“There is nothing so stable as change” is probably one of the most appropriate quotes when describing the international development sector given the unprecedented crisis the world has recently endured. As a result of this, the trends in the international development job market are also changing. To know which sectors are foremost is key for professionals to understand where their focus should be and where they ought to chase new opportunities. Using data from the DevelopmentAid website, we have analyzed those sectors that have an above-average number of vacancies and the regions where these are mostly to be found. Check out the main categories below and never hesitate to explore new career paths.
According to the DevelopmentAid job board from December 2022, Macroeconomy, Statistics and PFM, Education, Employment and Social, Telecommunication and Information Technologies, Fundraising and NGOs, Good Governance, Human Rights, Environment and Health are the top sectors in international development with the highest number of available jobs, totaling over 4,000. Let’s take a look at where these opportunities are most likely to be found.
Macroeconomy, Statistics and PFM. There is no doubt that macroeconomic and public financial management as well as structural reforms contribute to economic growth and poverty reduction. It is precisely for this reason that this is the sector with the most opportunities in international development. The highest number of available positions is found in the Americas followed by Africa and Asia. Most of the jobs involve working for a charity or an NGO or for a major international organization such as the United Nations Foundation, World Bank or the European Commission amongst many others. International exposure and familiarity with “best international practices” are key assets, along with operational and/or policy-making experience, good analytical skills, and fluency in English, etc.
Education, Employment and Social. The relationship between education and employment has always been the foundation of educational planning in order to achieve a better synergy between graduates’ skills and the needs and capacities of the labor market. Research shows that there is a strong relationship between poverty, unemployment, and education, especially in developing countries. Many of the current employment needs come from the African continent as rising unemployment continues to burden economies such as South Africa. Experts believe that this country’s inability to reform its education system is one of the causes of unemployment and in 2021, South Africa had the highest unemployment rate in the world, at 34%. Furthermore, 3.7 million adults in South Africa are still illiterate.
Telecommunication and Information Technologies. With the advance of new technologies, there is a growing global consensus that this particular sector provides huge opportunities for economic, political and social development. In developing countries, telecommunication and information technologies have the potential to create job opportunities, facilitate access to education, increase efficiency and transparency in politics and business and therefore contribute to economic growth. Most of the positions in these sectors are available in the Americas followed by Europe and Asia.
Fundraising and NGOs. Non-governmental organizations play a major role in international development, aid, and philanthropy. Since the mid-1970s, the NGO sector in both developed and developing countries has experienced massive growth and between 15% and 20% of total overseas development aid is now channeled through NGOs. If you are looking for a position in an NGO, some of the top areas they cover include advocating for the unheard, researching and monitoring human rights abuses, promoting sustainable development, providing aid to those suffering, etc. Most NGOs jobs can be found in the Americas followed by Europe and Asia.
Good Governance, Human Rights. The concepts of good governance and human rights are mutually reinforcing with the intersection between the two being critical to the building of a strong democracy and the realization of sustainable development. While human rights provide the norms and standards of good governance, good governance protects and fulfills human rights. According to the UN Human Rights Office, the links between good governance and human rights can be organized around four focus areas: democratic institutions, service delivery, rule of law and anti-corruption. These create multiple employment opportunities in the sector with the highest number of positions in the Americas followed by Africa and Asia. Among the most internationally-known human rights organizations are Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations Foundation, etc.
Environment. Pollution, overpopulation, poor waste management and disposal, climate change, global warming, and the greenhouse effect, are just a few of the major issues related to the environment today. Poor environmental quality is particularly evident in developing and poor countries, leading to poor health conditions for the population, epidemics and shortened lifespans. Yet, despite the high costs of pollution, levels are constantly rising. If you want to make a change in this sector, most jobs can be found in the Americas followed by Europe and Asia.
Health. The health sector saw a sharp drop in revenues and employment at the onset of COVID-19 in the spring of 2020. Utilization of health services has been lower compared to the years before the pandemic. However, working in the health sector, especially in poor countries where people have poor access to healthcare facilities, is a life-changing experience. Africa bears “more than 24% of the global burden of disease, but has access to only 3% of health workers and less than 1% of the world’s financial resources,” according to the World Health Organization. Precisely for this reason, the top organizations in the international development sector are creating jobs opportunities for health professionals in the most vulnerable areas of Africa and Asia.
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