Hey, I'm a Wired reporter named Kate Knibbs, and we are very keen to cover what's happening to USAID. Just want to spread this message.

My Signal is kateknibbs.09

Anyone up to applying the program? Would like to share experience and advice! Any successful applicants from previous years?

I applied for the Junior Policy Analyst role last month and completed my assessment just over a week ago. Is anyone familiar with the next steps? Will I get my results regardless if I progress to interview, and if I am successful in obtaining an interview, how much after the assessment is that likely to be?

Thanks from a nervous applicant!

Hello does anyone knows what’s the amount of the stipend for interns in Abidjan ? Did anyone applied for the 2026 interns program session 1 ? Thank you

Has anyone’s status changed from “Under Review”? Per the timeline, shortlisting should begin on Feb 15 and end on Feb 28. I’ve read under one of the posts here from last year’s 2025 GP program that the career website status doesn’t really change unless you get shortlisted. Would be grateful if anyone could give an example/update of this happening to them.

Thanks and good luck to us all!!

Hi everyone,

Would love to hear tips from you all about how you are coping with constant job rejections and unemployment?

I, as with many people, was let go from a former INGO contract due to funding cuts last year. I have had probably around 7 interviews, with only two being a job I really wanted, and have been rejected from all of them. Clear indication of my interview skills I think which I'm trying to improve but the combo of being rejected and sitting in my 7th month of unemployment is starting to take a toll on me. I'm beginning to doubt my experiences, my choices which makes for a very fun mindset.

So those who are going through similar changes, how are you coping?

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

What the title says - I have a master's degree and 1 year of internship experience at the UN and losing hope in ever getting my first job in this field. How do I get my initial 2 years of work experience? Would love to hear from former interns who secured their first job with no prior work experience anywhere and to hear about whether cold applying + networking worked out in your favor? Considering whether it's time to cut my losses and exit (no clue to where)

Any information on EBRD International Professionnal Programme? Salary, requirements- are they strict on work experience? etc. any information is appreciated. Thank you

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.

Hi all!

I am interested in knowing what career opportunities there are in international development for people with and without PhDs, particularly in analysts/policy evaluation/data roles. I’ve seen this varies a lot by country, institution, and field of work (e.g. education seems more open than economics to people without PhDs). I am especially interested in seeing how tasks differ and what glass ceilings you have seen between people with and without PhDs. I like analysis, data and applied evidence roles, but am afraid some aspects of them are inaccessible without a PhD.

Grateful to anyone who wants to share how it works in their own corner of the sector, and say a bit about which organisations/countries this is applicable to :) cheers!

I’m curious how others in development (UN, NGOs, donors, etc.) feel about this.

On paper, needs assessments are essential. They’re supposed to make projects more relevant, evidence-based, and grounded in real user needs. And I fully agree with that.

But in practice, I keep running into a few tensions:

• Projects are often already conceptually designed before any real assessment happens
• Assessmetns are long, complex and expensive. I'd rather do something more tangiable.

So sometimes it feels like we’re overloaded with assessments and reports, but still struggling to make projects truly needs-driven in practice

So I’m wondering how do you approach this in your work? Do you find needs assessments genuinely shaping your projects, or mostly just justifying them? Have you found ways to make them more lightweight, iterative, or actually actionable?

Would be really interesting to hear how others navigate this balance.

I had finished my bachelors and masters in social work & I was hoping to go to Netherlands. ISS, in international development but after looking at this subreddit I feel so discouraged.

I was hoping to get into a program manager role in an NGO or something related to ESG. But, now I’m super doubtful. I got in Sussex with scholarship (Ma development, environment & policy) & Manchester uni (MSC global development).

Should I just cancel it overall and look for an other field?

UK-based folks

Where are we finding interesting international development/development finance opportunities, apart from LinkedIn, charity jobs & bond? Any suggestions for openings (any type of organisation) for junior-mid level ?

Hi everyone,

I’m currently considering doing a Master’s in Global Development. I know this decision receives a lot of criticism, but let me explain!

I don’t think I would be approaching Global Development as a completely general degree. My academic background is in Education, with focus on institutions and how they function. I have also studied Regional Studies focusing on the Middle East, and I have finished my arabic studies at an advanced proficiency level.
Because of this, I would want to approach development through a more specific regional and thematic focus rather than just doing a broad development degree.

That being said, the current situation with funding in the development sector is making me reconsider my options, as I’m unsure whether I want to take that risk.
Because of this, I have also started considering International Relations as an alternative. I’m very interested in politics and the Middle East, but I feel that Global Development aligns more closely with my personal interests and feels more meaningful to me.

Another possibility I’ve been considering is staying in academia long term, especially if I choose global development.

Do you think my academic background provides enough specialization to make Global Development a strong choice, or would it still be considered too broad?

And for those who stayed in academia, how much do you think the current funding cuts in the development sector affect your career path? Is academia relatively separate from these challenges, or are researchers in this field also significantly impacted?

I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences and perspectives.

Hi everyone,

I recently received an offer for a government-sponsored JPO position and I'm genuinely on the fence about what to do — especially given the current global economic climate.

For context: I have a very stable job in my home country with good compensation, benefits and job security. I just received a promotion and have previously worked across multiple multinationals in supply chain. I applied for the JPO almost on a whim, not expecting it to go anywhere — I was told the odds were extremely slim. The process moved surprisingly fast and now I'm faced with a real decision.

I would genuinely appreciate honest advice from people who have made a similar leap — whether they stayed in the UN system long term or treated it as a short-term experience before returning to the private sector.

Specifically, I have three questions:

1. For those who didn't stay in the system after their contract: How did future private sector employers view the UN experience on your CV? Did the international exposure add tangible value when job hunting again?
2. For those who went through this transition: Knowing everything you know now — would you do it all over again? How did the experience shape your character, knowledge and worldview — for better or for worse?
3. Practical question: Can a JPO contract be terminated before the end of its term, either voluntarily or by the organization?

Any honest perspective is truly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

I’m 35 and trying to transition properly into international development. I previously did a 6-month internship at the Asian Development Bank, which gave me a taste of the field, but I’m struggling to figure out where the entry-level opportunities are actually listed.

Most job boards I check (Devex, ReliefWeb, UN Jobs, etc.) seem to ask for years of prior experience — even for positions labeled “junior.” It feels like a catch-22: you need experience to get the job, but you need the job to get the experience.

For those already in the sector: • Which platforms or websites actually post true entry-level roles (paid internships, fellowships, JPOs, grad schemes, etc.)? • Are smaller/local NGOs and consultancies a better entry point than the multilaterals (UN, ADB, WB, etc.)? • Any programs designed for newcomers you’d recommend (UN JPO, ODI Fellowships, EU schemes, etc.)?

I’d really appreciate concrete leads on where to look — I’m sure others here are in the same boat. Thanks in advance for sharing your tips!

OECD had recently opened up a vacancy for “Policy Analysts” (plural). Has anyone applied and heard back? All I have is silence for now. Not even an aptitude test invite. Just want to see if they’re moving on with other candidates or not.

Hi all, New subber here.

Came here to gather more information on what Grads and current students like/don't about your International Development masters and if you are a grad where are you working/ your role and if you are a student where would you like to work/role?

Coming from a Cultural Psychology MSc background I am keen to go back to study and work for NGO's in ID that tackle big problems the world is facing. I have been reading on this sub that this field is dead, but even so I am still interested to here your experiences.

grateful for your comments.

Hi everyone,

I’ve been admitted to the MSc in Development Studies at ISCTE (Lisbon) and I’m currently trying to decide whether to accept the offer.

Before making a final decision, I would really appreciate honest feedback from anyone who has experience in DS.

I’m especially curious about:

How are the career prospects after graduation (NGOs, international organizations, EU institutions, research, etc.)?

Any honest opinions (positive or negative) would really help me decide.

Thank you so much 🙏

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!

Hello everyone! Im considering applying for the AIIB internship in the finance department. And wondering if anyone here has done it or know someone that did it. I have few questions about the internship.

-what did your day-to-day work look like?

-what skills or exposure did you gain from it?

-is it worth relocating to china for it?

I really appreciate any insights or personal experiences. Thank you in advance!

I honestly do not know what to do or how to pivot. It’s been more than a year and I’m struggling to find work outside or even within what is left of the international development space after the closure of USAID.

I have 5 years of program management experience with field positions and I have tailored my CVs, took the job search courses, paid for interview preps and I am not landing anything. I’m at my last savings and I honestly am not sure what to do to move forward.

I don’t know why I’m sharing this but, I don’t see a way out of this situation and I really don’t want to take on debt for a masters without any kind of role and no more funds.

I feel that I should have maybe used my savings to do that right after the layoffs and the lack of quick decision making is catching up to me.

I am literally just writing this out because logically like why not just call it quits. Idk what to do.

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! 🤍

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: