International aid/development worker: Employers and vacancy sources

Development and emergency aid organisations employ over 100,000 people worldwide. Charities and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are the main employers of aid/development workers. NGOs include voluntary and religious organisations. They vary in size, structure, regional focus and their capacity to employ paid staff. Some offer predominantly UK-based roles in finance, fundraising or overseas project management. Some deploy experienced staff in developing countries. The World Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (WANGO)  website has a searchable directory of international NGOs.

A comprehensive list of employers, volunteering opportunities and recruitment agencies can be found through Getting into International Development . DevNetJobs  also provides a useful overview of the range of jobs available across all types of employers and areas of this sector.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)  administers the Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Programme , which provides hands-on experience to young professionals (usually aged under 32) pursuing a career in development. JPOs are sponsored by their respective governments, although note the UK government is not currently sponsoring JPO positions.

The World Bank  offers employment for recent graduates and those with a relevant Masters degree and experience. The Overseas Development Institute (ODI)  also employs certain postgraduates. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)  employs graduates with Masters or PhD qualifications in economics.

Major international organisations, such as the United Nations (UN) , base their employment intake on which countries are underrepresented in their international quotas. Internships are offered by various UN organisations. A comprehensive list of all United Nations websites is available through the United Nations System of Organisations .

The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has set up an International Development Network (IDN) for planners with an interest in planning and international development.

Some private consultancies work on development-related projects (not necessarily exclusively), and these are listed on DOCON (Directory of Consulting Firms Active in International Development Cooperation) .

Sources of vacancies

• Search graduate jobs on this site.
• AlertNet  
• BOND (British Overseas NGOs for Development)   
• CharityJOB  
• Department for International Development (DFID)  
• Experience Development   
• Eldis  
• Human Rights Jobs  
• Idealist  
• MyDevJobs  
• One World International    
• ReliefWeb  - also lists organisations working on humanitarian projects.
• Individual non-governmental organisation (NGO) websites.

Get tips on job hunting, CVs and cover letters and interviews.