A job search poses many challenges, including how to best manage one’s time. Between networking and applying for roles while trying to earn enough to get by, the idea of volunteering might seem like a bridge too far.
In this edition of Career Hub, I’m sharing what we learned from speaking to job seekers and experts on whether volunteering is a worthwhile endeavor for those in an active job search. Plus, the best new job opportunities on Devex’s board from the Food and Agriculture Organization, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and other leading organizations.
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Top full-time staff jobs this week
1. Global Program Implementation and Operations Excellence Adviser
CARE
Kenya
2. Director of Philanthropy, Europe
Safe Childhoods Initiative
United Kingdom (remote)
3. AI Architect Specialist
Inter-American Development Bank
United States
4. Director, Resource Mobilization and Partnerships
Commonwealth Secretariat
United Kingdom
5. Partnerships and Engagement Specialist — The Global SDG Synthesis Coalition
UNDP Independent Evaluation Office
United States
6. Project Coordinator
DT Global
The Philippines
Devex Talent Solutions, our boutique recruitment agency, is assisting the Sustainable Agriculture Network in its search for a strategic and results-driven corporate engagement director to lead private-sector partnership expansion and revenue growth. This is a remote opportunity, and the application is open until April 24.
+ See more roles DTS is helping to fill.
Pros and cons of volunteering
“You actually learn some hard skills, and then you’re able to take those into something that's paid or useful to organizations in the future.”
— Jan Cartwright, communications specialistVolunteering during a job search might seem like time one should spend actually finding a job. But according to job seekers and experts Devex spoke to, it can open up unexpected opportunities and provide a sense of structure during an uncertain time.
It can also have future benefits, with studies tracking students from adolescence into adulthood showing that volunteering leads to 4%–8% higher wages, greater chances of securing employment, and greater resilience in navigating career transitions, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
But not all volunteering is the same, and opportunities must be well-organized to be beneficial. If management is not professional or well-organized, volunteers will suffer, according to Violeta Vajda, executive director of Phiren Amenca. “It’s not always that you will get enough back if you’re not privileged enough in the first place,” she warns.
There is also a risk of overcommitting, according to Cartwright, who tells Devex that her schedule is starting to get packed. She now works 30 hours a week, and she’s finding it hard to let go of the commitments she found valuable.
Read more: The pros and cons of volunteering during your job search (Career)
Top consulting and short-term jobs
1. Research and Evaluation Consultant – Water and Sanitation, Financing
Water.org
Worldwide (remote)
2. Initiative for Climate Action Transparency Climate Mitigation and Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification Expert
United Nations Environment Programme
Cuba | France (remote)
3. Consultant: Strategic Partnership and Resource Mobilization
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Guatemala
4. Climate Change Specialist
Food and Agriculture Organization
Egypt
5. Legal Consultant
CARE
United States
6. Head of Programs
AVSI Foundation
Haiti
+ For more opportunities, check out the weekly Devex Jobs Alert newsletter on LinkedIn and the job board.
Data download: 2025’s top globaldev employers
Our latest report, published exclusively for Devex Career members, highlights the distinct recruitment trends that unfolded across employers throughout 2025.
With the United States having provided around a quarter of all United Nations funding, hiring fell dramatically at many of the big U.N. agencies. But even with fewer jobs on offer, U.N. agencies still dominated the top 10 employer rankings with six spots. Three of the remaining spots went to multilateral development banks and one to the Danish Refugee Council.
The dismantling of USAID, along with significant funding reductions from other major donors, also impacted international NGOs, causing many to at least temporarily pause recruitment. Among the hardest-hit sectors were development consultancy firms, such as Chemonics, which was 2024’s most prolific job poster among consulting firms, with 847 roles advertised. It posted just 67 jobs in 2025.
While other sectors faced challenges, hiring across MDBs remained relatively unaffected. The top employer of 2025 was the Asian Development Bank, which posted 4,561 jobs throughout the year, only a slight decrease from 2024. It was followed by the World Bank Group.
Download: The top global development employers of 2025 (Career)
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Around the watercooler
News and views from around global development worth knowing about.
Will AI help or hurt Rwanda? Anthropic’s new memorandum of understanding with Rwanda to deploy artificial intelligence tools in health and education has drawn both praise and skepticism. Will it build domestic capacity — or deepen reliance on foreign technology stacks? (Pro)
EIB maintains development commitment. The European Investment Bank pledges $1 billion for electrification across Africa, expands vaccine financing, and launches its third Gender Action Plan, even as it boosts European defense investments.
Inside USAID’s messy closeout. Multiple former USAID officials involved in the closeout process tell Devex that shutting down the world's largest bilateral aid agency is a lot easier said than done — particularly when the people in charge don’t trust you. (Pro)
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.
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