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Add to Preferred SourcesIn August 2026, DevelopmentAid’s tender database had 2,094 new consultancy assignments for experts, which represents a 13% drop compared to the previous month. Procurement, however, was affected differently across sectors and regions. In this article, we explore which sectors experienced increased or reduced demand to help you adjust your “one-person” business strategy in a timely manner.
DevelopmentAid Newsroom analyzed the number of consultancies in international development available to individual applicants during August. We only considered calls published precisely during this month on DevelopmentAid’s tender database, and found 2,094 expert contracts advertised. This represents a decline of 13% in the procurement of external consultants compared to July 2026. Most of these calls for proposals – 97% to be exact – requested consulting services, while only a small percentage sought goods, works, maintenance services, and others.
Demand per continent: Asia hosts 47% of the individual consultancies
In August, the demand dropped in all the major regions hiring international development experts. Asia, for example, remains the continent with the most opportunities, but the number of calls for proposals declined by 15%. Africa and Latin America experienced a similar slowdown in procurement. Interestingly, Europe – which was in the middle of a summer holiday wave – was less affected, with a 6% reduction in the number of advertised contracts.
Oceania and North America moved in the opposite direction, with the number of available consultancies increasing by 19% and 18%, respectively.
Table I – Number of individual consultant opportunities published in August 2026, per region.
This table also displays the variation (in %) in the number of consultancies compared to our last analysis, in July 2026. Data collected by Sofia Oliveira from DevelopmentAid’s database. Note: consultancies can be based on multiple continents.
Top 5 sectors in highest demand
August brought some commotion to the top 5 sectors in highest demand, with the Environment returning to the lead position. However, even these “hot sectors” experienced remarkable drops in the number of new opportunities, compared to July.
Table II – Number of individual consultant opportunities published in August 2026, per sector.
Only the 5 sectors with the most published consultancies are displayed. This table also displays the variation (in %) in the number of consultancies compared to our last analysis, in July 2026. Data collected by Sofia Oliveira from DevelopmentAid’s database. Note: consultancies can be classified into more than one sector.
Environment, 453 consultancies
Environment was the exclusive or partial focus of 22% of all the consultancies advertised during this month. The sector encountered a 9% growth compared to July, which pushed it to the top position.
Table III – Two consultancies in the Environment sector published during August 2026.
Education & Training, 340 consultancies
With a 23% reduction in the number of assignments for individual consultants, Education and Training fell to second place. But 340 calls for proposals means this is still a sector with plenty of opportunities for development experts.
Table IV – Two consultancies in education and training published during August 2026.
IT & Engineering, 279 consultancies
IT and engineering was the sector that experienced the largest shrink in terms of assignments for experts, sitting in third place with 279 published consultancies in August 2026.
Table V – Two consultancies in IT & engineering published during August 2026.
Human rights & Law, 265 consultancies
The number of paid assignments focused on Human Rights and Law increased by 4% during this month, granting this sector the fourth position in the ranking and representing 13% of all available expert contracts.
Table VI – Two consultancies in human rights & law published during August 2026.
Finances, 253 consultancies
Finance consultants saw a 23% cut in the contracts available in this sector, but 253 consultancies equal 12% of the pool of opportunities. Meaning: there are still plenty of fish in the sea.
Table VII – Two consultancies in finance published during August 2026.
The 5 sectors with the least demand
On the opposite end of our ranking, there are five sectors with the least demand for individual consultants: Energy, Youth and Child Welfare, Transportation, Nonprofit, and Fundraising & Grants. Each of these sectors comprises 3% or less of the total consultancies published in August.
Energy and Youth & Child Welfare experienced a remarkable fall in the number of expert contracts, which might concern those specializing in these fields.
Fundraising & Grants, as usual, remained in last position, significantly behind the nearest sector.
Table VIII – Number of individual consultant opportunities published in August 2026, per sector.
Only the 5 sectors with the least published consultancies are displayed. This table also displays the variation (in %) in the number of consultancies compared to our last analysis, in July 2026. Data collected by Sofia Oliveira from DevelopmentAid’s database. Note: consultancies can be classified into more than one sector.
Where is the money coming from: Top 5 contracting agencies
Nonprofit organizations remain the largest source of consultancy opportunities for external consultants, financing 20.7% of all contracts for experts. However, this August, the number of new expert contracts they fund dropped 17% compared to our last analysis in July 2026. Similarly, the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank decreased the consultancies they fund by 5% and 13%, respectively. The United Nations supported about the same number of contracts compared to last month.
All four agencies were already featured in our previous top 5 in July, and, despite the overall decline in financed opportunities, they all kept the same position in the ranking. But there was one change in the table: the European Commission funded 25% more experts than in July, bringing it to 5th place.
Table IX – Top 5 funding agencies with the largest number of consultant opportunities published in August 2026.
This table also displays the variation (in %) in the number of consultancies compared to our last analysis, in July 2026. Data collected by Sofia Oliveira from DevelopmentAid’s database.
How is the demand for development consultants evolving?
Since 2025, we have published 10 exclusive consultancy trend articles based on the expert contracts available at DevelopmentAid — one of the largest databases in international development.
How to use this information
To succeed as an individual consultant in international development, you must manage your time carefully and target calls for proposals strategically. Understanding which sectors continue to grow in demand and signaling those with decreasing opportunities can help you prioritize future efforts and ultimately improve your chances of success. You should also look at which organizations are actively funding and contracting external experts.
Besides these monthly in-depth analyses we perform, you can get access to real-time intel on the development sector by registering on DevelopmentAid and using our tender filters and alerts to keep you updated about forecasted opportunities.