Development experts share lessons learned from working in the sector

There are obvious reasons why purpose-driven professionals are attracted to a sector whose mission is to help solve the world’s greatest problems. The work is often rewarding, but those who are new to development can be caught off guard by some of the more challenging aspects that may arise, and these vary depending on the role and the type of organization. Whether you find yourself working for a small, cash-strapped NGO or a large multilateral mired in bureaucracy and hierarchy, there are ways to navigate obstacles and make a big impact, even if you’re early in your career. “If you prove yourself alert, capable, willing to learn [and] listen well, you may find yourself with responsibilities you couldn't have imagined just weeks or months before,” said Bart Édes, a professor of practice at McGill University whose long development career includes nearly 20 years at the Asian Development Bank. To help aspiring professionals gain perspective on the many angles a development career can encompass, Devex recently hosted a digital event featuring Édes and other experts with a wide range of experience and insights on how to succeed in the sector. Here are a few key insights that our speakers shared that highlight some of the lessons they have learned that aspiring professionals may benefit from. The pros and cons of small NGOs Smaller NGOs “might not have the most seamless internal processes and systems,” and the need to build these “on the go … might [make it] feel [like] you're not really progressing or advancing on your objectives,” said Socorro Torres-Duarte, who spent over two and half years as the head of institutional fundraising and partnerships at the advocacy NGO Transparency International UK. “However, this comes with a silver lining where individuals can shape the organization in a very meaningful way,” Torres-Duarte added. Since smaller NGOs tend to have less of an internal hierarchy in place compared with large NGOs, development banks, and multilateral employers, Édes said, it can also be easier to gain important experiences and skills much earlier in your career than if you were to start out at a large organization. “If it's your first job in the field or your first time with a new organization,” you may be surprised by “just how much responsibility you may get, even as a junior staff member,” Édes said. Another potential challenge that small NGOs face is “the impression that small organizations cannot take on large projects. You know, the nice ‘sexy’ projects that we all want to be involved in,” Torres-Duarte said. While there is some truth to this, many small NGOs are partnership-heavy instead, which “gives you an amazing advantage, because working in partnership exposes you to other people, to other networks,” establishing “new relationships, and that can help you define your next career move,” Torres-Duarte said. Working for multilaterals does have its perks Large multilateral organizations have earned a reputation for being heavy on bureaucracy and places where progress can be slow to see. But with resources and influence come some beneficial perks for employees. For example, Daniel Ifegwu Iroegbu, who, prior to founding several small NGOs and initiatives in Nigeria, worked for large multilaterals like the UNICEF and the World Bank Group, recounted how an issue surrounding a short-notice travel visa was quickly resolved due to who his employer was. “They have this path to influence certain things,” Iroegbu said, referring to “multilaterals and some international NGOs.” “You always know that they have your back. They can always cut some corners in order to make sure that you get to where they want you to get to,” he added. Iroegbu also highlighted the opportunity to build a strong and influential network when working for larger development entities, something that has helped him in his current efforts to successfully run smaller NGOs. “Working in multilateral international organizations gave me the opportunity to [not only] work with people, [and] to get to meet with people. But to connect with people,” he said. “Global development is all about networking and connectivity. That's one of the things I learned from there.” Global development is a business, too When Caroline Korda Poole, founder of the career coaching and development practice Centered Career, first started off in the development sector over 20 years ago, volunteering for the Peace Corps in Togo, she was “really idealistic, and naive, about what development was about.” “It is about making a good impact in the world. But it's also a business,” said Korda Poole. As a result, “sometimes choices that are made by organizations, whether they're competing with each other or just the way that they're approaching a particular project, maybe aren’t all about ‘let's do good in the world.’ Sometimes, a lot of it is about winning and being a business and the bottom line,” she added. Korda Poole was also surprised by “the power dynamics that were at play” in the sector at that time. “There was a real awkwardness that I felt, being sort of a ‘white savior’ parachuting into certain contexts, and I didn't expect that. But it was really something that I saw play out in board rooms and meeting rooms, and villages, just different places that I showed up,” she explained. But these early experiences also gave her a valuable perspective and helped lead her down a better-suited career path where she is now positioned to help others find their own best fit in the sector. “Now in my coach’s seat, [I] work with people who reach out to me, so that the relationship is a lot more equal where I'm helping people who are wanting to reach out and ask for help,” she said. “A lot of the people I work with are from many different countries all over the world, looking to engage in this system and wondering how to do that. So, I feel a lot better about the role.” Ready to stand out from the crowd and get noticed by the recruiters who matter most? Update your Devex profile and start connecting with top global development recruiters now.