Top global development NGO employers in London

London is a bustling hub for international development nongovernmental organizations, consultancy firms, and governmental organizations alike. Westminster is home to the United Kingdom government’s Department for International Development — responsible for expending the majority of the country’s official development assistance — while the headquarters for a large number of international and local charities are also located throughout the city. The cosmopolitan and internationally accessible nature of the capital makes it a prime location for global development employers to be based. Charities can receive up to 80 percent tax relief on property rent from the U.K. government and the number of cultural centers, development experts, and global development events held in London has created a close community of international development professionals. The looming future of Brexit, however, poses uncertainty for some development organizations based there. U.K. charities could lose their eligibility for most EU development funding after the country leaves the EU, as Devex reported last year. While a large number of charities are still headquartered in London, in recent years there have been some making the move away from the U.K. and instead setting up in developing countries or other locations worldwide. ActionAid moved its headquarters from London to Johannesburg in Jan. 2004, with the intention of actively involving the people and communities they aid on the ground. While it has taken longer for others to follow suit, the trend is starting to grow. In 2010, the person responsible for ActionAid’s move, Salil Shetty, was employed as secretary general of Amnesty International and instigated a similar devolvement of power from the London headquarters. Amnesty International significantly reduced the size of their London office to open smaller hubs globally, including Amnesty India, Amnesty Brazil, and Amnesty Nigeria, as well as opening regional offices in Dakar, Nairobi, Johannesburg, Hong Kong, and Mexico. Oxfam is also moving their headquarters to Nairobi. However, the majority of London-based NGOs have remained and offer many job opportunities for development professionals looking to work in the U.K. The following list compiles the top global development NGO employers with their headquarters located in London. Check out the Devex job board to find current vacancies in London. British Red Cross “[We help] people in crisis, whoever and wherever they are.” The British Red Cross is part of the global Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement network that responds to emergencies worldwide and provides relief both nationally and internationally in over 25 countries across Europe, Africa, and Asia. Having been founded over a century ago to aid sick and wounded soldiers in times of war, the British Red Cross continues to supply hundreds of skilled medical personnel and volunteers in emergency situations as well as advocating first aid training for all. “We have office-based staff in London, but we also have an emergency response unit team [that has] to be prepared to fly anywhere in the world when an emergency happens,” one staff member told Devex. “It makes it an exciting place to be, because the team has to be ready to respond to an emergency and go and work with one of the field offices.” Issues they work on: • Emergency humanitarian relief • Preparation and prevention of crises and fast response when one occurs. They provide aid for the recovery process after a disaster has hit and support for refugees, as well as providing missing persons assistance to families separated by crises. • First aid support, supplies, training, and advice • Advocacy on issues relating to health care, emergency response, and refugees’ welfare. Their London office Size: There are approximately 600 employees currently working in their London office. Departments: Because of the vast size of the London office, there are a number of positions and departments based there, including: fundraising, communications and engagement, information technology, and finance. Who they hire: With such a large organization, they are always hiring for new roles. “We recruit for a wide range of jobs, so we look for experience and qualifications according to the role. People come to us with a range of experience, from voluntary work through to senior experienced professionals,” a representative of British Red Cross explained to Devex. See current job openings with the British Red Cross here. Marie Stopes International “We help women to have children by choice, not chance.” MSI estimates they have averted 7.6 million unintended pregnancies and 21,600 maternal deaths in 2016 alone. From its beginnings as a clinic-based organization, MSI now reaches over 600 centers globally across 37 different countries from its London headquarters. Research is also integral to Marie Stopes’ mission; their highly skilled evidence and innovation team work in partnership with MSI’s regional centers to develop a component that helps to improve the delivery of services and reach more people. “It goes without saying that most people working in international development have a keen interest in international issues and living and working abroad,” said Kylie Harrison, media and public affairs adviser. “That said, as the mother of a toddler, I am acutely aware that being able to drop everything and move to another country is not always possible. So for me, working in London for an international organization offers the next best thing.” Issues they work on: • Family Planning: Work to expand access to high-quality and modern contraception across the globe, as well as safe abortions. • Maternal Health: Provide safe abortions to women in countries where they are legally allowed to do so and provide aftercare to those who have undergone unsafe abortions or miscarriages. They also aid women giving birth who would otherwise not have access to professional or medical help. Their London office Size: Around 220 staff with recruitment ongoing throughout the year. Departments: A large majority of their London roles are regional or global ones, aimed at capacity building or technical specialism. There is a wide variety of roles and departments that generally fall under: • Support functions: HR, communications, IT, finance, and legal • Specific developmental teams: Regional program teams, donor management, business development, and medical development team Who they hire: While they recruit for positions with differing levels of experience required, MSI tends to hire people with at least a few years of experience in their field and with a higher qualification in public health. However, they do also run a small graduate program and hire for a few entry-level jobs. “In a lot of the program roles, a large percentage have higher qualifications in subjects such as public health, so graduates from organizations that specialize in those fields are particularly welcome” they explained. See current job opportunities with Marie Stopes here. WaterAid “Making water, toilets and hygiene normal for everyone, everywhere.” WaterAid was founded following the Thirsty Third World Conference that took place in the U.K. in 1981, working on safe water and sanitation issues. They are in 26 countries and have helped over 25.8 million people access safe water since their beginning. From London, their work includes policy and advocacy and they spearhead well-known campaigns, such as The Big Dig appeal that took place in 2012, which used social media to document daily photo-diary entries from the communities where they work. This successfully raised over 2 million pounds to deliver clean water and safe sanitation to over 134,000 people in Malawi. Issues they work on: • Water, hygiene and sanitation: WaterAid provides clean water, toilets, and sanitation education to millions of people across the globe. • Advocacy: WaterAid works with governments to provide assistance in delivering clean water and sanitation solutions. • Human Rights: Works with communities that have been forgotten in the development process to understand their human rights to clean and safe water and sanitation. They also instigate dialogue between governments, local authorities, and communities to improve these services. Their London office Size: Approximately 300 staff, which accounts for about one-third of WaterAid’s global staff. Departments: “In the London office, we have a real breadth of departments and teams. We have support functions including IT, finance, and our ‘people team,’ which is our human resources function.” Communications and fundraising — their largest directorate, which includes mass engagement, digital, media, film and photo, brand, performance, and insight and strategic partnerships — is also housed in the London office. The international programs department is partly London-based, including some of the program support unit, which provides specialist technical support to countries where they deliver their work. Additionally the policy and campaigns team shape their global policy and advocacy approach, along with the policy and advocacy personnel overseas. Because of the global nature of their work, they explained: “many of our London roles have a global and international remit or will involve travel.” Who they hire: The London office has a range of entry-level and junior roles for recent graduates, up to senior and specialist roles, including technical specialists, heads of departments, and directors. WaterAid recruits a mix of people from a variety of sectors and backgrounds. They told Devex, “our workforce in the U.K. is becoming predominantly millennial, and we believe this is as a result of the types of roles we have here, as well as the type of candidates in the London market.” They also emphasize how they encourage development and growth within the organization, advertising all roles internally as well as externally. They regularly fill vacancies with internal candidates and support secondments across teams. See current job opportunities with WaterAid here. CARE International UK “Fighting poverty. Defending dignity.” CARE International was initially founded in the United States after World War II to deliver care packages of food and basic supplies to those suffering across Europe. Today, they continue to supply emergency humanitarian aid, as well as long-term development projects to alleviate poverty across 79 countries. Issues they work on: • Gender equality: Educating girls and promote women’s rights, gender equality, and female employment to give them control over their lives and reduce poverty for themselves and their families. • Poverty reduction: Tackling hunger, improving health, and building resilience. • Emergency relief: Providing emergency aid and long-term relief after a crisis. Their London office Size: Currently 145 members of staff. Departments: The office consists of the following departments: • Fundraising: Marketing, events, communications, and private sector partnerships • Program teams: Asia, Africa, and humanitarian • Humanitarian technical: Shelter, cash and markets, resilience, gender, and protection • Governance • Advocacy • Women economic empowerment • Finance and IT • Human resources • Facilities and chief executive office Who they hire: They hire a mix of role, although many require experience. Some are very niche or technical and therefore require experts in areas such as resilience and climate change. But, they also recruit recent graduates, particularly for their three-month internship positions, which run across a number of teams in the organization including advocacy, communication, gender, and protection. Care International UK also told Devex that they “recently became a Disability Confident Committed employer and we are looking to attract a wider range of applicants to our organization, including with disabilities.” See current job opportunities with Care International UK here. Plan International UK “[W]e strive for a just world that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.” Plan was originally founded to aid children who became orphans or refugees when fleeing the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s. Today, they continue to work with vulnerable children and young people from all around the world in more than 50 developing countries. Naveed Somani, the charity’s monitoring and evaluation officer, said working for an INGO in London is a “really rewarding experience” and there is a real community of like-minded individuals because of the number of similar organizations and NGOs based in the city. “The opportunity to meet colleagues from the sector face-to-face can’t be understated,” Somani said. “Plan UK’s focus on young people makes London the ideal location to meet, consult, and share experiences on areas of common interest.” Issues they work on: • Child rights and gender equality, including abolishing female genital mutilation and child marriage • Health and Sanitation: Assists with access to clean water and sanitation to end avoidable childhood deaths and illnesses and to allow girls to complete their education once they start menstruation. • Education: Educating girls to break the cycle of poverty and inequality, as well as educating young people of the risks of unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and sexually transmitted diseases. They also assist families in learning new skills so as they can provide for their children. Their London office Size: There are approximately 200 staff in the London office at present, but this can fluctuate depending on the needs of the business. They recruit throughout the year and don’t have set times for specific roles. Departments: • Policy and programs: Roles include program managers and specialists, technical specialists, evidence, learning and impact specialists, and policy advisers. • Public engagement: Recruit for roles within all major fundraising disciplines, as well as communications, business innovation, supporter relations, and girls’ rights and youth. Roles include trust funding officer, supporter development supervisor, supporter data processing coordinator, and events manager. • Finance and IT: A mix of roles from grants and finance accountants supporting the financial management of programs, to solutions architects supporting the development of technology. • Program team and an HR team Who they hire: There are a wide range of roles throughout the year from paid internships, and entry-level jobs, which attract recent graduates (although they do not run a graduate scheme) as well as apprenticeships in IT, HR, and supporter relations. They also have more senior roles, or those with a specialism, which require practical experience. Plan International UK told Devex, “we are also proud to be a living wage employer, and commit to paying the living wage to entry-level roles such as interns and apprentices. Those who aren't directly employed by us, for example cleaning staff, will also receive the living wage.” See current job opportunities with Plan International here. Amnesty International “We campaign for a world where human rights are enjoyed by all.” Amnesty International is one of the biggest and most well-known INGOs globally and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977. With over 7 million supporters, they work on a vast range of human rights issues. The staff based in the U.K. offices focus on fundraising, campaign strategies, and fieldwork support. Both the Amnesty International and Amnesty UK offices are based in London. Issues they work on: • Human rights: Investigate and expose a vast range of human rights issues and abuses, from protecting the rights of refugees to freeing people jailed for voicing their opinion, and abolishing the death penalty. • Advocacy: Advocate change in defense of human rights by lobbying governments and companies. • Campaign: Act and campaign through petitions and protests. See current job opportunities with Amnesty International here. Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) “To fight poverty and injustice in the developing world through the Catholic Church.” The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development is the official Catholic aid agency for England and Wales. It is a member of a wider group of Catholic agencies, Caritas International, which aids people across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and the Caribbean. One of CAFOD’s London staff members told Devex that working in the London office “is great, as you get to know what’s going on and hear about the experiences from people coming back from work elsewhere.” Issues they work on: • Humanitarian aid: Support local organizations in the event of a crisis to provide food, shelter, and assistance to those affected. • Poverty: Equip people with the skills they need to support themselves and their families. • Advocacy: Campaign against international decisions that negatively affect poor communities. See current job opportunities with CAFOD here. Christian Aid “We work for and with people of all faiths and none to fight injustice and pursue our vision of a world without poverty.” Christian Aid was originally formed by British and Irish churches in 1945 to help refugees following World War II. Today, their chief aim is to eradicate poverty in practical ways, “to challenge and change structures and systems that favour the rich and powerful over the poor and marginalized.” While they are a Christian organization, they aid people from all faiths and religions. Its Middle East (including Egypt) and Angola programs are run out of London, with teams of programmatic, humanitarian, advocacy, and policy experts. Their work in other regions — across Africa, Asia, and Latin America — is mostly run from field offices but with the help of support staff in the U.K. The humanitarian team is also based in the U.K., with regional emergency managers covering different areas of the world. Issues they work on: • Poverty: Fight inequality and injustice in power and gender as well as aiding communities to build resilience to the effects of climate change. • Humanitarian relief: Respond to humanitarian emergencies and assist with the prevention and resilience to shocks and disasters. They currently do significant work with refugees. • Advocacy: Ensure access to human rights and services, such as health care and education. They also assist marginalized producers in accessing more inclusive markets so they can receive a fair wage. See current job opportunities with Christian Aid here. International Planned Parenthood Federation “Delivering sexual and reproductive healthcare services around the world, fighting for sexual rights.” The International Planned Parenthood Federation central office is based in London and works alongside six other regional offices located around the world to provide support, services, and supplies in 172 countries. They provide global advocacy, communications, and advice; support program development; and oversee monitoring and evaluation. Issues they work on: • Sexual and reproductive health: Promote sexual and reproductive health through eight essential categories: counseling; contraception; safe abortion care; sexually transmitted and reproductive tract infections; HIV; gynecology; prenatal care; and gender-based violence. • Advocacy: Help people be able to make their own choice whether and when to have children, particularly women. • Human rights: Fight for sexual rights such as family planning as a human right and LGBTI rights. Address inequalities and discrimination that limit such human rights. See current job opportunities with IPPF here. Save the Children UK “We save children’s lives and build better futures.” Save the Children began in London at the end of the World War I and today is a global charity that continues to run both its International and U.K. branch headquarters in London to aid children in 120 countries worldwide. In addition to implementing programs on the ground, they develop high-profile campaigns, such as their 2014 “If London Were Syria” campaign, which featured a video of a schoolgirl in the U.K. experiencing the deterioration of London society into civil war, reflecting the situation in Syria. It marked the third anniversary of the Syrian Civil War and was watched by millions of people worldwide. Issues they work on: • Humanitarian and emergency relief: Aid children in any humanitarian crisis or emergency, including famine, natural disasters, and outbreaks of war and conflict. • Children’s rights: Work to make children’s rights to education, protection, and survival a reality worldwide, and support organizations that do the same. • Research and policy: Fund and carry out research and policy reports to improve strategies and influence responses to a range of issues, including health, education, poverty, and conflict. See current job opportunities with Save the Children here. UNICEF UK “For every child in danger.” UNICEF UK is a national committee of the much larger UNICEF — or the United Nations Children's Fund — international organization. The London office raises funds within the U.K. for UNICEF’s work globally to aid children that are in need across 170 countries. In 2016, UNICEF UK alone raised 102.8 million pounds, with 11.7 million pounds going directly toward their work with Syrian children. Within the U.K., they run a series of programs, including the Baby Friendly Initiative, Rights Respecting Schools Award, and the Child Friendly Cities & Communities program. Issues they work on: • Education: Ensure vulnerable children receive a good education, and provide resources and learning spaces in disaster zones. • Health and welfare: Provides 80 percent of the world’s emergency food, as well as immunization vaccines, water, and sanitation supplies. They also work to protect children from violence by educating communities and working with governments to put in place effective child protection systems. • Emergency relief: Provide immediate and long-term assistance in the event of an emergency affecting children and families. See current job opportunities with UNICEF UK here. Other notable international development NGOs, in London and nearby: • ActionAid UK (London) • Camfed (Cambridge) • Médecins Sans Frontières UK (London) • International Rescue Committee (London) • Relief International UK (London) • Tearfund (Teddington, Greater London) • World Vision International (Milton Keynes) 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.