Consulting continues to be an attractive, yet often daunting career option for those looking to expand their options in an especially crowded development job market.
“We recognize that this can be a really intimidating thing to step into if you’re used to having full-time employment,” Jami Johnson Darkoh, a veteran development consultant in the global health space, said during a recent digital career event. But as Johnson Darkoh and fellow consulting pro Candela Iglesias Chiesa made clear, there are actionable steps to “reduce some of those mental barriers [so you’re] able to make that transition.”
In this edition of Career Hub, I’m giving some of the practical tips shared during our conversation on how to get started as a global development consultant. Plus, the best new job opportunities from Devex’s board, from leading organizations such as UNICEF, CARE, and many others.
+ ICYMI: How to use AI in your job search. During a recent digital event, Luan Prinsloo, a global talent acquisition manager at World Vision, shared tips for how AI can bolster a job search and what pitfalls to avoid.
To gain access to this exclusive session and all of our digital career events, hiring trend guides, and our extensive job board, sign up for a Career Account with a free 15-day trial.
Top full-time staff jobs this week
1. Senior Project Manager
CARE
United States
2. Head, Climate Change and Energy
The African Capacity Building Foundation
Ghana
3. Senior Adviser, AI Strategy and Ecosystem Partnerships
Gates Foundation
United States
4. Country Representative
The Asia Foundation
Timor-Leste
5. Vice President for Finance and Administration
LifeNet International
United States
6. Senior Malaria Advisor (DOS/LEAP Global)
ZemiTek
Thailand
Devex Talent Solutions, our boutique recruitment agency, is supporting a leading international financial institution in its search for a director general, general counsel. The role is based in the Middle East, and the opportunity is open until Dec. 8.
+ See more roles DTS is helping to fill.
Getting started in consulting
“[Good networking is] reaching out to the people who already know you and appreciate your work, and saying, ‘Hey, can you introduce me to other people who might be interested in my services?’”
— Candela Iglesias Chiesa, global health specialist and consultantDuring a recent digital event, veteran development consultants Jami Johnson Darkoh and Candela Iglesias Chiesa offered expert guidance on breaking into consulting in the development sector. Here are a few key tips they offered for aspiring consultants.
Know your unique value. A successful consulting career begins with understanding what you can offer that is unique. “You’re probably good at a lot of things, but what is it from all those things that could make you stand out?” Johnson Darkhoh said.
Network first to land roles. While cold applications and requests for proposals can yield occasional leads, most consulting opportunities come from the people who already know your work. Consider reconnecting with former supervisors or colleagues — not to request favors but to share updates and exchange insights.
You’re a business now, but start small. Resist the temptation to overcomplicate the setup. A polished website, elaborate logo, or comprehensive branding strategy can all come later. These “are nice to have, [but] they’re not even necessary” when just starting off, Johnson Darkoh said.
Watch: How to get started as a global development consultant (Career)
Explore more: Development consultancy trends for 2026 (Career)
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Top consulting and short-term jobs
1. Communications Consultant
U.S. Pharmacopeia
United States
2. Individual Consultant: Sustainable Value Chain Specialist
Food and Agriculture Organization
Worldwide (remote)
3. Business System Analyst
World Food Programme
Italy
4. Individual Consultant: Innovation Monitoring and Evidence Consultant
UNICEF
Denmark (remote)
5. Global Programs Manager
AgriCorps
Worldwide (remote)
6. National Consultant on Infrastructure Asset Management
UNDESA
Bahamas | United States (remote)
+ For more opportunities, check out the weekly Devex Jobs Alert newsletter on LinkedIn and Devex’s Job board.
Data download: Top employers in India
As we continue assessing the state of development job opportunities across the globe, our latest job board data analysis dug into over 2,700 development roles based in India. Rapid economic growth, driven by healthy consumer spending and rising investment, and ongoing policy reforms, is helping keep the country a top employment hub in the development space.
Here’s a look at the three global development organizations that have recruited the most roles in India over the past 12 months, including some existing opportunities for professionals in the region.
1. Asian Development Bank
India office: New Delhi
Total jobs posted over the past 12 months: 724
ADB is currently looking to hire a climate and disaster resilience expert to provide support and input in preparing key climate change assessment documents. It’s a short-term contract role based in Chennai.
View all current ADB jobs in India on Devex.
View all current job postings from ADB on Devex.
2. World Bank Group
India office: New Delhi
Total jobs posted over the past 12 months: 196
The World Bank is currently seeking qualified candidates for a climate change specialist based in New Delhi to mainstream climate considerations and help meet the bank’s climate commitments.
View all current World Bank jobs in India on Devex.
View all current job postings from the World Bank on Devex.
3. World Resources Institute
India offices: Mumbai, New Delhi, and Bengaluru
Total jobs posted over the past 12 months: 133
The nonprofit think tank is actively pursuing a global lead for energy access and equitable development. The successful candidate will provide strategic leadership for the WRI Polsky Energy Center and can be based in New Delhi or Bengaluru.
View all current WRI jobs in India on Devex.
View all current job postings from WRI on Devex.
Read: The top global development employers in India (Career)
Explore more: The top local employers hiring in Central and South Asia (Career)
Around the watercooler
News and views from around global development worth knowing about.
• Staff of the Millennium Challenge Corporation gain clarity on program cuts. An internal email obtained by Devex shows which programs, including some well into implementation, are being terminated — and which have survived — as the agency recalibrates.
• Brutal WHO staff reduction expected. The World Health Organization will lose nearly 2,400 of its global staff by June 2026, and with a $1 billion funding gap next year, more uncertainties lie ahead.
• UNHCR’s next leader will inherit a $300 million hole. Finnish lawmaker Pekka Haavisto joins a crowded field of candidates to become the next UN Refugee Agency chief, telling Devex that “all possible sources of funding” need to be explored to close the agency’s significant funding gap.
Sign up to Devex Career Hub for global development’s top jobs, expert career advice, and practical tips to help you do more good for more people.
About the author
Justin Sablich
Justin is a contributing writer and editor who previously led Devex’s careers content strategy. Before joining Devex, Justin served as the managing editor of Springwise, covering sustainable and climate-tech innovation across all business sectors. He also spent over 13 years as an editor and writer for the New York Times, specializing in digital content production and strategy while producing written and multimedia content on a range of topics, including travel, sports, and technology.
