The AI skills global development professionals need in 2026

Skills in the use of artificial intelligence tools are increasingly becoming an expectation in hiring for global development roles — even when AI is not in the job title. As organizations across the sector operate with limited resources, many are looking to use these tools to improve efficiency. Use of AI among humanitarian professionals is currently clustered around document review, language translation, and support for daily operations, said Ka Man Parkinson, communications and marketing lead with the Humanitarian Leadership Academy, which co-led a global survey on the topic last year. The next level of expertise includes use of AI tools for more contextualized applications, such as monitoring and evaluation, data analysis and visualization, and program management and design, Parkinson explained during a recent Devex event. But AI expertise remains scarce, according to HLA’s recent pulse check survey. For individual job seekers, this presents an opportunity, said Parkinson — professionals who are proactive in learning AI and engaging in conversations on the topic will be at an advantage in the job market. AI is already par for the course Rebeca Moreno Jiménez, a humanitarian data scientist who supports the integration of AI across different functions, often told the teams she works with that AI will not take their jobs but someone who knows how to use these technologies will. She recommended that professionals across the sector take courses that combine AI skills with their areas of expertise. According to Ali Al Mokdad, a senior strategic leader who advises organizations on AI strategy and implementation, workflows for many knowledge-based roles have already changed as a result of these tools. In strategy development, for example, AI is already taking on a large share of context analysis, scenario planning, and risk management, among other tasks, he explained. Meanwhile, in portfolio management, the integration of dashboards such as Power BI and generative AI tools that support the drafting of reports and proposals has been a game changer, he said. Judgment and leadership as important as technical AI skills While technical skills will always be in demand, it’s clear, said Parkison, that you don’t need to be a prompt engineer or have coding skills to meaningfully engage with AI in development and humanitarian work. What matters, she said, are project management and leadership skills, along with a willingness to embrace agile ways of working. For nontechnical roles, Mokdad said that AI use is about understanding how to bring these tools to your workflow — something that requires an open mindset and curiosity. While he has helped hire for roles in grants management and program management that required candidates to be able read dashboards — data aggregation, management, and visualization tools — the key skill was how senior management at the country level would use those insights to make decisions. In other cases, such as director roles overseeing a portfolio, the demand wasn’t for expertise of a specific AI tool but rather for candidates who could integrate those tools and manage the shifts in workflow. How and where to develop AI skills The experts recommended a number of online platforms, such as Coursera, HPass, Credly, and edX which offer courses in AI tools and, in some cases, badges in different skills. Share those qualifications on your LinkedIn and write a post about what you have learned, suggested Parkinson, noting that HLA also offers learning resources for humanitarian staff interested in AI. You’ll signal to employers that you are engaged and thinking about how to bring these tools to your work, she said. Mokdad noted that there are also AI courses specific to leadership, data management, and international affairs, as well as a lot of webinars on the topic. But his recommendation: Use AI tools and prompt them to search the internet and provide key recommendations based on what's available online. Jiménez recommended learning through collaborations — whether with data science or information technology teams, or with those working in the same areas of expertise. Read the news to keep up with the trends in your sector and how AI is affecting it, she said. Demonstrating AI skills in job applications Jiménez suggested that job seekers can look at the tools widely used in their sector or area of expertise and list role-relevant programs or AI tools on their CV. Communications officers could highlight Canva AI and the generative AI tools they use for proofreading or editing, she said. Other relevant skills for development professionals could include basic prompting, AI-enabled project management tools, and, for data-focused roles, programming proficiency. For some positions that Jiménez supports hiring for, such as an AI researcher, candidates are required to submit a written assessment. This test is designed, she explained, to see if and how they can use AI, which includes citing any AI references and sharing information on the prompts they use.