How Are We Doing? It’s Complicated

Jaime Oberlander surveyed nearly 4,000 former aid workers on how they're coping since the USAID stop-work order: https://www.linkedin.com/safety/go/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fglobaldevinterrupted%2Esubstack%2Ecom%2Fp%2Fhow-are-we-doing-its-complicated&urlhash=xgga&mt=s7nY5p8oPwC9L48JGH7e01apKVZL4TFrUeWrEJ5zblU7us_2ejxD0W9KWmClcwlG5W5znBIOQTgjGd7oq4vdTDgdcgnMcgeyw0KYli_lXWVchICsqP0piWk2oA&isSdui=true

I've been living in NL for a few years now, lost my job a few months ago and found it hard to get another one. I want to hear from people who got hired, particularly within the last year or so, on what do you think worked to your advantage during the hiring process.

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I’ve been offered an unpaid internship that could be very valuable for the career path I want to pursue. My profile was considered a strong match for what they were looking for, and they contacted me specifically about the opportunity.

The internship would require me to relocate, so I would have to cover my own travel and living expenses. They also mentioned the possibility of participating in field activities, which I would also have to pay for myself.

During the call, I was asked to take some time to think about the offer. About an hour later, I messaged them saying that I was interested, but that, given the financial investment it would require from me, I would like to have more details about the actual tasks, responsibilities and activities involved.

I haven’t received a reply since.

Would you consider this a red flag? And more generally, would you take an unpaid internship with these costs if it were genuinely relevant to your desired career path and could provide meaningful experience?

Interviewed for a private sector role today - they looked at me like I grew a third head when I was talking about some of my previous work lol. They basically walked into the meeting assuming I know nothing and have done nothing because I worked at the UN. Don’t necessarily care if that’s true or not - but clearly I’m not getting hired in this sector and will not be getting hired in the private sector either. Having a wonderful 2026 as an entry level candidate :)

Wanted to share this since it's a pretty specific window into what the USAID drawdown actually looked like on the ground.

Kevin was posted in Laos when USAID was dismantled. He describes getting 48 hours notice to leave post, which then shifted a couple times before landing on an open-ended "soon." Staff weren't allowed to communicate officially before departure, so there wasn't really a chance to say proper goodbyes to host government counterparts or local colleagues.

He also writes about fighting to keep one of USAID's disability support programs alive in Laos, a country that's still dealing with unexploded ordnance from bombing during the Vietnam War. The program didn't survive the review process that determined which projects "aligned" with the administration's priorities.

• I hope to find a job in international development one day and my dream is to do something related to climate change and migration. (but I am also willing to do anything at this point...given the current job market...) I am considering doing a PhD on climate migration (sociology path). Any ideas?
• Is there any university that is well seen? Is it worth applying to Oxford/ Cambridge/ big UK unies? just for the names? (in the unlikely event I get accepted here LOL)
• context: I have work experience as ESG analyst and I am completing an internship in an international organisation.

Hi all, not a recruiter, not a bot, just someone in the middle of a genuinely real decision.

I'm currently based in Tunisia, working in program and project management for a pan-African startup ecosystem organization. Over the past six years I've managed EU-funded programs, led a government-mandated international tech convening abroad, and I'm currently running a cross-border program with a North African government ministry. Along the way: grant management, ecosystem research, and a lot of herding stakeholders across governments, universities, and startups.

I'm actively trying to relocate, with Portugal, France and Belgium as my strongest picks given my background/language mix, but genuinely open across the EU if the fit is right. Sector-wise I'm mostly looking at tech/startups, climate, or EU-funded development work, and I care more about genuine fit than just wherever offers a visa first.

If anyone's made a similar move, has advice, knows of openings, or just wants to compare notes on the process, I'd love to hear from you. Happy to share more about my background if it's useful.

I'm putting everything on the table because I'm past the point of polishing.

I'm 27, Italian, based in Geneva. Master's in International Relations from a French university, with a thesis on the OSCE's role in the war in Ukraine, built on interviews I secured myself with two former Secretaries General of the Organisation and a former Deputy Chief Monitor of the Special Monitoring Mission.

Six months at the UN in Geneva on protocol and correspondence for senior management. Four months with the Belgian MFA protocol service. Support work during an IPU Council session. Currently a paid part-time contract on an EU public diplomacy project in Geneva, plus volunteer research on disarmament and conventional weapons for an NGO. Italian native, French C2, English C1. My current contract is remote and light on hours, so I am genuinely free to relocate.

On paper it reads well. In practice: a year of applying, sometimes from morning to evening, and mostly rejections or silence. Two final-stage interviews are pending, one answers next week. I can't keep waiting for the next "maybe".

I don't want to go back to Italy. I want field experience, and I am willing to go anywhere for it — Lima, or wherever. Disarmament, mine action, security, SSR. What I can't do is another unpaid placement. I've done three internships and I simply can't afford a fourth. Paid, junior, temporary, difficult: all fine.

Question 1: how does a European with an HQ-only profile get a first field posting?

Every field vacancy I find is either a national position reserved for citizens of that country, or requires prior field experience even at junior level. I'm an EU citizen with no second passport and no local status outside Europe. Which organisations actually hire people like me? Which contract types — rosters, junior consultancies, project-based, short-term deployments? I'm not looking for "network more". If I'm searching in the wrong places or with the wrong keywords, tell me.

Question 2: is my profile the problem, or is it the market?

I keep being told I'm a strong candidate and then not selected. If my experience reads as too much protocol and senior-office support and not enough programme delivery or field analysis, I'd rather hear it bluntly now than in another year. What is actually missing? A certification? A specific junior role? Should I leave Geneva first? If you'd look at my CV and think "this person won't get hired for X because they lack Y", please say so.

Question 3: for those who broke into disarmament, mine action or SSR — what was the move that changed things?

An organisation, a course, a country, a contract that looked insignificant at the time?

I'm already working on the psychological side of this with a professional, so I'm not looking for encouragement. One very specific piece of advice would be worth more to me than a hundred messages saying keep going.

Thank you to anyone who takes the time.

I'm a Canadian political science graduate, and I’m trying to figure out how to strategically approach a master’s degree and would really appreciate input from people currently working in international development/humanitarian work.

I’ve seen quite a few discussions recently about how the humanitarian/development sector is dying, and the smart idea that, given the current funding environment, is for early-career professionals to develop a specific technical niche rather than pursuing a broad “international development” degree.

My background is primarily in communications. I’ve worked in strategic communications, social media, digital campaigns, content creation, and advocacy, with some experience supporting NGOs through informational articles, briefs, donor stories, and communications strategies. I’ve also volunteered with human rights organizations and am particularly interested in eventually working for watchdog/advocacy organizations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, International Crisis Group, etc.

This has made me wonder whether humanitarian communications / global communications is actually a viable niche to build a career around, particularly compared with pursuing a broader development degree.

For my master’s, I’m currently considering programs such as Sciences Po’s Master in Human Rights and Humanitarian Action, because I like that it provides exposure to both the qualitative and quantitative sides of humanitarian work. My quantitative background is fairly limited beyond basic R, and I don't come from a STEM background. However, I’m interested in learning more about areas like WASH, MEAL, and humanitarian programming even if I ultimately work on the communications/advocacy side.

Part of my hesitation is that I haven’t had much direct humanitarian programming experience. Most of my relevant experience has been communications-focused rather than implementing programs in the field. So I’m wondering whether it would be better to use a master’s to broaden my understanding of humanitarian/development work and keep my options open, or to deliberately pursue a program that positions me specifically for humanitarian communications/advocacy.

I’m also not particularly concerned about getting into the UN. I’d be very happy working for smaller NGOs, international advocacy organizations, watchdogs, research organizations, or similar institutions. My bigger concern is long-term employability and whether I’m specializing in an area that will actually have demand.

I’ve also spent a substantial amount of time networking and volunteering with organizations, and my impression so far is that not having a master’s is becoming one of the main barriers to accessing many of the positions I’m interested in. I’m therefore trying to make sure that, if I invest in a master’s, I’m using it strategically rather than simply getting a general development degree because it seems like the obvious route.

For those working in the sector:

• Is humanitarian/global communications a sensible specialization right now?
• Would you recommend specializing in communications while gaining enough humanitarian knowledge to understand programming, or trying to develop a more technical specialization?
• How valuable is it for a communications professional to understand areas like MEAL, WASH, protection, etc.?
• Would a broader Human Rights/Humanitarian Action degree be more useful than a communications-specific master’s for someone with my background?
• And realistically, how much does a master’s actually change your ability to break into the sector at this stage?

I’d especially appreciate perspectives from people who work in humanitarian communications, advocacy, human rights organizations, or smaller NGOs rather than exclusively UN/large INGO perspectives.

Thanks in advance!

I'm an international student currently doing a PhD in Computer Science. I have a Master's and several years of experience across IT, research, data and technology projects, including some international/remote work.

I've lived abroad for several years now, and I want to be somewhere with stronger career opportunities and a decent standard of living. I'm trying to build a career and eventually settle in a middle-class or more developed country.

My ideal work is in technology programmes, digital development, ICT4D and digital transformation. Basically, give me a real-world project, a system and a problem to solve, and I can work across the technical, research and programme side.

I've had some international opportunities before, so I know it's possible, but finding the right opportunities consistently has been frustrating.

For people who have successfully moved abroad for work, especially as international students or people from Africa:

1. Where did you actually find the opportunities?

2. Are there specific job boards, organisations, recruiters or networks that genuinely recruit internationally and are willing to sponsor/relocate people?

I'd particularly appreciate advice from people who started in a similar position and actually managed to build a career outside their home country.

I need to get this off my chest: Why do some organizations bother listing visa and work permit details in job ads if they clearly prefer local candidates? Has anyone else run into this?

Here’s what just happened: I interviewed with an OSCE mission in a Central Asian country. During the conversation, the hiring manager told me they really needed someone already on the ground – and even suggested I let him know once I arrived in the city (thousands of kilometers from where I am in Europe) so we could meet for coffee. This was before any written offer. Strange, considering the ad seemed open to international applicants – it even stated candidates would cover their own visa and work permit costs.

The role was part-time, and only in the interview did they disclose the very modest monthly stipend. Still, I made it clear I was genuinely interested for the experience. They actually recommended I find additional income to support myself there.

The timeline was tight – only two weeks between the application deadline and the proposed start date. After the interview, I heard nothing. I followed up a week later, and got a brief email saying I wasn't selected. This, despite the fact that the discussion had gone well, spoke the language of the project donor, was ready to relocate, and a director even said my profile was an ideal fit when I asked directly.

Just frustrating. Anyone else been through something similar?

I got in, I haven’t yet joined and now I’m shit scared. I’m paranoid everyday about making the worst financial mistake of my life. My parents are willing to pay for my tuition. They’re pretty well off but this is going to be my second masters.

I did my first master is social work but after doing an internship with a marine conservation NGO. I was dead set on moving to the environmental field. I don’t know how the job market is going to look but I really hope to work as a programme manager or an ESG analyst. I’m 23 F and shit scared. I was also thinking of the academia route.

Idk I just feel so worried. I’m not able to be happy about getting into LSE or anything just because I fear I already failed at life by making a bad choice. I wanted to choose sustainable development but I couldn’t because I didn’t have a background in science.

Any words of encouragement or anything would make me feel better. I’m going to be looking for entry level jobs after I graduate since I have no real working experience.

I know development as a field is dead but how is environment looking?

Thanks in advance :)

I'm starting a MDB internship soon and would like a realistic picture from people who've done one.

Did it lead to anything concrete? A consultancy, YPP, a referral? Either within the same organisation or elsewhere? And how much did the role you landed afterwards resemble the work you did as an intern?

I'm an unemployed graduate with a master's degree headed to the New York Climate Week in hopes of networking my way into a job. I am a generalist (I know, this is bad...) with a patchy CV. What are your best tips to network my way into a job? How do I approach conversations without sounding desperate? Give me your best tips.

UNICEF has laid out a proposed plan for its $218 million humanitarian grant from the U.S. State Department, shedding the first light on one of several so-called macro awards the Trump administration has given to large aid agencies this year.

In early internal documents shared with Devex, the United Nations agency splits its award into four separate pillars: rapid response to natural disasters, complex emergency response, rapid response within complex emergencies, and integrated nutrition response for women and children.

The entire article is free to read if you register on DevEx.

Hello group!

I am an international candidate(neither Argentinian nor Brazilian) looking for job opportunities at humanitarian/development NGOs in Argentina and Brazil.

I speak both Spanish and Portuguese quite fluently, but do not currently hold the right to work in these countries.

I would like to know if anyone could share insights on how to secure jobs in this field in these two countries as a foreignor or if there is any chance of getting one in one of these two countries as a foreignor (if any INGOs are hiring people to send them there)

These are my favorite countries so before it's two late I just wanted to see if I can continue my career as a humanitarian and get to live in my favorite country at the same time.

Any recommendations or thoughts?

Obviously an old topic but I think I finally admit defeat in trying to stay in a career in international development in the UK. Any advise for making the pivot towards the private sector but also not selling my soul ? Have masters, 2 years experience in research and 4 years in grants.

Hello everyone,

I've recently graduated from my Master's in the Netherlands and can't even seem to find an internship, particularly (but not only) in the fields of policy, international relations, and international development — mostly the latter, as you can see from my CV here (link), since it was also the topic of my Master's thesis.

I genuinely don't know where I'm going wrong, and the whole situation is becoming quite depressing. In my opinion, the job market nowadays feels almost out of control. Even when applying for internships at regular companies, sometimes it feels like you're applying to become CEO of Apple: first interview, second interview, reasoning test, written test, and so on. On top of that, employers often seem to ask for previous relevant experience even for internships, which feels like a paradox. How am I supposed to start if I can never get the opportunity to start? It becomes a vicious cycle, and I've reviewed my CV and cover letters countless times.

I'm currently based in Rome, Italy, and would be available to work even for free in the city. If I needed to relocate abroad, I'm completely open to going anywhere, including very remote locations in Africa or Asia: in that case, I would be willing to work for an organization even with just a modest reimbursement to cover basic expenses (at least rent), rather than a proper stipend. Yet every time I either receive no update at all or get a rejection.

As you can see from my CV, I've invested a lot in my education and extracurricular activities because, well, when you're younger you tend to be a bit of a dreamer and believe that doing all the right things will eventually pay off. Unfortunately, I don't have a particularly large professional network. When I've asked some acquaintances about possible opportunities or referrals at their companies — always in a very polite, indirect, and sometimes humorous way — the answer is usually just: "Well, apply online!". I mean, I could figure out myself at this point.

The whole situation is starting to feel quite humiliating, and sometimes it genuinely makes me feel as though I've done everything wrong in my life. I know that breaking into the UN/international development sector is extremely competitive, but we are also talking about an internship, and at this point I really don't know what else I should be doing differently.

What should I do? Is there something wrong with my profile or the way I'm approaching applications? Any advice or candid feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance!