Many jobs in global development require professionals to work away from home for large segments of time. Starting a family in this scenario is not ideal — if not impossible — and many professionals have to make a hard choice, some even giving up their careers.
In most countries, the responsibility often falls on women to stay at home and be the primary caregiver, at least for the first few years of a child’s life.
“As a mom — regardless what your role or your work is — you always feel like you’re failing something: Failing your child, you’re failing yourself, you’re failing your job,” said Debbie Santalesa, emergency preparedness and planning manager at CARE International.