Global development consultants are used to adapting — but the first quarter of 2025 has tested even the most seasoned. With the ripple effects of the U.S. foreign aid freeze still being felt across the sector, many consultants have seen delayed payments, paused procurements, and increased competition for a shrinking pool of assignments.
According to Devex job board data, consulting opportunities dropped by nearly 25% between late January and late May compared to the same period in 2024. The decrease has been especially steep for long-term contracts, which fell by 32%, while short-term roles declined by 19%.
These figures are part of a new Devex Consulting Survival Guide, a downloadable report aimed at helping consultants navigate the current hiring landscape.
Despite the overall downturn, more than 16,000 consulting jobs were still posted on Devex during the first quarter. This underscores that opportunities persist. However, the rules are shifting.
Shifting patterns and rising competition
The guide notes that long-term contracts — once the cornerstone of stable consulting income — are drying up faster than other opportunities. At the same time, competition for short-term assignments has grown, particularly in monitoring and evaluation, proposal writing, and project delivery roles.
For many consultants, particularly international ones, the pressure is on to differentiate. While localization efforts have created more space for national experts — those from the global south working within their own borders. This is a long-term positive trend, but it also means international consultants are competing in tighter markets and need to better articulate their value-add.
And unpredictability remains part of the job. “The thing with consulting, as we know, is that things never go according to plan. Client payments will be delayed, among other things. So I always tell people to de-risk as much as possible,” said Kelsi Kriitmaa, a social impact coach quoted in the guide.
Adapting strategies for a new environment
The Devex guide doesn’t just diagnose the problem — it offers strategies for navigating it. Drawing from interviews with consultants, recruiters, and data analysts, it provides practical advice on how to adjust pricing, strengthen social media visibility, and respond to changing procurement dynamics.
There are also insights into what hiring managers are prioritizing: cross-donor experience, adaptability, and specialized skill sets are increasingly valued, especially when consultants can demonstrate how they’ve delivered in crisis-affected or politically complex environments.
For early-career consultants, the picture is mixed. While demand for highly specialized experts is rising, those earlier in their independent careers may find it harder to secure steady work without institutional connections or recent project experience. Still, some national consultants are gaining ground as localization commitments shift hiring patterns.
Looking ahead
In a market defined by unpredictability, many consultants are shifting their mindset as much as their methods — from relying on known pipelines to actively shaping new ones. The Devex Consulting Survival Guide offers a snapshot of this evolving landscape and practical ideas for consultants looking to stay competitive.
Devex Career Account and Pro members can access the full guide here.
About the author
Raquel Alcega
Raquel Alcega leads the data research and analysis at Devex, providing advice to organizations on the latest funding and programmatic trends that shape the global development space. She also heads up the news business content strategy and designs internal knowledge management processes. Prior to joining Devex’s Barcelona office, she worked in business development in Washington, D.C., and as a researcher in Russia and Mexico.
