In the weeks since U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration began dismantling the country’s foreign aid department, thousands of staff have lost their jobs or been put on administrative leave, the majority of their projects and programs no longer deemed in line with the United States’ more domestic focus. And that’s just the USAID jobs — thousands more work for contractors and organizations that depended on USAID for funding, and have found themselves laid off or furloughed. But the international development and aid community has stepped up, supporting fellow sector professionals with online events and emergency funds, jobs lists, and free advice.
“Our sector has always had a familial feel, and when challenges present themselves, which they have in various ways over the years — wars, natural disasters, COVID-19, and shifts in resources — individuals and organizations find a way to step up,” Joanne Sonenshine, a funding adviser to corporate sustainability leaders, told Devex in an email. “In this particular case, we’re seeing people from all over the world doing whatever they can to help.” Sonenshine herself has compiled a spreadsheet listing the profiles of over 1,400 job seekers and more than 300 open positions.
She’s not the only one. LinkedIn, for many in the sector, has become a hub offering free coaching calls, job postings, virtual happy hours, and advice, as people attempt to retain USAID talent within the sector.