The dismantling of USAID, along with wider foreign aid cuts from European donors, had a seismic impact across Africa, leading to a highly competitive job market. But not all of the resulting shifts have been negative for development professionals.
In this edition of Career Hub, I’m sharing insights on Africa’s job market in 2026. These are drawn from our recent digital event for Devex Career Account members. Plus, the best new job opportunities on Devex’s board from UNEP, DT Global, and other leading organizations.
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1. Manager Philanthropic Partnerships
World Mosquito Program
Western Europe | North Africa and Middle East
2. Senior Programme Manager - Private Sector
CoST – the Infrastructure Transparency Initiative
Worldwide (remote)
3. Publications Manager, Sweden
International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance
Sweden
4. Partnerships Lead
DT Global
Philippines
5. Senior Project Manager
UNOPS
Uganda
6. Associate Director, Programs Development - Peace
The Carter Center
United States
Devex Talent Solutions, our boutique recruitment agency, is assisting the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank in its search for a head of project economics, to be based in Beijing, China. Applications open until Feb. 10.
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During a recent Devex event, Allwell Akhigbe, CEO and cofounder of Travaille Ensemble, and
Jacqueline Sambu, CEO and founder of Tai Talent Matters, detailed how the dramatic loss of USAID and European funding is shifting the development job market in Africa. Here are three key takeaways.
Wanted: More locals. One positive trend is a greater focus on locally led solutions, creating more opportunities for local professionals, according to Sambu, who also sees scope for mid-level leaders to grow into senior leadership roles in the coming years.
Rising competition, falling salaries. Hiring is unlikely to be at the same seniority and salary level as previously seen, Sambu cautioned. “What that means is that what you would consider to be overqualified candidates will now be applying down, so competition will sort of be very stiff across all positions or levels.”
Who do you know? Akhigbe said that competition for funding is fierce, increasing pressure on nonprofits to adopt social enterprise models and seek connections with alternative donors. This means networks in the corporate sector are highly sought after.
Watch: How Africa’s development job market is changing in 2026 (Career)
1. Individual Consultant: Climate Change Adaptation Expert
UNEP
Mongolia
2. Short Term Adviser - Seed Policy and Regulatory Expert | APEP
Abt Global
Papua New Guinea
3. Director of Impact Partnerships
Mary’s Meals International
Canada (remote)
4. Consultant - Governance Reform/Parliamentary Strengthening for Bangladesh
Westminster Foundation for Democracy
Worldwide (remote)
5. Education Consultants – Senior Secondary Education
Cognition Education
Solomon Islands
6. Manager II, Communications
ChildFund International
Sierra Leone
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“Modern communicators must deeply understand who they are speaking to, and how to connect with them.”
— Jimmy Grattan, vice president of marketing and communications, Vitamin AngelsWhile foundational principles, such as clear messaging and emotionally compelling visuals, remain essential in communications roles, they are no longer enough on their own, experts tell Devex.
Comms teams are now expected to use data to tailor messages to specific audiences, and storytelling is becoming increasingly critical, even though it’s still rare to see roles explicitly labeled as storytelling, according to Bilha Luseka, a Kenya-based storyteller who manages the Gates Foundation-supported Young Women & Climate Change vodcast project.
She says storytelling has traditionally been treated as an output — content to be produced — rather than a process that demands vision, narrative coherence, and strategic leadership. But honing and highlighting these skills could give candidates a boost in the recruitment process.
Read more: The skills you need to work in globaldev communications (Career)
News and views from around global development worth knowing about.
• U.S. democracy institute survives cuts, for now. The National Endowment for Democracy has withstood back-to-back defunding efforts by conservative lawmakers, all within the first weeks of the year. However, it still faces an uphill battle to take back the narrative.
• Gates doubles down on goals. Mark Suzman, CEO of the Gates Foundation, tells Devex that amid the “shock” of abrupt aid cuts, the foundation remains focused on its core objectives.
• Former Chilean president joins U.N. leadership race. Michelle Bachelet, a former political prisoner who served as head of state and in senior U.N. posts, faces a potentially insurmountable challenge of securing U.S. support for her candidacy.
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