International development
What is international development?
International development concerns the long-term and sustainable improvement of humanity's well-being.
Organisations and projects in international development work across developing regions of the world, focusing on different aspects of well-being, from health and education to poverty and inequality.
Many organisations are also involved in providing emergency aid, but the primary focus of international development is on long-term, sustainable improvements.
Much has been achieved already by the United Nation's (UN) Millennium Development Goals and the more recent Sustainable Development Goals (see below), but there is still more to be done.
UN Sustainable Development Goals
The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were set in 2015, and are comprehensive list of 17 goals which act as calls to action in which all countries participate. The goals are:
- No Poverty
- Zero Hunger
- Good Health and Well-being
- Quality Education
- Gender Equality
- Clean Water and Sanitation
- Affordable and Clean Energy
- Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- Reduced Inequality
- Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Responsible Consumption and Production
- Climate Action
- Life Below Water
- Life on Land
- Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
- Partnerships to achieve the Goal
Alongside these 17 goals, the UN have set 169 targets within their 2030 agenda, which aims to build on the Millennium Goals.
The UN Sustainable Development Goals work cover three areas of development:
- economic
- social
- environmental
What roles are available and who are the employers in the sector?
Roles
There are numerous roles available in international development and different countries and organisations will often give them different titles. They can be broadly divided up into the following categories:
- Programme roles – implementing projects, coordinating technical input in the field
- Policy and research roles – evaluating outcomes, making policy decisions
- Outreach roles – fundraising, campaigning, lobbying, media and communications
- Technical roles – requiring specific expertise or training, e.g. medical, engineering, legal
- Support roles – HR, finance, IT, logistics
Programme roles
These roles may also be described as 'on the ground' or 'field' roles. Competition is fierce and relevant experience, e.g. technical, country-specific, overseas project management, etc. is vital. Typical job titles include 'Programme Officer', 'Field Coordinator' or 'Project Manager'.
Policy and research roles
These roles often require a masters or PhD-level qualification, ideally combined with practical experience.
Job titles may include: policy analyst', policy advisor, research assistant, or programme advisor.
Outreach or advocacy roles
These roles involve fundraising, campaigning and lobbying, and job titles may include advocacy advisor, fundraising assistant, development assistant or communications officer.
Support roles, for example, HR, finance, IT, logistics, etc
An office-based administrative role is a good entry route for new graduates with limited experience. It will give you an opportunity to understand the organisation, network with the right people and be the first to hear about interesting projects and vacancies.
Explore more
- To browse a large selection of jobs, searchable by terms such as 'entry level' or 'internship', subscribe to the .
- Alternatively, has a jobs section which can be searched by 'years of experience'. This will give you an idea of the roles and job titles out there currently and help you to research the entry requirements, etc.
- Prospects has a useful overview of the role of an , which includes information on typical responsibilities, skills, work experience, etc.
Employers
Typical international development employers can be divided into five broad categories:
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
NGOs are the main entry route into the sector. Don't just focus on the big names as they are inundated with applications, and successful candidates will often have two or three years' experience already. Take the time to investigate the thousands of smaller organisations that may be recruiting.
Check out: , , and .
International organisations
These organisations are globally recognisable and offer prestigious opportunities to a small number of exceptional candidates – mainly those with masters or PhD qualifications and relevant work experience. There may be some entry-level roles in their local or regional offices, but it can be difficult to move from there to the formal programmes.
Check out: , and .
National government agencies
Graduate schemes are likely to be open to nationals only – see their eligibility criteria. Entry onto these programmes is highly competitive.
Check out: .
Research organisations and think tanks
Most roles will require a masters or PhD qualification and some previous research experience.
Check out: , and .
Development consultancies
Entry-level roles are likely to be at intern or volunteer level, as consultant roles will require significant experience in a specialist area.
Watch our webinars and learn from professionals working in this sector
Getting into Diplomacy
Hear from Alexa Owen, Head of Economic Diplomacy in the British Embassy in Warsaw, to learn about diplomacy and international affairs.
Alexa demystifies this broad sector and breaks down the various routes, whether that be through NGOs, government or multilateral organisations.
You'll hear about her personal journey into diplomacy, the realities of working in this sector and some tips on being successful.
- Alumni: Email us to gain access to the webinar
Languages graduate at Globethics
Josie Hough, Communications and Marketing Manager at Globethics, an NGO, is a modern language studies graduate from Nottingham.
She shares her career journey with you; her experience, insights and advice.
- Alumni: Email us to gain access to the webinar
Human rights and social justice
This event showcases four alumni working in a range of human rights-related careers, from international aid to impactful work on a local scale. Discover how you can contribute to positive social change and be inspired by the speakers' stories.
Speakers
- Alex Rainbow, Refugee Resettlement Programme Manager, Peterborough City Council
- Anna Kent, Midwife & Nurse, NHS & MSF
- Eniola Shittu, Impact Officer, Royal Mencap
- Mary Akugizibwe , Humanitarian Affairs Officer, UN OCHA
- Alumni: Email us to gain access to the webinar
International development
What does a career in international development look like? This popular and increasingly important sector boasts a range of opportunities.
Stephie Karagiorge from the UN Refugee Agency and the UN Young Professionals Programme, Legal Affairs department, gives you an honest insight into the sector.
Stephie talks about:
- how you can enter this sector.
- what a career in international development means and the huge variety of practices involved.
- tips on what you can do to curate your skill set
- Alumni: Email us to gain access to the webinar
How do I find work experience?
Relevant work experience is vital, and much of that will be obtained through unpaid volunteering, either during or immediately after your degree.
There are a number of approaches you could take:
- Some of the larger NGOs offer more formal volunteer internships, including and the .
- There are a number of organisations that will help you to find overseas field experience, although most of these will involve some degree of self-funding. Take a look at:
- Student or youth-led organisations and networks offer an opportunity to explore and discuss development issues and to campaign for change. Examples include: , and . Find more groups on the webpage.
- If you have contacts through friends or family, you could travel to a particular country of interest and approach local NGOs once you get there.
- Look for work experience in a UK-based NGO head office. This will be helpful if you have an interest in policy jobs, and might lead to an overseas secondment if you make the most of this networking opportunity
- Search the jobs databases listed at the bottom of this page for volunteering opportunities and internships
- Register for the online course and look for opportunities to use your skills.
Experience
This is a very competitive sector and unless you have a specific technical skill that is crucial to a particular project, you will need some relevant experience, ideally overseas prior to making applications. See above and our work experience pages.
Qualifications
In addition to practical experience, successful candidates often have either a social science or relevant vocational degree. It is possible to enter the profession without a masters qualification, but in some roles such as policy and research, it is likely to be a requirement.
Skills
It is essential that you are good with people. You are likely to change project team, employer, country, etc. regularly throughout your career and you must be able to adapt to your surroundings and communicate with those around you.
Self-sufficiency, problem solving and effective decision making are important, as is the ability to learn a new language.
Where do I look for vacancies?
How do I get involved at Nottingham?
What is the future of international development?
As mentioned, Covid-19 has had a huge impact on global development and has greatly hindered the progression of the SDGs.
International Development Minister, Andrew Mitchell, stated in his April 2023 speech how the UK aims to tackle the SDGs taking on a new vision for UK development. This has included replacing the Department for International Development with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to correctly reflect the integrated approach to the SDGs.
Find out more about the UK response to the SDGs
More websites to explore:
- – up-to-date and relevant research on international development issues
- – UK network for organisations working in international development with news, views, resources and jobs
- – information about careers in international development and aid.