The top local employers hiring in Central and South Asia

With the development sector experiencing significant shifts this year, employment in different regions is also expected to feel notable changes, and Central and South Asia is no exception. Since the USAID’s stop-work order was announced on Jan. 24 this year, Devex data shows there have been 4,227 opportunities. That is a decrease of nearly 24% compared to the 5,560 opportunities in the equivalent period last year. But despite ongoing policy shifts and trade deals happening in the development scene, many international and local organizations have continued to recruit development professionals in the region. Devex data suggests the top recruiting organizations in the region are multilateral organizations such as the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank Group, which are not locally based. However this analysis is confined to locally headquartered organizations. Below, we highlight local organizations recruiting in the Central and South Asian region and identify what common level of experience, contract durations, sectors, and job titles these organizations look for. 1. International Water Management Institute Headquarters: Colombo, Sri Lanka Year founded: 1984 Total jobs posted since Jan. 24: 49 The International Water Management Institute is a research-for-development organization focused on solving water and land management challenges faced by communities globally. IWMI commonly recruits for mid-level, internship, and consultancy positions. Water and sanitation, as well as project management and finance-related roles, such as research officers and country engagement consultants, are the most common since Jan. 24. View all current IWMI job openings on Devex. 2. Danish Committee for Aid to Afghan Refugees Headquarters: Kabul, Afghanistan Year founded: 1984 Total jobs posted since Jan. 24: 38 The Danish Committee for Aid to Afghan Refugees is a nongovernmental organization committed to improving the lives of Afghan people by addressing the acute needs of the most vulnerable and supporting early recovery and sustainable development for all. DACAAR mostly advertised entry-level opportunities and fixed-term contract positions since Jan. 24. Administrative and humanitarian aid-related opportunities such as field officers, data management assistants, and admin officers are the most common job titles. View all current DACAAR job openings on Devex. 3. Aga Khan Health Services Headquarters: Multiple locations Total jobs posted since Jan. 24: 37 Aga Khan Health Services is a nonprofit health care agency under the Aga Khan Development Network focused on offering comprehensive health care services in low- and middle-income countries. AKHS primarily released mid-level opportunities and full-time contract positions. Program manager and clinical officer roles related to the health sector are most common since Jan. 24. View all current AKHS job openings on Devex. 4. International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics Headquarters: Hyderabad, India Year founded: 1972 Total jobs posted since Jan. 24: 28 The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics is an international research center committed to developing and improving farming and agrifood systems, addressing the challenges of hunger, malnutrition, poverty, and environmental degradation. ICRISAT mostly recruits for mid-level opportunities and fixed-term contract positions. Administrative, agriculture, and research-related opportunities such as senior associates and research technicians are the most common job titles since Jan. 24. View all current ICRISAT job openings on Devex. 5. Teach for India Headquarters: Mumbai, India Year founded: 2008 Total jobs posted since Jan. 24: 24 Teach for India is a nationwide movement of leaders focused on addressing educational challenges and transforming the lives of children from low-income communities through education. Teach for India has mainly advertised entry-level opportunities and full-time contract positions since Jan. 24. Administrative-related roles such as associates, program managers, and managers are the most common roles. View all current Teach for India openings on Devex. 6. European Union missions Headquarters: Yeghegnadzor, Armenia; and Tbilisi, Georgia Year founded: 2023 (Armenia) and 2008 (Georgia) Total jobs posted since Jan. 24: 23 The European Union missions are tasked with peacekeeping operations and strengthening international security. Civilian missions in the region, such as the EU Mission in Armenia and EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia are committed to observing, reporting, and contributing to the improvement of human security. The EU has primarily advertised mid-level opportunities and full-time contract positions since Jan. 24. Monitoring team leaders and reporting officers are the most common job titles. View all current EU missions openings on Devex. 7. BRAC Headquarters: Dhaka, Bangladesh Year founded: 1972 Total jobs posted since Jan. 24: 22 BRAC is a development organization focused on community-led and holistic approaches, delivering long-term impacts to communities in marginalized situations and post-disaster settings with a particular focus on women and children. BRAC mainly released senior- and mid-level opportunities and full-time contract positions. Administrative, financial, and project management-related roles such as heads of department, senior managers and country directors are the most common since Jan. 24. 8. Child Rights and You Headquarters: Mumbai, India Year founded: 1979 Total jobs posted since Jan. 24: 12 Child Rights and You, or CRY, is a nongovernmental organization focused on improving access to quality education and health care, preventing and stopping child labor and marriages to ensure the rights of every child. CRY primarily advertised mid-level opportunities and consultancy positions. Administrative, media, and communication-related opportunities such as communications senior managers, corporate partnerships and institutional grants consultants are the most common job titles. View all current CRY openings on Devex. 9. Indian Red Cross Society Headquarters: New Delhi, India Year founded: 1920 Total jobs posted since Jan. 24: Nine The Indian Red Cross Society is a humanitarian organization committed to relief efforts during disasters and emergencies for individuals and communities in India. IRCS mainly advertised senior administrative and health-related job roles such as deputy secretaries and medical officers since Jan. 24. 10. Teach for Pakistan Headquarters: Islamabad, Pakistan Year founded: 2010 Total jobs posted since Jan. 24: Eight Teach for Pakistan is a nonprofit organization focused on addressing the educational inequity across social, economic, and political systems and developing solutions to the education crisis in Pakistan. Teach for Pakistan primarily advertised mid-level opportunities and full-time contract positions. Administrative and media-focused roles were the most common since Jan. 24. View all current Teach for Pakistan openings on Devex.