Meet the next generation development professional

New sources of funding, new actors and new technologies are quickly changing the way we do development. They’re also changing the kinds of development professionals that will be in demand to work in this complex ecosystem. In a survey Devex conducted in partnership with the U.S. Global Development Lab at the United States Agency for International Development and Population Services International, 83 percent of respondents believe that in 10 years, the technology, skills and approaches used by development professionals will be significantly different than they are today. Alexis Bonnell, division chief for applied innovation and acceleration at the U.S. Global Development Lab and Marshall Stowell, vice president for external relations and communications at PSI, helped us unpack the findings in a webinar to discuss what they mean for development professionals and the kinds of skills they will need to develop to be successful in the future. As income levels rise and private sector plays an increasing role in reaching the bottom of the pyramid, a marketing mindset — one that thinks of beneficiaries instead as consumers — will be critical, both Bonnell and Stowell stressed. With the growing importance of big data, expect data driven and evidence based approaches to be the norm. “I don’t refer to data as data, but as business intelligence you should be making business decisions around,” Bonnell said. Comfort with technology and how it can influence your programming will be essential, and not just for technologists. However, the risk in that, warned Stowell, is that that we may “lose more senior voices in development” who aren’t as fluent in new technology but still have important experience to contribute. Reverse mentoring programs, suggested Bonnell, have been effective at creating a dynamic exchange between the “old school and new school” at USAID to build respect to what each other brings to the table and ensure a diversity of voices and experiences are represented. As the development sector becomes more dynamic, soft skills are increasingly important. “Technical competencies are ticking a box, but what matters more is their soft skills, they are the differentiator,” said Bonnell when discussing what they look for when hiring for the lab. Watch the full webinar to learn more about what the evolving aid industry means for your career. Looking to make a career move? Visit our career center for expert advice on how to navigate your job search - all you need is a Devex Career Account to get started.