While ongoing funding constraints and shifting donor priorities have slowed hiring across many corners of the development sector, the demand for skilled information and communication technology, or ICT, professionals has remained steady, according to the latest job board data analysis conducted by Devex.
In this edition of Career Hub, I’m sharing some of what we learned by dissecting over 3,000 ICT job postings, including which roles paid the most. Plus, the best new job opportunities on Devex’s board from leading organizations such as the Rainforest Alliance, UNICEF, and many others.
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1. CEO, Infrastructure Origination and Collaboration Platform, Africa
African Collaborations Group
South Africa | Germany | Southern Africa | United Kingdom | France | Western Europe | North Africa and Middle East (remote)
2. Global Digital Fundraiser
350.org
United Kingdom (remote)
3. Deputy Team Leader
The Asia Foundation
Bangladesh
4. Marketing Lead
War Child UK
United Kingdom
5. Senior Program Manager, East and Southern Africa
Ipas
Zambia | Uganda | South Africa | Nigeria | Mozambique | Malawi | Kenya | Ethiopia | United States
6. Relationship Manager, Southeast Asia
Rainforest Alliance
Indonesia
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. 9.
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As global institutions, NGOs, and donors continue to invest in technology-led approaches for health, education, governance, and other programming areas, ICT talent has become a priority. With this in mind, Devex took a closer look at the ICT hiring landscape and what professionals in this field can expect to earn.
Among the most interesting findings from the data: The East Asia and Pacific region recorded the third-highest average annual salary at $80,754—$92,557 — a nearly 19% increase from the previous year.
Below are the top three ICT salaries from the previous 12 months. Devex Career Account members unlock the full article to explore the full findings.
Highest-paid ICT jobs in 2025:
1. Individual Consultant: AI Architect Lead
Hiring organization: Asian Development Bank
Location: Mandaluyong City, Philippines
Annual salary: $356,980
Hiring organization: World Bank Group
Location: Washington, D.C., United States
Annual salary range: $286,100–$429,400
3. Deputy Director, AI and Data Enablement Hub
Hiring organization: Gates Foundation
Location: Seattle, Washington | Washington, D.C.
Annual salary range: $261,700–$442,100
Read: What you can expect to earn from ICT jobs in development (Career)
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1. Data Scientist
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
Sweden
2. Grants Coordinator
Norwegian Refugee Council
Nigeria
3. Private Sector Fundraising Associate
UNICEF
Panama
4. Education Consultants — Senior Secondary Education
Cognition Education
Solomon Islands
5. Consultant (Feed Formulation App Development)
WorldFish
Malaysia (remote)
6. Program Finance Analyst
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
United States
+ For more opportunities, check out the weekly Devex Jobs Alert newsletter on LinkedIn and Devex’s job board.
“We’ve seen a lot of internships and job opportunities dry up for our graduates.”
— Corinne Krupp, director of graduate studies of the Master of International Development Policy program, Duke University.The dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development is shaping not only the current recruitment landscape but also the institutions preparing the future workforce.
Universities are facing budgetary pressures, and some are already seeing declining interest in traditional development courses as young professionals question their career prospects in the sector.
However, enrollment trends have been mixed: Some programs report fewer applications for traditional development courses, while others report increased demand as students look to ramp up their skills while waiting out the current job market.
“The evidence is that people are increasing their interest in education because of the job market,” Tim Forsyth, professor and head of the international development department at the London School of Economics and Political Science, tells Devex. There is also more interest in analytically focused degrees, such as development economics, according to Forsyth.
Krupp has seen an uptick in doctoral applications as people wait for conditions to stabilize, while others remain uncertain about next steps as internships and job opportunities dry up. “It’s been devastating, and it’s hard to know how to pivot,” she says.
Read more: How aid cuts are shaking up development academia (Career)
News and views from around global development worth knowing about.
FHI 360 begins search for next CEO. With Tessie San Martin set to depart after four years leading one of the largest U.S.-based aid agencies in the world, FHI 360 is now launching a “comprehensive search” for its next CEO. [Pro]
New U.S. funding rules. The Trump administration is aiming to significantly restrict how organizations implement U.S. foreign assistance, extending abortion-related limits to include gender ideology and diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. [Pro]
Report warns of growing aid disparity. Eurodad argues that technical reforms have diverted official development assistance from poverty reduction to the commercial and political priorities of donor countries.
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