The top 10 global development employers of 2021

With 2021 in the books, we can now safely say that nearly 107,000 job postings appeared on Devex’s job board last year. The 8,900 postings per month is a significant increase from the roughly 6,500 available to job seekers in pre-pandemic 2019. About 7,500 new jobs per month were available during a turbulent 2020 that saw the onset of COVID-19. As in years past, United Nations agencies accounted for most of the jobs posted among the top 10 employers, with the Asian Development Bank, the Danish Refugee Council, and ARCADIS making up for the rest. Here is a closer look at the agencies that were the busiest recruiting in 2021, including where these jobs were located, which specialties were in demand, and which experience levels had more opportunities to choose from. 1. UNICEF Jobs posted: 5,955 Top countries: United States, Switzerland, and Ethiopia Top positions: Education specialist, child protection officer The most active employer on Devex’s jobs board in 2021 offered most of its opportunities to entry-to-mid-level workers (75%), which was also the case for the majority of agencies listed here. UNICEF offered the second-highest percentage of consulting jobs at 35%. Of the top 10 hiring sectors, UNICEF was the leading employer in the water and sanitation sector and a major player in many others. The pandemic created a demand for roles related to WASH and supporting vaccination efforts, Anne Favreau, UNICEF’s human resources partner team chief, told Devex. “[In terms of] areas that are emerging as well … one of them is cash [transfers], and we have a lot of needs [there].” Favreau said. “Access to local populations is another emerging trend, [and] the environment.” UNICEF is currently seeking a WASH officer in Mexico and a fundraising associate in Bogota, Colombia. View all openings. 2. U.N. Development Programme Jobs posted: 5,913 Top countries: Brazil, Pakistan, and the U.S. Top positions: Project manager, human resources associate As with UNICEF, there were fewer senior-level positions available than entry-level positions at UNDP, which is a shift from 2019, when they made up nearly a quarter of the agency’s postings. UNDP offered the most internships — 171 — of all employers, and 3 in 10 of all positions posted were for consultants. “We work on poverty reduction, governance, crisis prevention and resilience, environment, clean energy, and women's empowerment and gender equality. We are always looking for people with very strong technical skills in those areas,” Lykke Andersen, chief of talent acquisition and people programs at UNDP, told Devex. UNDP is currently seeking CPD evaluation consultants in São Tomé and Príncipe, and a program specialist of climate and security risk in Panama. View all openings. 3. World Bank Group Jobs posted: 3,941 Top countries: U.S., Mozambique, and India Top positions: Extended term consultant, procurement specialist The World Bank was the only agency among the top 10 that posted more consulting opportunities at 54% than permanent ones. It also had many more jobs available for senior- and executive-level workers at 31% than most others. Beyond banking and finance, the bank was the most active employer seeking talent in the innovation and ICT sector. The bank is currently seeking many consultants, including a senior environmental specialist in Washington, D.C., and a project development expert in Saudi Arabia. View all openings. 4. U.N. Refugee Agency Jobs posted: 3,635 Top countries: Switzerland, Ethiopia, and Malaysia Top positions: Protection associate, programme associate Of the U.N. agencies, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was one of the top employers for entry-level job seekers, accounting for 42% of its postings. This is up from just 16% in 2019. Outside of the human rights and humanitarian aid sectors, there were also significant opportunities in media and communications. UNHCR is currently seeking an NGO and civil society intern in its division of external relations based in Switzerland and an interactive learning developer in Budapest, Hungary. View all openings. 5. World Health Organization Jobs posted: 2,754 Top countries: Switzerland, Philippines, and Fiji Top positions: Technical officer, epidemiologist More than half of the available positions at WHO were for mid-level workers, with about 22% targeting senior-level job seekers. The top employer in the global health sector also offered significant opportunities for consultants, with 30% of its postings targeting these workers. WHO is currently seeking a procurement officer in Nairobi, Kenya, and a program officer in General Santos, Philippines. View all openings. 6. ARCADIS Jobs posted: 2,329 Top countries: U.S., the United Kingdom, and Philippines Top positions: Project manager, project accounting analyst ARCADIS was the top organization in terms of entry-level opportunities, which accounted for 54% of its postings. The agency offered the most positions related to climate and the environment as well as in the infrastructure sector. ARCADIS is currently seeking a senior environmental consultant in Hong Kong and a deputy project director in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. View all openings. 7. Asian Development Bank Jobs posted: 2, 305 Top countries: Philippines, India, and China Top positions: Social Safeguards Specialist, Project Analyst The Asian Development Bank was by far the most active seeker of consulting talent, with 84% of its postings targeting these job seekers. It was also the only organization here whose majority of opportunities were for those with senior and executive-level applicants at 64%, with only about 5% seeking entry-level workers. ADB is currently seeking consultants specializing in community engagement and gender expert in Nauru and environmental management and sustainable tourism in Kyrgyzstan. View all openings. 8. Danish Refugee Council Jobs posted: 2,134 Top countries: Iraq, Colombia, and Afghanistan Top positions: Protection officer, finance officer Out of the non-U.N. agencies listed here, Danish Refugee Council had the highest percentage of entry-level positions available at 67% and was also the leading employer in the human rights and governance sector. DRC is currently seeking a safety coordinator in Yangon, Myanmar, and protection assistants in Kenya and Libya. View all openings. 9. Food and Agriculture Organization Jobs posted: 2,080 Top countries: Italy, Philippines, and Saudi Arabia Top positions: Office assistant, legal specialist In addition to being the top employer on our jobs board in the agriculture and urban development sector, FAO was one of the more active agencies seeking staff in media and communications. FAO is currently seeking a trade economist in Rome, Italy, and a procurement officer in Libreville, Gabon. View all openings. 10. Environmental Resources Management Jobs posted: 2,028 Top countries: U.S., U.K., and Australia Top positions: Health and safety consultant, environmental consultant Environmental Resources Management offered the second-highest percentage of postings to entry-level candidates at 37%. An analysis of hiring trends for climate and environment postings conducted late last year found that ERM was the most active hirer of these roles between April and November. ERM is currently seeking a human rights partner in London, U.K., and an environmental engineer in Irvine, California. View all openings. Sign up to Devex Career Hub for global development’s top jobs, expert career advice, and practical tips to help you do more good for more people.