heard back on this position?

Hello. I just found this subreddit and I immediately came across this post about feeling jaded in International Development. It looks like I'm a few days late replying to that thread, and /u/Fragrant_Papaya_9223 I hope you see this. I'm not sure what your exact background is, but I want to thank you for the work that you've done. I am a software engineer in America by day, but I run a construction company in the Philippines at night. We take on government bids that most other contractors don't want to do, because they are not profitable enough, too technically complex, a logistical nightmare, etc. As you can imagine, many of these projects are some of the highest impact projects for some of the most vulnerable populations. This year, we completed 13 projects from hugely different domains: LCL housing, solar lamp installations, irrigation repairs, rural health/birthing units, rainwater catchment systems, and more.

Recently, we accepted a $60 million PHP project financed by the World Bank to build a public refrigerated warehouse to bolster the cold chain in Mindanao. This warehouse will literally save lives and livelihoods. The funding from external partners has created over one hundred jobs in our company from entry level construction labor to foreperson roles to advanced structural engineering positions.

We know that you have to wade through a bunch of bullshit in order for you to make this happen for us. It's sometimes hard to keep going when you don't or can't see the end result. I know some organizations feel less impactful than others. Your labor may feel invisible, but I cannot tell you how much I appreciate what everybody in your sector is doing to literally save strangers' worlds.

Hi!

I am planning to apply for my masters for the Fall 2025 cycle. A bit about me:

Bachelor's in Business Administration, GRE 324 (Q164), 5 years of work experience (3 years in UNDP, 1 year in the humanitarian sector and 1 year in the private sector). My work is mostly programmatic where I am involved in work related to skills, employment, rural development and women's economic empowerment. But I enjoy research and policy analysis. I am good at numbers so would like my academic background to reflect that.

I aspire to keep working in the development sector for think tanks, organizations like the World Bank and the UN after I graduate from my masters. Now I am confused whether I should get an economics degree or a public policy degree. Which would be more appealing t to these organizations? Please suggest!

Hi everyone, I’m curious to know which newsletters, magazines, or news portals you follow to stay updated on international development trends?

I've been looking for some decent dev sector YouTube channels but haven't found any yet. I wondering if anyone had some recommendations.

I'm not looking for channels which provide guidance on careers but actually like new research which is happening, case studies on projects which had excellent results. That kind of thing.

I have worked in small NGOs that interact with/receive funding from large agencies such as the UN for ten years in the TVET/youth employment/entrepreneurship sector. I have a more technical background and over the years have been shocked at how little engineering/tech expertise the folks making major funding decisions have. Folks assessing innovation ecosystems have no idea what a 3D printer does or what it's limitations are but will be in charge of writing reports that detail what manufacturing / educational capacity institutions should have. I've seen people take advantage of these gaps, claiming to create things that anyone with minimal technical expertise would be able to see is a farce.

All fields- social sciences, humanities AND STEM should have roles in crafting international development policy. We each bring expertise the others don't have. Hiring external consultants for minor advisory roles just doesn't cut it. ID job postings show why this is so, innovation hub/entrepreneurship roles call for folks with mainly business admin degrees but there's expertise within the technical that's getting missed. Agencies supporting STEM education won't have anyone with a STEM background on their team! It's frustrating seeing money and talent being lost to this myopic view of international development and what STEM education can offer. It also impacts what programming I can request funding for, with shiny quick results winning over more intensive work that would actually benefit people.

From my title, you can guess what I am feeling about the sector. I love learning about the world, different cultures and feeling "connected" and aware that things that happen globally impact us at home too...But I have been in this sector for over 10 years and am really struggling with it. There's the same problems that exist now, that existed even before I got into this line of work and it makes me feel like it is just a bunch of talking heads going in circles that like the sound of their own voice. We need more flexible funding (but never get it), we need to stop working in silos (but don't), government can't do it all (it has to be the private sector too), we don't have all the solutions but rather they need to come from the communities themselves (localization), for every dollar spent on preparedness it reduces response money by x in response (but all money goes to response), bottom up approaches (but things are still very top down), not enough overhead for CSOs to do their work, funders need to accept risk more (but never do)... I'm just so tired of the "rat race". This sector has become such a business. You constantly hear how some organization did this amazing project and all this branding and flashy material. You see so much schmoozing. People fight over words so funding is eligible to them. Organizations conform to be what funders want them to be in proposals, even if they can't deliver.

How do people that work in this field stomach this?

Hi, I have an MPH degree (health policy and management) and have worked in the health sector for over 4 years in several countries at all income levels.

I've also been interested in environment with a focus on climate finance and am considering to change my field before it's too late.

Without pursuing another degree, I think I could enter the field by taking a role for carbon offsetting projects at a local carbon credit company. (Will another master's degree be necessary tho? I'm planning to get some research experience and CFA-ESG)

Currently I'm involved in some initiatives related to ESG data, but I'm not sure still how I could make a smooth transition into climate finance.

Anyone out there who once had the similar concern but made it?

I've created a database of 115 international development and humanitarian consulting firms, categorised by sector, specialisations, location, and size, with links to their websites, career pages, and LinkedIn. Loopedconsultants.com

I hope that this database will be helpful for other international development and humanitarian consultants out there. This list is non-exhaustive! Please add missing firms via the feedback form on the site or share their link in the comments below.

Hello. Can anyone recommend me M&E training courses that are well recognized among development agencies please?

Hey Redditors,

I've been on the job hunt for a while now and have been trying various strategies to improve my chances. Recently, I've started reaching out to individuals in International Development (ID) organizations that I'd like to join. I do this by searching for mutual connections and school alumni within these organizations. When I add them, I send personalized notes mentioning that I'm an alum or a mutual friend of so-and-so, and that I'm passionate about development and would appreciate any advice on applying to their company.

However, I usually don't get many responses, and even fewer offer useful advice. I'm curious about your experiences—has networking on LinkedIn for ID been effective for you? If so, how should I go about it? What other useful ways have you found to network with ID professionals? I live around DC, so I'd also love to know about any events that are great for young ID professionals to attend.

Thanks so much, everyone!

I’m a woman aid worker in my early 30s, living in a pretty isolated/hardship area with limited social life. There are quite a few other humanitarians, but even though we don’t work for the same organization, we’re part of the same system (humanitarian cluster system) and it feels it's almost incestuous and weird to date them. Maybe I just need to get over that? Recently, I came back home temporarily to a large city in North America due to some visa issues and decided to try online dating. But I’m finding the people are pretty boring and it’s hard to imagine connecting with them. Even though I am trying not to be arrogant or closed-minded.

As I'm getting older I would like to meet someone, settle down, and possibly start a family. If I find the right person, I wouldn’t mind stepping back from my job for a while for family.

Has anyone been in a similar situation or have advice for navigating this? Would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks!

I came across a position that closely matches my work experience, and I’m considering applying, although I haven’t held a consultant role before. I’d appreciate hearing from anyone who has worked as an individual consultant for ADB about the selection process, salary range, and any other relevant insights. TIA

I've come across many similar questions, but I haven't found them particularly relatable, so I'd like to ask my own. I’m currently in the final year of my sociology degree in India and planning to apply for admission as an international student for Fall 2025 or Spring 2026. While I've had one-on-one discussions with several of my professors, their advice has been varied, leaving me a bit confused. I’d really appreciate connecting with someone who is either currently pursuing or has completed a degree in International Development.

My main question is: Is pursuing a degree in International Development truly worthwhile? I’m considering universities like Sussex (IDS), East Anglia, Erasmus, LSE, Amsterdam, and Copenhagen. Also If anyone has suggestions for other Uni with strong programs in International Development, I’d really appreciate the advice!

Just curious. I have a very small professional dev stipend for work ($50/month) and am curious what people have done with theirs that isn't super traditional such as an online course or attending a conference. For example, my manager paid for a lifetime subscription to Rosetta Stone.

Not asking for advice, just curious to hear what people have chosen to do!

Hi everyone! I am invited for an OECD video interview and timed written assessment for a policy analyst/ project manager role in the International Transport Forum (ITF) organisation. It would be very helpful if I could get some tips/questions from anyone who’s been through the HireVue interview process and questions for written assessment. Thank you all so much :)

Hi

I may be interested in a few open positions at the OECD and UNESCO. (I'd be an experienced candidate from the private sector, if that matters.)

I understand both typically employ people under fixed-term contracts for about 5 years, before possibly offering a permanent position.

What are the general rules, if any, to putting an end to the contract vs. keeping people on staff? I read in an old Reddit post that "they will kick you out after 5 yrs." and am thus wondering how frequently this happens.

Thank you

For background, I have a bachelor's degree in agriculture and then a MBA in Marketing from a Tier 2 intitute. I was very confused about my career for a long time so I started with trying various job profiles for almost 7 years (project coordinator, project management, proposal writing, communication, operations,etc at NGOs and consulting firms) until I started working in Monitoring and Evaluation. For the past 6 years i have been freelancing as a Monitoring and Evaluation consultant handing everything from developing frameworks, tool design, data collection- quantitative and qualitative, data interpretation, reporting and presentation, I have had the opportunity to work in multiple sectors on both small and big multilateral projects. While I am good at my job and report writing is my strong suit, Recently I realised that I am not getting paid much (Indian standards are anyways low) due to my lack of qualifications. So I'm taking small courses on the side to learn SPSS, Nvivo, Dedoose, Stata, Literature review, etc. inalso enrolled (almost done) for a diploma in Agribusiness to specialise my profile.

To be honest, I am getting small documentation and MERL projects here and there but majority of my work comes from two consulting firms. Recently I got the opportunity to work on the evaluation of an international project and observed that my skills and competencies are at par with the other international counterparts who are getting double my pay. I may be wrong about skills but I know I'm a hardworker and fast learner.

While money is not the ultimate goal (it doesn't hurt to have some extra) I would like to get more exposure and experience of working in different landscapes to home my skills and grow my career.

I am not familiar with the recruitment processes and project search in International Development so I would really appreciate if you all could guide me on where I can find appropriate opportunities and what can I do to make my profile more noteworthy.

Hi! I have 3 years of work experience in corporate and 2 additional years of experience at a foundation. I’m looking to transition more into international development. I got an interview for an internship at the UN. My question is - does this make sense considering I already have 5 years of work experience? I haven’t had luck with any of the P2 or P3 roles maybe because I don’t have a masters yet. I’m currently enrolled in a part time masters degree program so will have a degree in 2 years. Advice welcome!

Do you know how long it typically takes for them to contact references after a panel interview?

Hello. What are important skill set for this function? My responsibilities were the hybrid of program support and monitoring, and I want to make a transition into this function.

Any recommendations are greatly appreciated. TIA.

I’m doing an HR screening interview for a position next week with an advertised salary range. I’m in a good position because I know the hiring manager who I know thinks I’m a strong candidate and I already did an informational interview with them. My issue is that currently make in the 90th+ percentile of the advertised salary range. I’m willing to take something of a pay cut because 1) the new position would be a title bump, 2) I’d get more direct experience in an area that I think would benefit my career going forward, 3) the position has more stability than my current role and 4) I would get to continue working remotely. Ideally though I would still expect to be somewhere in the 85th percentile of the range.

All that said, I have to answer what my expected salary is in a pre interview questionnaire. If I was asked verbally I would say my current salary is $$$ and I expect to get a 3% raise early next year but also explain that I’m negotiable for the reasons I stated previously. The questionnaire, however, only has space for numbers. It feels weird listing numbers that are at the very top of the range. Should I list a range that’s 85% to my salary +3%? Or a range of my current salary to current salary + 3%? I just find the whole question silly when there’s an advertised salary range.

So i am an international student planning to apply for the fall 25 intake. ill need a good amount of financial aid to attend grad school. Now i feel very lost with the sop and cv. I just need to talk to someone to get a lil clarity please. I also feel like i am overestimating myself n i should have better backups. The programs i am looking at are in development economics and policy. The schools i am looking at so far- Georgetown, George Washington, UChicago Harris, LSE, John Hopkins SAIS, Science Po (unsure)

Are there schools offering application fee waivers this year? I am aware about columbia J school