Presented by MIT’s Master of Data, Economics, and Design of Policy
There is still much unknown about the development sector AI-integrated future, but in terms of whether it will impact how you work, it’s not a question of if, but when. If this makes you nervous, there is some good news.
“You don’t need to go get a degree in computer science or in some aspect of artificial intelligence,” Bart Édes, a development professor of practice at McGill University, told me during a recent Devex digital event. “But you do need to know how to use basic tools.”
In this edition of Career Hub, I’m sharing insights from experts on how to gain foundational and practical artificial intelligence skills that could help you stand out in today’s uber-competitive job market. Plus, the best new job opportunities from Devex’s board, from leading organizations such as CARE, the International Finance Corporation, and many others.
Career Hub will be taking its annual summer hiatus next week, and will be back on Friday, Aug. 15. In the meantime, Devex will be sending out deep dives on some of the most pressing development topics. If you’d like to receive them, please sign up for the daily Newswire.
Top full-time staff jobs this week
1. Executive Director: J-PAL Africa
The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab
South Africa
2. Manager, Media and Communications
CARE
United States
3. Monitoring and Evaluation Senior Officer
UNOPS
Thailand
4. Recruiting Specialist
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
United States
5. Field Project Manager
Alinea International Ltd.
Saint Lucia
6. Speechwriter for the Secretary-General
Commonwealth Secretariat
United Kingdom
Devex Talent Solutions, our boutique recruitment agency, is supporting CARE in its search for a country director to be based in Kenya. This is a full-time, senior-level position. Applications must be submitted by Sept. 12.
+ See more roles DTS is helping to fill.
“Start experimenting with AI tools in your current work now, but do it thoughtfully.”
— Jack Jarrett, international development HR adviser
AI’s ability to optimize everyday workflows is why all sector professionals should gain foundational knowledge of how it works and how it can be applied to their work. Here are a few key takeaways from our recent digital event on how to best integrate AI into your work.
Focus on immediate, practical needs. If you’re starting from scratch, focus on getting to know what widely used AI tools are capable of and how some of this might be specifically applied to your role. “[Look] at platforms that address immediate needs, so practical needs, rather than diving into highly technical tools,” Jarrett said.
Learn on your own, for free. With many organizations still lacking official strategies, there are many free or inexpensive courses and tutorials available to help development professionals learn on their own. Among the recommendations by Édes and Jarrett are DeepLearning.AI’s AI for Everyone and Google’s introduction to generative AI.
Study AI risks as well. Data privacy, bias, and transparency are among the key problem areas to be aware of, but there are also environmental and digital access concerns that development professionals in particular should consider. The Ethics of AI course, created by the University of Helsinki, is one of many free resources to explore.
Watch: How AI is transforming development roles, and how to adapt (Career)
Explore more: 7 global development roles that are being transformed by AI (Career)
Download: A global development pro’s guide to AI (Career)
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Top consulting and short-term jobs
1. Human Resources Consultant - Special Programs
Inter-American Development Bank
United States | Latin America and the Caribbean
2. Business Development Specialist
The African Capacity Building Foundation
Kenya | Zimbabwe | Ghana
3. Request for Proposals: Capacity Building in SERC
Cowater International
Cambodia
4. Senior Officer – Grants Management
International Water Management Institute
South Africa
5. Senior HR Business Partner/Regional HR Cluster Lead
International Finance Corporation
United Arab Emirates
6. Senior Fundraising Campaigns Project Manager (Maternity Cover)
Comic Relief
United Kingdom (remote)
+ For more opportunities, check out the weekly Devex Jobs Alert newsletter on LinkedIn and the Devex job board.
What’s the deal with portfolio careers?
You’ve probably seen or heard the term “portfolio career” before, but you might be wondering how this approach differs from regular, old freelance work. In part, it’s a mindset shift.
Instead of being “between things, you are a business, and this is a real job,” Kelsi Kriitmaa, a leadership and executive coach who has worked across humanitarian, United Nations, and philanthropic sectors, told me earlier this week in our most recent digital careers event.
The benefits of having multiple income streams and identities are many, including not being overdependent on one organization for the entirety of your income — an issue many in the sector have had to contend with this year.
However, there are many potential downsides to consider as well, which is why we dedicated a full hour to hearing Kriitmaa’s insights on all that a successful portfolio career entails.
Watch: Portfolio careers in development — what to know and how to get started (Career)
Around the watercooler
News and views from around global development worth knowing about.
• MCC will survive, but at a cost. The Millennium Challenge Corporation, which seemed to be on the DOGE chopping block, has survived the Trump administration’s foreign assistance review, but more than half of its programs are slated for cancellation.
• USAID director alleges ‘malfeasance’. Andrea Capellán, a director in USAID’s Office of Acquisition and Assistance, said over the last six months, the agency's leadership has addressed serious issues through a pattern of “ignore, ignore, ignore.”
• Inside Gavi’s strategy shift. In the wake of losing U.S. support, the organization’s board approved a new approach to supporting children living in fragile and humanitarian contexts and confirmed it will introduce the respiratory syncytial virus vaccines for pregnant mothers.
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