Hi! I will have soon a written test for OECD, it is an internship position in the gender equality team. They did not give me instructions about the content of the test, so I was wondering in anyone has some insights that could share?

As the title says, I plan to go to a university in my country that's quite reputable (#2, #1 on a good year) for development studies. I went to an international school where 99% of my peers went to college in the West, so I initially planned on transferring in the US (Little Ivies/Liberal Arts Colleges) after my first year since I wanted to immerse myself in a different culture and environment.

However, I'm now having second doubts. I know I want to do my Masters abroad whether I go to the US or not for undergrad, and I want to work internationally in the future (right now I'm looking at the MENA region for sustainable development) so I'm wondering what will serve best for me in my long-term career. My local university has been established for a long-time and it's quite known that one of the best things about it is the network. I've looked on Linkedin and found that there are alumni who have gone on to do their masters abroad and currently work in the fields I want to be in. However, I think the US universities I'm applying to, despite being small hence having smaller networks, can still provide me with good internship opportunities. It helps that this can give me a chance to experience a very independent college life. I'm also scared of pay discrimination and I think a US degree can help with that. What do you guys think?

Hey all, random tangent which I know is not suited for this subreddit but I’m curious to know your thoughts.

I was reading a world bank report that says by 2041 Bangladesh will join the industrialized economies. Let’s just be real: the powers that be do not want a place like Bangladesh to be “developed”. It’s not in their best interest.

Anyone who studied the history of economic development knows that terms like development or third world have a politically motivated backstory. While there certainly is an objective way mesure a nation’s quality of life, let’s not beat around the bushes.

A good portion global south is a semi colony, a plantation at the behest of capital. This is fact we need to face, we cannot keep sitting and waiting for this magical development to come anytime soon this, the capitalist powers are gaslighting us.

You can agree to disagree on what we do next. But the social reality has to be addressed.

Hi all, I am soon taking a written test for an intern position relating to finance within the OECD. Wondering if anyone has any tips or additional resources I could consult to prepare.

Excel may be required to answer one of the questions, I am quite adept in using it but if anyone can recommend sites where I could find practice question relating to OECD principles that would be amazing.

Thank you!

I recently decided to go back to school and complete my master's in international development, I have previously a combination of 5 years of experience with project planning, facilitation,and case management. However, it's been months and I am starting to lose hope now. I am really stressed because I thought I would get a job in no time. I'm thinking of just getting into retail now which is not my dream. Is anyone else having a hard time?

I’m a consultant seeking an international location for my next job role whether as an independent consultant or full time W2 employee.

I’d like to be in south of Portugal or Spain however I’m flexible to go somewhere else if that will open more doors.

My specialities are in epidemiology (with expertise in infectious disease response & prevention) and monitoring and evaluation of health programs. I have a masters in international health & development & bachelors in Epidemiology. Work history is 10 years+ with a few stints working abroad for less than 4 months at a time.

Would love to hear from others who have moved from the US abroad & have similar scenarios.

Hello members of this Reddit community, I hope this message finds you well.

I'm a high school student from Portugal. I am currently working on a geography project about the BRICS nations, which is due in the first week of December and will constitute half of my final grade. As part of the project, we are encouraged to approach our topic creatively, so i thought it would be a good idea to get the public's general opinion about the BRICS and have them answer some questions, then compile the information into a small video or infographic to present in class. Therefore, I would greatly appreciate it if some of you could kindly respond to a few questions I’ve included below. I've also sent emails to Jim O'Neill and other people/institutions affiliated with the BRICS, but I've yet to receive a response. Here are the questions:

• Since South Africa joined BRICS in 2010, there have been questions regarding its role within the group, particularly concerning the tangible benefits for the country. From your perspective, would another African nation have been a more strategic addition?

• The BRICS nations seem to face challenges such as declining influence due to internal differences and the global focus on technology-driven economies. What strategies could the group adopt to regain relevance? Alternatively, do you see disbandment as a realistic possibility?

• Despite the considerable power of its member states, BRICS often appears undervalued in the international community. What factors contribute to this perception? Do you believe the recent expansion of BRICS membership will enhance its global standing?

• The recent expansion of BRICS has sparked debate. Do you view this enlargement as a solution to current challenges, or could it create further complications within the group?

• How has the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine impacted the internal dynamics and collaborative efforts of the BRICS nations?

• The BRICS have made efforts to reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar, with discussions about a common currency. Do you believe this is achievable in the foreseeable future, or is it a long-term ambition fraught with challenges?

Your insights would not only enrich my project but also serve as inspiration, as I plan to pursue a degree in political science and international relations. Please let me know if these post violates any community guidelines, as I'm new to this app and don't really know all the rules(I've never posted on reddit, but I see content related to it like the Smosh podcast). Also don't hesitate to correct any grammar mistakes or ask for clarification about sentences you don't understand; since english is not my first question, I could really benefit from any advice related to it. Thank you for considering my request. I look forward to your response and appreciate your time and attention.

Best regards. 

Input from anyone or any students welcome!! Why did you choose international dev? Do students go on to do good things after graduation? Is this something that is needed in this world? Or is it based off an extractive mindset stemming from colonial ties?

I’m an Indian student currently pursuing a 5-year Integrated Master’s degree in Social Sciences and Humanities from a tier-1 college in India. I’ve completed a couple of research internships and was fortunate enough to be recognized as a Millennium Fellow by the United Nations Academic Impact.

I am very interested in pursuing an internship at the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) and would greatly appreciate any guidance on how to proceed. Specifically, I’m looking for advice on the following:

1. Resume and Cover Letter: What should I highlight to align with OECD’s requirements? Any tips or templates to help me craft a strong application would be great.
2. Application Process: How can I ensure my application stands out? Are there any common mistakes I should avoid?
3. Referrals and Networking: How can I connect with people who might provide referrals or insights into the application process?
4. General Advice: Any tips on preparing for this opportunity, such as courses, certifications, or skills I should focus on?

If anyone has successfully interned at OECD or a similar international organization, I’d love to hear your experience and suggestions. Thanks in advance for your help!

Hi,

Anyone here who have applied for the ABD's YPP 2024 ? Any update as of now to anyone ? lets use this platfrom to share and learn experience for eachother.

Thanks. r/internationalJob r/InternationalDev

Hello!

I’m pretty early career — 3 years of work experience + masters degree — and was just selected for a DC based 1 year ETC (EC2) contract. They haven’t given me any information regarding salaries, and I’ve only been able to find salary schedules for full time roles. I need salary information as soon as possible, as I am deciding between this role and a few others.

Any advice on this would also be appreciated: the other choice may be a hedge firm paying 140k, and it would be hard to give up that kind of money, but I also don’t want to give up this opportunity since it is so difficult to get any type of role at IFC.

Anyone have any idea re: compensation for these ETC roles?

After my previous post on how to better diminish countries, I looked again. I decided that the IMF classification of economies as advanced/developing/least developing countries is the best one, as it allows to distinguish some global north countries like Kosovo or Moldova, which are not advanced.

https://preview.redd.it/nw8mftcb8n2e1.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=f150b9bb82b487aa4fc4ad2a953569d9eba3a69a

Hi, I'm wanting to apply for international organisations and saw this page on LinkedIn named "IO READY: International Organizations Ready" ,it looks promising, but I'm hesitant to reach out. Is there anyone here who has gotten services from here?

Hi Everyone,

I am currently applying to study a MSc in Economic Development or International Development and I'm finding it difficult to stand out as my background is in finance.

I work in asset management for equities as well as being Head of ESG which predominantly deals with how companies integrate ESG activities in their operations. It's taught me a lot but the old yearing I've always have to have a more tangible impact on the world came back 3 years ago and hasn't left me. Thus my looking to study an MSc.

I am hoping to get some insight into "specialist knowledge" in the field as this is something that gets brought up a lot in the threads. Usually framed by people who wish they had not studied so generally.

My hope was to study Development Finance or Finance for Development with a focus on low to middle income countries as I am from one and would like to take the skills I gain overseas back. However I've only seen two universities in the UK who even offer this; Reading and Manchester. I'm surprised as this feels like it would/should be a key skills all institutions within the field would require. Am I wrong? Are there Finance professionals who transition into development roles and what do they usually do in your experience?

I appreciate any advise you can give me.

How can you, in short, classify countries of the world into two or three categories? Is developed vs developing countries still relevant? I personally don't like Global North vs Global South since, e.g., Moldova has a significantly lower standard of living than Bulgaria, but both are Global North countries. What is the alternative?

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https://www.thegpi.org/p/labouring-for-lagers 

Do we have any organisational development (OD)consultants here in the group? I’m looking for some write-ups that document the ways in which poorly thought-out or deliberately undermining Western development actions weaken and undermine the local structures with their support programs and OD measures. I’m thinking of activities like the placement of expert consultants in partner institutions who are actually carrying out the objectives of the donor, or organisational restructuring that divides the organisation, or making management and technical staff processes disfunctional through the introduction of foreign processes, or simply bombarding a local organisation with funds, projects and events that prevent them from carrying out their normal work. Does anybody have some good overviews of this all-too-common phenomenon we see in “capacity building”?

the $4 billion pledge by President Biden to the World Bank's International Development Association (IDA) is indeed going through Congressional negotiation for approval2. The U.S. Treasury is leading the negotiations at the World Bank for the IDA replenishment.

For the IDA20 cycle, with a total replenishment package of $93 billion:

• China's contribution of 3.8% amounts to approximately $3.5 billion over the three-year period.
• The U.S. contribution of 9.63% amounts to approximately $8.96 billion over the three-year period.

Regarding the involvement of other countries, the European Union and other nations have also made financial commitments to the IDA. For example, Spain announced an early financial commitment of €400 million to the IDA, which is a significant increase compared to the previous replenishment cycle. Other countries like Denmark and Latvia have also increased their contributions4.

As for the comparison to Congressional salaries, it's an interesting perspective. The $4 billion pledge is a substantial amount and could cover the salaries of Congress members many times over. However, the focus here is on providing low-interest loans and grants to the world's poorest nations, which can have a significant impact on global poverty reduction and economic development.

I recently applied for a policy analyst position at the OECD. I completed an exam and a pre-recorded video interview in August and was invited to a panel interview in September. I was recently informed that although I was not selected for the position, I've been cleared to be part of a pre-approved candidate database for future hiring at a PAL 4 level.

Have any of you been cleared at a specific level and part of a roster at the OECD? What is your experience in terms of getting a job offer from that position? How long did it take you to get a job offer after being "cleared"? Thank you in advance:)

I recently applied for a job with a large, well-known US NGO. They posted a salary range for the role, and in their application portal they required you share your desired annual salary.

The position has a range of $76,800 to $91,200.

I put my desired salary at $100k. I currently make $115k but the role is one I'm willing to take a pay cut for. Plus, my current role is with a consulting firm in international development so I understand I can't make a consultant's salary in an NGO.

Some other aspects of the role:

• It's a one year, temporary assignment role with the possibility of extension.
• It comes with 30% travel in locations with hazard pay, so if you factor in per diem, I could potentially take home more than I earn now.
• They previously posted the job at a lower tier with a salary range of $64,000 to $76,000. I applied to that role, got invited to interview but declined to proceed due to the salary range. They never filled the role and it looks like they are trying again at a higher salary range to attract better candidates. I believe I am uniquely qualified for this role because I work in a niche field within ID.
• The NGO doesn't vest you with 403b contributions until after 1 year, so I would lose out on that benefit as well.
• This role is a great representation of the type of work I really want to do, and includes more travel which is where I find my role to be the most fulfilling. My current role expires in 2028 at the end of a project.

I'm not a salary-driven person, but I did want to express my worth given my current salary so I listed $100k. I'm now worried I might be screening myself out of consideration. I wouldn't have applied if I was ok with $91k, but now I'm wondering if I should reach out to the recruiter and ask to change my desired salary? The job has been posted online for a month and I haven't heard anything yet. I don't want to let this opportunity pass by because I asked I stated I wanted $9k over the top range.

At the end of the day, I'm ok with where I'm currently at but I know I would be more fulfilled if I could chase this new role. What would you do?

Hey everyone!

Did anyone make a transition from a private firm to an international organization (specific about sustainability/climate change/climate finance)? I am a sustainability analyst and I am not sure if I want to move into consultancy for private firms or try to enter an international org. Initially my dream was to work in an international org but eventually I ended up in private sector, I needed to get paid straigh away and could not afford unpaid internships. Now I am wondering the pros and cons of the two worlds and where I want to move to! The salary is very important for me, I will have to face health related bills in the future so I need to make sure the job is well paid. I thought that jobs in organizations were paid very high but I have read online that It is not always the case.... Would love to hear ur experiences!!! Thank you 🧡

I recently got the opportunity to move back into academia and oh God, the idea of rethinking semantics is irking me to the core. Forget about the prevailing issues, we’re stuck in the phase of prohibiting the use of words like development and LMICs.

But if development has inherently negative connotation, what will we call the development sector in the future?

Got invited for the UNICEF GVA - P4 Finance & Administration interview. The Interview is going to be a 60 minute online test - Multiple choice questions. Has anyone done this kind of interview before? if yes what is your best advise for how to prepare for them and what type of questions did they ask

Hi! I thought I'd share this opportunity to anyone who might be interested :

If you have essays, blog posts, or creative works related to development that you’re proud of and have always wanted to publish, consider submitting to Ignio!

Ignio is a student platform supported by the Canadian Association for the Study of International Development (CASID) and the International Development Student Association (AÉDSA). Our goal is to showcase works on contemporary international development issues, and we are currently accepting submissions for our fifth issue, scheduled for February 2025. The deadline for submissions is November 14th at 11:59pm.

Submission Guidelines are available in both English and French.

Thank you, and we hope to see your name in our next issue!

Hi All,

This may be more of a rant, but I’m struggling to understand why there is so much reluctance of US Int Dev contractors to let employees work remotely. The entirety of my job relies on supporting project staff in countries around the globe and there is not a single thing I need the office for. Furthermore, I work with staff who were lucky enough to get a remote agreement during COVID. Why do I have to work in one of the highest cost of living areas in the country for relatively low pay compared to other DC based industries. This is both antithetical to the spirit of flexibly that development requires, and is an illogical gatekeeping measure that only benefits those who have the familial means to be located here to begin with.

Interested in if there’s any movement to go back to remote work or if someone could help me understand the benefit of hybrid/in-person work in this industry better.

Thanks! I

Hello, I was offered a consulting position for UNESCO, but I’m American and I know Trump pulled the US out of UNESCO during his last term. Does anyone know if there is risk of that happening again and/or what that will do to my consultancy? Thanks in advance!