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.