How to navigate the global development job market in 2026

After widespread layoffs this year, professionals across the sector hope to see an uptick in hiring in 2026 as organizations explore new partnerships and funding models. During a recent Devex digital event, leading recruitment and career experts discussed how the effects of the U.S. funding cuts continue to shape the job market, sharing insights into where demand for expertise is growing and how those on the hunt for a job can leverage transferable skills to remain competitive. There is some good news for development job seekers. According to the experts, fundraising teams are hiring as organizations look to engage new donors, the emergence of new hubs is creating local opportunities, and some INGOs are reinstating their internship programs, offering entry-level pathways into the sector. However, agility will be a critical skill for professionals navigating the global development job market, particularly as the gig economy continues to grow. And, for anyone looking to land their next role, highlighting transferable skills, upskilling, and networking will be important. Douglas Mercer, managing director of talent attraction and acquisition with Save the Children US, said that given the unstable funding environment and lack of job security, it’s important for professionals — even for those currently in full-time positions — to develop their networks. He encouraged professionals to “put yourself out there” and offer free coaching, consulting, or mentoring to build connections across organizations. Here’s what else you need to know to navigate the job market in 2026. It’s all about transferable skills This year’s funding cuts had a particularly devastating impact on certain roles — primarily those directly linked to projects, such as project leads and monitoring and evaluation, or M&E, positions — and new opportunities in these areas remain limited. Fundraising and marketing roles, however, have been among the least affected and are critical to organizational regrowth, said Mercer. Save the Children, like many other organizations in the sector, is looking to pivot and diversify the donors it engages with. The focus now is on building new donor audiences and recruiting for positions to help attract, engage, and sustain these revenue streams, he explained. While hiring is very competitive, Mercer noted that many job seekers have transferable skills that lend themself to these roles — someone who has experience as a U.S. government grant writer, for example, knows the sector and has the relevant skills in donor engagement, donor compliance, and sales. “Those are essential skills today that can transfer really well to what I think the new NGO market is going to be,” he said. Mercer stressed the importance of highlighting these assets. “Put yourself out there as not just an international USAID award manager, for example, but as a donor liaison,” he said. “It’s still all about the donor — it’s just [a question of] who are the donors today.” Similarly, Janaina Tavares, global head of people and culture at ActionAid International, sees a shift away from grant management and a demand instead for growth strategists. “That’s what we’re looking for — people who can literally open new markets, secure diversified income, and build multiyear revenue pipelines.” She noted that experience in blended finance, corporate partnerships, and strong commercial skills is currently highly sought after. Upskill for the AI and digital environment Artificial intelligence is already impacting how organizations in the sector approach their internal operations, programming, and policy research, according to Craig Zelizer, CEO and founder of PCDN Global. This is therefore a great area in which to build skills, he suggested, adding that Bluedot, Open Philanthropy — now known as Coefficient Giving, and the Humanitarian Leadership Academy offer opportunities to do so. “At a minimum, everyone needs to be AI literate,” but job seekers should also go beyond simply understanding how to use these tools and think about AI ethics, policy, and integration, he said. Upskilling, more generally, is also one of the most important things a job seeker can do, given the current competitive job market, said Zelizer. He recommended that job seekers explore opportunities to upskill through fellowship programs or no-cost options, such as LinkedIn Learning. For mid-career professionals looking to pivot, Zelizer suggested joining the board of a relevant organization or volunteering to show a track record of interest and help move into new areas of work. Tavares said that as organizations are working with more complexity and fewer resources, they need people who can interpret information quickly and use digital tools to make smarter decisions. “You don’t need to be a data scientist, but you do need to be comfortable operating in this digital environment,” she said. “And the people who will really thrive are those who combine strong human judgment with the digital confidence to adapt and innovate — and that combination is what's driving employability and impact across every region today.” Emerging hubs are offering opportunities for local professionals The rise of emerging global development hubs and the acceleration of localization are redefining the NGO job market, according to Tavares. “We’re seeing real opportunities opening up across several regional markets,” she said, noting cities across Africa, Asia, and Latin America that “are all showing strong growth.” This is creating significant opportunities for national talent, said Tavares, as decision-making moves closer to where programs are delivered. Organizations are increasingly looking for people with deep local insight, strong analytical skills, and the ability to work with information and evidence. “Those capabilities now carry as much weight as traditional technical expertise, because they directly shape program design, they strengthen community understanding, and they support sound decision making,” she said.