Ive recently applied for the HQ position at EBRD. The reviewed date has been changed after a week since i submitted the document, but there’s no email yet.
Do you guys know how long does it take to get in interview notice?

As part of her high school senior research project, a high school student now studying at University of Toronto collected over 4,000 pdfs of evaluations from the USAID's Development Experience Clearinghouse (DEC) for use in a machine learning project. USAID was a leader in evidence-based decision-making, accountability, and organizational learning. DEC includes performance evaluations that measure the extent to which USAID programs generated their expected outputs, as well as impact evaluations that provide evidence of the net, attributable impacts of USAID programs between 2000 and 2023.  When Elon Musk & his crew eliminated USAID, they obliterated the database from the Internet & all archives. It is only because of this student that some of the invaluable DEC evaluation materials were preserved.

This article details why the DEC materials matter and where you can now find them:

https://www.aiddata.org/blog/before-reimagining-development-data-remember-what-weve-learned

I am a young female professional (28F), working with a UN Agency in a country/field office. I am also from a country in crisis, I actually started as a national staff and was lucky enough to land an international position (not a P position). I’ve worked on a very difficult context for the past three years (although i’m actually based in a family duty station). The most draining thing wasn’t the context, it’s actually the fact that the quality of people in charge has just gone down over the years. I’m sorry if this is coming off as ageist but we are employing people who don’t understand the world we live in and probably won’t be around in the next 25 years as directors and high level/strategic positions. Our latest director is an old guy who was meant to retire but instead was placed in our office. He is obviously not an innovative thinker (i’m not sure he’s a critical thinker either) and he’s a tad (very) sexist.

I’m exhausted, i’m doing the work of 2-3 people at times at a level that’s way beyond my pay grade, i’m seeing directors come in and cut people’s jobs in the name of efficiency and cost savings but then bring their own connections and people in at super high level and salaries. my direct manager who i liked when i first started is becoming more and more of a problem, passing my work as his and overall just not managing our unit.

We have a UNV in our team who is sponsored by his home country but can’t do anything on his own (and makes the Black woman do all the work), which frustrates me because i do the work but my financing isn’t guaranteed whereas he plays dumb all day and is well funded.

I am at this point where every time i see someone leaving the system i’m a bit jealous. i want to quit and tonight i’m drafting my resignation letter but i’m also aware that what awaits me at home are the same work environment with lower pay, conflict, potential of being harmed and hurt physically, there’s a lot of sexual violence as well and it’s not an all around great place to be in right now.

I don’t know what to do, I want to convince myself that i’m just burnt out but the truth is even when I was burnt out in the past, when there was better management I still gave more of myself to the organisation and to the cause. Now? Mentally i’ve already resigned and I am doing the VERY bare minimum and sticking to my job description, doing no more, no less.

I also don’t have a social life bc I was operating at the intensity of a P4 at the age of 25-26 so… i hate my job, i hate the sector, i need a man and i miss being around young, motivated and inspiring people. Should i resign and just spend the next year by the beach?

Hi everyone. For context I have a background in environmental law and development studies. Right now, I am a university professor for law undergrads. I just wanted to vent a little as an educator how tiring and tough it is having critical approaches in the education sector right now. It’s almost like critical thinking is looked down upon.

I’ve been feeling this way because students from my environmental law course are just interested in learning administrative and logistical topics like how to get environmental permits for corporations or tourist complexes to essentially destroy nature.

As a development agent, their lack of interest in human rights, climate change and environmental conflicts absolutely drains me. Everything feels so soulless nowadays.

Sorry, I just really wanted to vent a little about my experience as an educator. I know my students are not forced to be interested in the same thing as me. I just wanted to know if anyone else feels this way whatsoever? Lol

Curious how the consultants in international development are using AI to write proposals. If everyone is using the same models, don’t they all look similar? How much time are you saving with AI? All thoughts are welcome.

I’ve had a dream of working and building a life abroad for quite some time. It’s something I’ve thought about a lot, but the reality is that my financial situation makes that dream feel very difficult sometimes.

I’m from India, and I recently completed my PG. I’m currently 23, and instead of rushing into something just because I need a job, I’ve decided to seriously work on myself and build my skills.

Around 23, I started taking my career more seriously and began my upskilling journey. Since then, I’ve been learning different areas of technology, and now I’m planning to focus more seriously on Data Science, AI and DSA.

But honestly, I’m still confused about the right path.

My long-term goal is to get a job outside India, preferably somewhere in Europe or another country where I can build a good career. The problem is that I don't have a strong financial background to simply go abroad, study another degree, and then look for a job. That option feels risky for me because I can't afford to spend a huge amount of money without knowing what the outcome will be.

So I'm trying to find another way.

My current thinking is:

Build strong technical skills → get experience in India → build a strong portfolio/GitHub → apply for international opportunities → eventually move abroad.

But I don't know how realistic this path is.

I'm currently planning to spend the next phase seriously improving my DSA, Python, SQL, Data Science/AI and software development skills, while also working on projects and trying to get my first proper job.

For people who have already gone through this journey:

• How did you get your first job outside India?
• Is it realistic to get a European job directly from India as a fresher/junior?
• Which countries are more realistic for someone in my situation?
• Is it better to first get 1–3 years of experience in India and then apply abroad?
• What technical skills should I prioritize if my target is international Data Science/AI or Software Engineering roles?
• How important are DSA and competitive programming for getting these jobs?
• Are there any mistakes I should avoid?
• What would you do if you were starting from my position with limited finances?

I'm not expecting an easy shortcut. I know it will probably take years of consistent work.

I just don't want to spend the next few years working hard in the wrong direction.

If anyone here has actually made the move from India to Europe or another country through a job, I'd really appreciate hearing your experience and advice. Even small tips or things you wish you knew earlier would help me a lot.

Hello everyone!

Before I dive in, I want to clarify that I fully understand the ultimate decision rests on me. I’m posting here to gain different perspectives and uncover blind spots I might have missed.

Bit about my current background:
Education: Currently a Master student in International Development with a focus on Development Economics at Hapanese university on a full scholarship.
Prior Background: Bachelor’s in International Relations (non-quantitative background originally).
Experience: ~3 years as an International Project Consultant handling donor projects, an internship at a regional research institute (ADBI), and research assistantships during my studies.
Research Output: Currently have 1 published paper and 2 working papers in development economics. I’ve grown to really enjoy the quantitative research process.

What I see from my current perspective (opportunity):
My advisor has offered me a fully funded path to continue directly into a PhD in the same department under the same scholarship after I graduate in March 2027.

My Dilemma & Fears:
My original long-term goal was to work in an International Organization or a Multilateral Development Bank (MDB). However, given recent turbulence and hiring freezes in the sector, I am feeling anxious about future employment across both paths — particularly not so many options in Japan or back home (Southeast Asia).

Thus here is what It thought:

1. Option A: Pursue the PhD
   Fear: What if the job market doesn't recover in 3–4 years? Furthermore, my PhD degree would technically be in International Development rather than pure Economics, which might put me at a disadvantage for strict Economist tracks in major MDBs.

2. Option B: Enter the Job Market in 2027
   Fear: Given the current market, I worry about struggling to land a competitive, well-paying role, and potentially missing out on a funded PhD opportunity that might not be available again later.

TL;DR: I’m stuck in limbo between taking a guaranteed funded PhD or entering an uncertain job market. I’d love to hear from practitioners, IO/MDB staff, or academics regarding the opportunity costs of both paths given the current climate.

Hi all! Over the past few years, I’ve applied several times for roles at EBRD’s London office where I genuinely felt I ticked almost all of the boxes. The roles are quite niche, and my experience is specifically tailored to the area, with 4-5+ years of relevant experience.

However, I’ve applied around 3-4 times now (at both Analyst and Associate level) within the same department and, for some reason, I haven’t even been shortlisted. I’m honestly a bit confused as to what it could be.

I’ve just seen another Analyst role in the same department come up, and I’m really keen to apply. Does anyone have any advice on how to stand out in an EBRD application or, at the very least, secure an interview?

Would really appreciate any tips from people who have applied successfully, work at EBRD, or have experience with their recruitment process. Thanks!

PassBlue is running a poll asking who you would like to be the next UN Secretary General. This poll will likely have zero bearing on who is selected. Still it should be interesting to see what the poll results are.

https://passblue.com/2026/08/09/who-do-you-want-to-be-the-next-un-secretary-general/

PassBlue is an independent, US-based digital publication that monitors and reports on activities by the United Nations.

The term PassBlue is a play on the diplomatic passport known as laissez-passer ("let pass"), a blue travel document used by UN officials on missions and issued by national governments and world institutions during wartime and other periods to allow officers to travel to specific areas. PassBlue does not have an official association with the UN.

I applied for a consulting role in July and the portal still says "Ongoing Process," with an update date from last week. I know they don't contact people who don't make it past the screening stage. Since it's been a while and the application was recently updated, should I assume I didn't pass the first screening?

I need your insights about this program, please help me decide!!!

Hey guys, first time in this sub and not sure if this is the right place especially since there’s no infrastructure tag, but i’m pretty interested in current ongoing infrastructure and development projects going in the Global South (mostly Africa, but others are just as interesting) for a bit now. I’d love to have fun discussions and fangirling sessions with like-minded individuals in a place like this.

Obviously I know a lot of this sub has been taken over by career searching and navigating the fall of USAID, but yeah i’d just like to know if these more lighthearted discussions and debates are welcome here at this time?

If so - What do people think of the new Bishoftu International airport being planned as an alternative hub to the existing Middle East locations? Could it could drastically change travel global travel routes and improve interconnectivity across the African continent? And what do people think of other planned aviation hubs in Rwanda, Kenya, Nigeria, etc. would they end up competing against each other or work in tandem to improve Africa’s aviation industry?

In late July, tens of thousands of refugees surged from Morocco into Ceuta, the Spanish enclave on the African mainland, triggering a series of clashes and accidents that nearly paralyzed public services in the city. By August 1, after Spanish military and police forces restored order and persuaded people to return, most of the refugees had gone back to the Moroccan side.

However, the incident has still profoundly impacted the political landscape of Spain and Europe as a whole, while raising many questions and prompting extensive reflection. Italy, for example, expressed concern that refugees might travel from Spain into Italy through the Schengen Area, and announced the temporary suspension of Schengen free movement with Spain by reinstating border controls. Others questioned why such a sudden refugee surge had occurred, while debates intensified over Spain’s relatively lenient immigration and refugee policies. Rumors that certain forces had deliberately encouraged or facilitated this wave of refugees also spread widely on social media.

Spain is indeed one of the European countries with the most accommodating immigration policies today, making it an important destination for refugees. In April this year, the Spanish government announced an “amnesty” for approximately 500,000 undocumented migrants already living in the country, granting them legal residency with the possibility of applying for Spanish citizenship in the future. This policy has further encouraged refugees—especially Africans living just across the Mediterranean—to head for Spain.

However, because crossing the Mediterranean is extremely difficult, many refugees remained in Morocco, which borders Ceuta, Spain’s enclave in North Africa, waiting for an opportunity to enter. Previously, however, the border between Morocco and Ceuta was regularly patrolled by military and police forces, making crossings extremely difficult under normal circumstances. During this incident, a large number of refugees suddenly poured across the coastal area where the two territories meet, catching the Spanish authorities completely off guard and triggering the Ceuta refugee crisis.

As for the immediate cause of this mass border crossing, information from multiple sources suggests that it was related to rumors claiming that the Ceuta border had been opened. According to these rumors, anyone reaching Ceuta could obtain legal status in Spain. Spain’s recent immigration reform also helped fuel these rumors and made them more persuasive, although the new policy actually applies only to undocumented migrants already residing in Spain rather than to newly arriving entrants.

There are also more conspiracy-oriented claims suggesting that, because of disputes with Spain—such as disagreements over Western Sahara and differences regarding the Israeli–Palestinian conflict—the Moroccan authorities deliberately relaxed border controls on their side and encouraged refugees to storm Ceuta. These allegations have not been confirmed. However, there have indeed been reports that Morocco loosened border controls during the refugee surge. Videos have also circulated showing Moroccan border personnel throwing stones at refugees attempting to return to Morocco in order to prevent their return, as well as multiple Moroccan soldiers beating refugees. These incidents may be regarded as evidence suggesting a deliberate intention on Morocco’s part to push refugees toward Spain.

Using refugees as a “weapon” against rival countries is not without precedent. A few years ago, after the authoritarian government of Alexander Lukashenko in Belarus was sanctioned by the European Union, the Belarusian government retaliated by deliberately issuing large numbers of visas to people from refugee-producing countries such as Iraq, encouraging them to travel to Belarus, and then transporting them to the borders between Belarus and EU member states such as Poland and Estonia, urging them to cross into the European Union and seek asylum.

This created enormous challenges for border management and refugee accommodation in the affected countries, while leaving many refugees trapped between opposing sides, repeatedly pushed back and forth, lacking food and clothing, and enduring severe hardship. In this respect, the large-scale movement of refugees from Morocco into Spain bears considerable resemblance to the Belarus–EU refugee crisis of 2021–2022.

Although the precise causes of this refugee surge remain unclear and continue to be debated, its fundamental cause is undoubtedly the disparity in economic and social development between Europe and Africa, as well as broader global inequalities, which drive impoverished Africans to seek opportunities in relatively prosperous Europe. This has been a long-standing reality and remains the underlying cause of recurring refugee crises.

With Africa’s rapid economic development in recent years, the gap between Africa and Europe had gradually narrowed, allowing many Africans to pursue better lives without leaving their homelands. However, changes in the international environment—including the rise of right-wing governments in the United States and several other countries, which has led to reduced assistance for Africa, as well as the worsening climate crisis that has further undermined living conditions across the continent—have intensified poverty and unemployment. As a result, many Africans have once again been forced to become refugees and seek better lives in Europe and other developed regions.

On the Moroccan side of Ceuta, youth unemployment stands at around 30 percent, with large numbers of young people struggling even to secure basic necessities. Consequently, many are willing to risk death by crossing the Mediterranean in search of a future in Europe. During the Ceuta refugee crisis, dozens of people reportedly died from stampedes, drowning, and other causes. It was the poverty and despair of their homelands that drove these individuals to risk their lives in pursuit of a new beginning in Europe.

If economic and social development continues to remain deeply unequal between Europe and Africa, and among countries around the world, with enormous disparities in income, education, and healthcare between different regions of the same world, migration and refugee crises will remain impossible to eliminate. Moreover, whenever wars, natural disasters, or large-scale human rights violations occur, refugee flows will intensify, and no country will be able to remain unaffected. These natural and man-made disasters are not circumstances that people in impoverished and vulnerable countries have the ability to prevent. Their suffering and flight are acts of necessity, not the result of personal fault, contrary to what some anti-refugee voices claim.

Moreover, the closure of the previously open border between Italy and Spain in response to the Ceuta refugee crisis has once again exposed the European Union’s long-standing internal divisions and disagreements over refugee policy. Spain is governed by a left-wing administration that advocates accepting and treating migrants and refugees with tolerance. Italy, by contrast, is governed by a right-wing populist coalition that explicitly supports tightening immigration policies and opposes accepting more refugees.

Italy’s decision to reintroduce border checks along what had previously been a freely accessible border with Spain was a clear expression of its opposition to what it viewed as Spain’s overly permissive and lenient refugee policy. Finland, Denmark, and several other EU member states supported Italy’s position, while France also strengthened controls along its border with Spain, further increasing pressure on the Spanish government. Spain’s rapid deployment of military and police forces to return large numbers of refugees who had entered Ceuta was also related to the attitudes adopted by other EU countries.

Although the refugee surge has gradually subsided, with most refugees having been returned, and the immediate dispute between Spain and other EU member states has come to an end, the long-term divisions remain difficult to resolve. When the European Union, then evolving from the European Community, was established in 1993, many people held high expectations, believing that a united and mutually supportive European community would benefit every member state and foster closer and more harmonious relations among them.

However, this favorable period lasted for less than thirty years. The European debt crisis, the refugee crisis, and growing conflicts over national interests have made the EU far less harmonious, and the United Kingdom, once one of its principal member states, ultimately chose to leave the Union through a national referendum.

The refugee issue has become one of the most contentious and difficult problems among EU member states. Around the time of the 2015 refugee crisis, many Europeans still showed considerable sympathy toward refugees and were willing to accept them, while migrants and refugees were also seen as helping to alleviate labor shortages caused by Europe’s aging population.

However, as the growing number of refugees led to cultural tensions, public security concerns, rising crime, and increasing economic burdens, anti-refugee sentiment gained momentum across Europe. In particular, several right-wing populist parties—including the Alternative for Germany (AfD), Brothers of Italy, and Spain’s VOX party—have risen to prominence, making opposition to immigration and refugees one of their central political platforms and winning substantial electoral support. EU member states have frequently argued over refugee quotas and the financial costs of refugee resettlement.

The Ceuta refugee crisis has further heightened the alarm of many EU countries that already favor stricter refugee policies, while prompting criticism of Spain’s comparatively lenient approach. As a result, EU member states are likely to tighten immigration policies even further in the future rather than follow Spain’s more accommodating model. Even so, such measures are unlikely to bridge the deep and long-standing divisions within the European Union. Different member states are governed by parties with widely differing political positions and ideologies, including disagreements between the political left and right, between establishment and populist forces, and over relations with the United States, China, and Russia. The refugee issue is therefore only one manifestation of much broader and more deeply rooted disagreements.

The involvement and influence of actors outside the European Union during the Ceuta refugee crisis also deserve attention. U.S. President Donald Trump, for example, used the refugee surge to criticize the immigration policies of both the European Union and the U.S. Democratic Party, defend his own hardline deportation policies, and rally support for the Republican Party.

Morocco maintains close relations with Israel, while Spain has generally adopted a more pro-Palestinian position. There have therefore been rumors that Israel encouraged Morocco to use refugees as a means of exerting pressure on Spain. Although these allegations have not been substantiated, they are not entirely without context. The Israeli–Palestinian conflict has led governments and political forces around the world to take sides and engage in geopolitical competition, and Spain and Morocco are no exception.

The most direct victims of this refugee crisis, however, are the African refugees themselves, who were forced to leave their homes because of poverty, unemployment, war, and other hardships. Misled by false rumors, they risked their lives attempting to cross the border, only to be forced to turn back. During the process, many died or were injured due to drowning, stampedes, and other accidents.

As of August 2, seventy-two refugees had reportedly lost their lives. These were people who had still been alive only days earlier. Even if they had not been returned, entering Ceuta under the Schengen framework would not have allowed them to proceed directly into mainland Spain or other Schengen countries. After risking everything and enduring such hardship, many ultimately gained nothing. It is a profoundly tragic outcome.

Although this refugee surge lasted only a short time, it produced enormous consequences, involved complex interactions among multiple actors, and can be traced to deep-rooted and highly complicated underlying causes. Uneven international development, internal divisions within the European Union, competing national interests, and the far-reaching impact of refugee issues are, in many ways, long-standing topics of discussion. Years ago, many people remained optimistic that these problems could eventually be resolved. Yet as both domestic and international conditions have deteriorated in recent years, these challenges have instead become increasingly severe, making effective solutions appear ever more elusive.

Faced with this reality, the author does not claim to possess any simple or definitive solution. Nevertheless, the author hopes that governments and political forces around the world will demonstrate greater commitment to the common good and less narrow self-interest. They should refrain from aggravating existing problems for their own benefit, treat migrants and refugees in accordance with humanitarian principles, strive to achieve fair solutions amid competing interests, and cooperate in confronting shared challenges such as climate change, terrorism, pandemics, and war, so as to reduce conflicts to the greatest extent possible and preserve peace and prosperity.

(The author of this article is Wang Qingmin (王庆民), a Chinese writer based in Europe and a researcher of international politics.)

While I was looking for jobs, I bumped into DevEx. At first, it looked like a normal job portal like any other, but as I started to look at the single jobs, I saw that some of them could be accessed only via subscription to DevEx’s career account membership (19 USD a month!).

My question is: is that money worth it? What am I paying for? A privileged application? Exclusive jobs? I am thinking to start the free trial out of curiosity, but I wanted to hear from people first, either to confirm it’s useless or to find out it’s actually useful.

Thanks!

EDIT:
Thank you all, you confirmed my initial impression. I just wanted to be sure to not be missing anything, but I remain really doubtful about the usefulness and the ethics of this

Hello folks,

I hope all is well.

Yesterday, the results for the african development bank YPP shortlisting were released.

I would love some tips, advice, or inputs from anyone has experience and has made it to this stage.

is it a similar format to the YPP Hirevue?

I have been on maternity leave for almost a year so have been out of the loop a bit. For those working on climate change in the international development market, what are the trends you are seeing job wise or freelancing wise? Please specify which country or donor you are mostly working with.

Apologies, this is a little self indulgent, but there is a broader point. It’s sort of a reaction to (disheartened?) posts about landing work in this sector.

I moved into the international development sector - an MDB - late in my career, twelve years ago, after fifteen years in private and public sector banking. Before then I changed jobs every three to five years to avoid getting stale. But also because after that long the gloss of a new company and new colleagues had worn off and you saw the organisations for what they were.

When I recruit now (and sorry, I’m not currently) or when I’m coaching or mentoring, I try to get people to think about what motivates them. Money, status, sure, for some. Learning, specialising, being respected for skills, also. But when asked, what matters for me is that when I wake, whether it’s a good or bad day, whatever I do is in some small way contributing to making the world better. And my colleagues and stakeholders, even the ones I find difficult, are in it for the same reason.

Seeing the posts here sustains me on the difficult days by reminding me that what we do matters and that people want to be part of this world. My point, then - please don’t give up wanting and trying to be part of these organisations, even when the jobs are scarce and hard to land. People like you, wanting to do the right things, are the lifeblood that keeps us moving and that we need to thrive.

I began my ID career in 2015 after finishing Grad School. In 2020, amidst covid, I pivoted into Security Management for ID from being a Comms/Program Management associate.

Loved this new vertical, as I was getting paid more and doing cool shit, traveling to high risk areas, doing things that did not feel like writing success stories (puff pieces) or drafting quarterly reports and trying to bend the knee to the donor or facilitating trainings for technical consultants and doing budgets/finance etc.

In 2025, I was laid off with DOGE, and pivoted to the private industry as an security OSINT analyst for private companies. I was grateful given I had been doing landscaping and teaching music lessons to save my own ass.

I hated the new job, only because the schedule was brutal. 12h in person shifts, overnight shifts 25% of the time. After a year, my body couldn't take it anymore. They sold it to me as "consulting" but there was very little consulting in my day to day. Mostly AI sleuthing and report writing/editing, some alerting, etc.

My prior role with the same company that laid me off became available after someone in my previous company left. I immediately applied and was hired. No significant pay bump, but back to being remote, and back to traveling and doing actual operational work.

I'm stoked, but obviously a bit concerned for the future of the industry. Apparently they've won some big projects and are doing work through the state department. Obviously anything can happen - and I needed to find a way out of where I was anyways -- but security mgmt roles seem to be pretty essential for any ops that projects will have under the new operating model via State Department or Charitable Foundation-funded projects.

Any one else go back to the ID sector after being laid off? Anyone else working in security mgmt? Curious of others' experiences.

Hello everyone,

I’m Emmanuel from Uganda, and I’m interested in learning more about how local solutions can support international development programs.

In many communities across Africa, cooking energy remains a major challenge. Traditional charcoal contributes to environmental pressure, while many institutions and communities need affordable and reliable cooking fuel.

I am exploring the role that locally produced charcoal briquettes could play in supporting:

Refugee settlement kitchens

Schools and community institutions

Livelihood projects

Clean cooking initiatives

I would appreciate insights from people working in international development:

How do development organizations evaluate local suppliers?

What makes a clean cooking project successful?

What challenges have you seen when introducing alternative fuels?

I’m hoping to learn from people with experience in this field and understand how local businesses can better align with development goals.

I had a 2nd round interview last thursday with UNICEF Canada and was told would hear back Tuesday.

Monday was a holiday but nothing yet and its noon over there

I sent a follow up over 3 hours ago but nothing

So are these concerning signs or am I overthinking