This week, we’re looking at the skills needed to work at the forefront of SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth, and more specifically, what needs to happen to unlock the Green Transition.
“The rationale is clear: On one hand, 1.2 billion jobs globally depend on a healthy natural environment; on the other, millions of jobs can be created in the green and blue economies boosting communities and local economies”, says Sergio Iriarte Quezada, youth employment officer at the International Labour Organization, or ILO.
Last year saw a reduction in global unemployment rates but projections from ILO suggest that little improvement can be expected in 2024 — with an extra 2 million workers projected to be looking for jobs.
In this edition of Career Hub, I’m also sharing our latest data insights about the top WASH employers in global development, plus featured job postings from the likes of UNICEF, USAID, and more.
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Top jobs this week
1. Human Resources Regional Representative, North America Regional Office
International Union for Conservation of Nature
United States
2. Individual Consultant: Support in Engagement
UNICEF
Thailand
3. Project Management Specialist (Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning)
United States Agency for International Development
Philippines
4. Water and Sanitation Advisor
Chemonics International Inc.
South Africa
Skills for SDG8
We spoke with experts from ILO, UNEP, the African Center for Economic Transformation, and ClimateView about how development professionals can help secure decent work and economic growth for all. Here are some skills to keep on your radar.
Policy analysis and strategic thinking. To achieve the targets outlined in SDG 8, robust policy backing is crucial. “Developing skills in policy analysis, strategic thinking, and impact assessment will enable professionals to contribute to making effective policies that support sustainable growth, ” says Ran Hur, a program management officer with UNEP.
Digital literacy. Mona Iddrisu, head of youth employment and skills at the African Center for Economic Transformation, anticipates that “megatrends” such as digital transformations will reshape the skills landscape. This shift presents both opportunities and challenges. “The access gap is getting bigger as rapid changes are taking place in the world of work, which often require digital skills that are far out of reach,” she says.
Circular thinking. Adriana Zacarias Farah, a senior program management officer with UNEP, emphasized that without action to halt and reverse the loss of nature, any hopes for economic growth and a better future are futile. “There is no future for business as usual,” she said while highlighting the profound impact of the linear ‘take-make-waste’ approach on both our environment and economy.”
Read: Skills for SDG 8: Achieving decent work and economic growth (Career)
Explore more: Skills for SDG 5: Achieving gender equality (Career)
How 'megatrends' will shape the future of global development jobs (Career)
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The top WASH employers in global development
Professionals who are interested in jobs in the WASH sector can find a range of opportunities with global development organizations such as UNICEF, the Asian Development Bank, and the World Bank — which are among the top employers in the sector. Here’s an overview of the leading WASH employers on Devex’s job board and their latest openings around the globe:
1. UNICEF
WASH sector-based jobs posted over the past 12 months: 594.
UNICEF is the United Nations agency dedicated to safeguarding the rights of all children and protecting the most vulnerable children and adolescents worldwide.
WASH sector-based jobs posted over the past 12 months: 209.
ADB is the largest financial institution in the Asian region dedicated to alleviating poverty and enhancing the quality of life in its member countries.
3. World Bank
WASH sector-based jobs posted over the past 12 months: 154.
The World Bank is the leading global finance institution that works to help countries boost their economic growth, reduce poverty, and promote sustainable development.
WASH sector-based jobs posted over the past 12 months: 152.
The French Development Agency is responsible for executing sustainable development projects in France’s overseas departments, territories, and partner nations worldwide.
WASH sector-based jobs posted over the past 12 months: 147.
Solidarites International is a humanitarian organization that assists victims of natural and human-made conflicts and disasters.
Read: The top WASH employers in global development (Career)
More reading: The top global development employers hiring in the United Kingdom (Career)
Members-only jobs this week
1. Solutions Architect (Microsoft 365)
Intergovernmental organization
Austria
2. Crisis Response Health & Nutrition Coordinator
Nonprofit human development organization
Ethiopia
3. Financial Management Specialist
International financial institution
Bangladesh
4. Statistics and Data Analysis Associate
United Nations agency
Hungary
Curated Candidate Lists: Recruiter pick
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Career level: Senior-level with 10 years of experience.
Elevator pitch: “I am a finance expert in humanitarian development and emergency response. Having worked with different international organizations in empowering and bringing access to rights of persons with disabilities, I understand that youths aged between 18 and 32 in particular require special attention to self-development. I have been able to help youths impact each other by developing strategic information to improve their health, education and livelihoods through reinforcement peer education training.”
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Around the watercooler
News and views from around global development worth knowing about.
Lessons on burnout. While rest is the first step in recovering from burnout, taking a more sustainable approach to work is key for the long term, writes Dhanush Dinesh, founder of the climate startup Clim-Eat.
USAID’s empty offices. Despite being the United States federal agency with the highest building occupancy rate, USAID is still using just 26% of its space inside the Ronald Reagan Building. And that’s a big waste of money.
The global south’s funding woes. Despite pledges to localize funding and untie foreign aid, over 90% of the global north’s official development assistance still flows to organizations in their own countries. [Devex Pro]
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About the author
Katrina J. Lane
Katrina Lane is an Editorial Strategist and Reporter at Devex. She writes on ecologies and social inclusion, and also supports the creation of partnership content at Devex. She holds a degree in Psychology from Warwick University, offering a unique perspective on the cognitive frameworks and social factors that influence responses to global issues.
