News and Events

• SNRE Offers NEW Masters International degree--prospective students apply to SNRE and Peace Corps simultaneously, take classes at SNRE for 2 semesters, leave to do their Peace Corps Service as their capstone project and then return to SNRE to complete their coursework!

What is an International Development Career?

• International development professionals work to improve human quality of life in developing countries in the fields of healthcare, education, human rights, governance, infrastructure, and the environment
• Includes work in the public, private and nonprofit sectors
• Sample positions include: technical experts, project managers, researchers, proposal writers, consultants
  
• Environmentally-focused international development careers include natural resources conservation, biodiversity conservation, freshwater conservation, energy efficiency and energy production, forestry, and climate change adaptation

The articles below are available on Devex, an extensive international development website with job postings, career information, and networking opportunities. Devex requires a paid subscription, and the university is looking into purchasing a subscription for all UM students. More info soon.

Development Jobs: What You Need to Know

Environmental Development Jobs

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• How do I sign up for SNRE's international development listserv (to receive related news and job postings)?
• What kind of organizations and agencies hire in this field?
• What kind of skills and experience are needed?
• What are some examples of job titles?
• What kind of international development experience have SNRE students and alumni had?
• Where can I find more information about news and current trends in international development?
• Where can I find international development job and internship opportunities?
• Where can I find international fellowship opportunities?
• What professional associations should I consider joining?
• International student clubs and organizations on campus
• Networking

How do I sign up for SNRE's international development listserv (to receive related news and job postings)?

• You must be an SNRE Masters or PhD student or an alum of the school.
• Go to MCommunity
• Log-in: you will need your U-M username and password.
• Type in "snreinternationaldevelopment" into the search box.
• Click on the group
• Click on "Join Group" and you'll be added to the group.
• To be removed from the group, click on "Resign".

What kind of organizations and agencies hire in this field?

International Organizations

United Nations
The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace. Below are some agencies and programs of interest.

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Works on climate change, ecosystem management, environmental governance, resource efficiency, and other environmental initiatives around the world. Jobs page. Internships (in Nairobi).

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Works in 166 countries to help people build a better life in the areas of democratic governance, poverty reduction, crisis prevention and recovery, environment and energy and HIV/AIDS. Jobs page. Internship page.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Leads international efforts to defeat hunger by modernizing and improving agriculture, forestry and fisheries practices and ensuring good nutrition for all. Jobs page.

The World Bank A vital source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries around the world. Their mission is to fight poverty by providing resources, sharing knowledge, building capacity and forging partnerships in the public and private sectors. Jobs page. Internship program.

Asian Development Bank The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is a regional development bank that facilitates economic development of countries in Asia. It is closely modeled on the World Bank and funds all types of projects, including environmental and climate change adaptation projects. Jobs page. Internship program. ADB Departments, Offices, and Field Offices.

United States Government

United States Agency for International Development (USAID) In charge of US foreign aid, USAID works in sub-saharan Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe and Eurasia, and the Middle East to support economic growth, agriculture and trade, global health, democracy, conflict prevention and humanitarian assistance. Jobs page. Internship page.

• There are two main pathways to work with USAID: the Civil Service and the Foreign Service:
  • Civil Service (CS) employees constitute a large majority of the Washington-based workforce whose skills range from administrative functions to technical assistance.
  • Foreign Service (FS) employees perform primarily technical and managerial functions and are posted overseas and serve limited periods in Washington.
    • The Junior Officer (JO) Program is the new (2008) entry-level program for the FS. The JO program seeks the best-qualified junior professional candidates willing to make a long-term career commitment to the Foreign Service. Read more information on all of these pathways at www.usaid.gov/careers

Peace Corps Sends volunteers to 77 countries to serve in the cause of peace by living and working in developing countries. Fields of work include education, health & HIV/AIDS, business development, environment, agriculture and youth development. Agency jobs; Volunteer jobs.

Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), Office of Investment Policy--OPIC is the U.S. Government's development finance institution.  OPIC supports U.S. investment in emerging markets worldwide, fostering development & the growth of free markets. The Office of Investment Policy (OIP) implements policies that promote sustainable, economic development across all OPIC-supported projects. 

U.S. Trade and Development Agency--USTDA's mission is to help companies create U.S. jobs through the export of U.S. goods and services for priority development projects in emerging economies

NGOs

World Resources Institute (WRI) is an organization whose mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth's environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations. Jobs page (internships also listed).

International Development Enterprises (IDE) operates in eleven countries creating income opportunities for poor rural households by providing customers with low cost access to water for agricultural use. Jobs page.

Save the Children is the leading independent organization creating lasting change in the lives of children in need in the United States and around the world. Jobs page.

Water For People helps people in developing countries improve quality of life by supporting the development of locally sustainable drinking water resources, sanitation facilities, and hygiene education programs. Jobs page.

World Wildlife Fund is the world's leading conservation organization, WWF works in 100 countries and is supported by 1.2 million members in the United States and close to 5 million globally. Jobs page. Internship page.

Land O'Lakes Inc., International Development is a not-for-profit division of the agricultural cooperative that works to improve the efficiency of markets and the viability of agribusinesses for small farmers around the world. Jobs page.

Conservation International Building upon a strong foundation of science, partnership and field demonstration, CI empowers societies to responsibly and sustainably care for nature, our global biodiversity, for the well-being of humanity.

There are innumerable other NGOs doing great work around the world. Please contact us if you know of others that should be listed here.

Private Sector

Sheladia Associates Engineers, Architects, and Development Specialists who design and build infrastructure (both physical and institutional) in support of projects in Transportation/ Infrastructure, Integrated Water Resources Management, Agriculture and Rural Development, Architecture, Environment and Energy, Institutional Strengthening, and International Development.

Geneva Global is a leading philanthropic consulting firm specializing in international development, global health, and poverty solutions. We provide expert guidance and custom services to individuals, foundations, and institutions throughout the world.

Tetra Tech staff work from more than 350 offices worldwide, and their 14,000 professionals provide innovative solutions addressing today’s pressing development issues. Tetra Tech offers a wide range of integrated multidisciplinary international development services.

What kind of skills and experience are needed?

The following skills are very important for international development jobs:

• expertise in the job area of interest
• excellent communication skills
• foreign language skills
• flexibility and adaptability to new situations
• project development experience
• leadership/management experience

The experience that most jobs require is of course international experience. Employers look for international experience to show that you adapt well in foreign environments and are a good intercultural communicator. Language skills and local knowledge of the country where the job takes place are also big pluses. If you have this experience, emphasize it heavily in the application process.

If you don't have much international experience, there are some ways you can improve your job prospects:

• study a foreign language
• join a multicultural student organization
• read up on the destination country
• study abroad
• volunteer abroad (especially Peace Corps)
• take part in an international research project (thesis, master's project, dissertation)
• intern internationally
• take courses with an international focus: NRE 559 (International Environmental Policy and Law), NRE 563 (International Environmental Policy), or courses offered in other schools

"We are looking for motivated and talented young people who are interested in an international career in development, have a passion to make a difference to the world's poor and are willing to serve in hardship duty stations.

"The qualifications and experience that we seek are:

• A master's degree (or equivalent) in development related studies, economics, politics, public administration, governance, international relations, business administration, environmental management, law, conflict resolution.
• Proficiency in English and at least one of the following languages: French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese and Russian.
• Minimum 5 years relevant work experience in development, crisis/post-conflict management, consultancy work (particularly in the public sector), work in developing countries, management in multi-cultural environment."

Lauren Canning-Luckenbach
Human Resources Specialist
United Nations Development Programme

 

What are some examples of job titles?

Capacity Building Specialist World Vision Development Foundation, Inc. Philippines Entry-level Full-time staff position	Energy Expert Eurecna Botswana Mid-level Long-term consulting assignment	Associate Programme Officer UNFCCC - United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Germany Entry-level Full-time staff position	Coordinator, Small Grants & Working Groups TOPS Project Save the Children United States Entry-level Full-time staff position
Implementation Manager DAI Afghanistan Entry-level Long-term consulting assignment	Procurement Analyst UNDP - United Nations Development Program Korea, North (DPRK) Entry-level	Market Access Specialist, Soy Value Chain Development Program TechnoServe Zambia Entry-level	Assistant Project Analyst Asian Development Bank (ADB) Papua New Guinea Mid-level
SME Energy Facility in Southern African States IDOM Consulting Southern Africa Mid-level Short-term consulting assignment	Consultant: Establishment of Solar Radiation Database for Solar Thermal Energy Utilization in Mongolia UNDP - United Nations Development Program Mongolia Mid-level	Health Program Assistant International Medical Corps Iraq Entry-level Field assignment	Livelihood Specialist - Congo (DR) International Medical Corps Congo, Democratic Republic of the Mid-level Field assignment
Utility Reform Specialist Development Innovations Group Kenya Mid-level Long-term consulting assignment	USAID Foreign Service Limited Officer Positions in Afghanistan Management Systems International Afghanistan	Consultancy Services for the Preparation of Investment Plan (Integrated Financing Strategy) and a Monitoring and Evaluation System for Sustainable Land Management UNDP - United Nations Development Program Mauritius Senior-level	Environmental Planning Consultant UNDP - United Nations Development Program Kosovo Executive-level

 

What kind of international development experience have SNRE students and alumni had?

Click on the student/alumni name for information on their past international development experiences:

• Mariana Velez, United Nations Development Program (Country-Office, Mexico), Sustainable Development Program Assistant
• Erin Carey, USDA Forest Service-International Programs, Program Specialist, Latin America and Caribbean
• Stephanie Judd, blueEnergy, Systems Engineer; Clinton Health Access Initiative (Formerly Clinton Foundation), Rwanda Country Team, Lead Technical Architect and Developer
• Scott Kalafatis, World Wildlife Fund Romania, GIS Assistant 
• Ted Lawrence, Great Lakes Fishery Commission (GLFC), Communications and Policy Associate
• Daniel C. Miller, MacArthur Foundation, Junior Program Officer for Conservation and Sustainable Development
• Tina Tam, The Microcarbon Foundation, Project Development Intern

Where can I find more information about news and current trends in international development?

• Subscribe to DevEx to get the latest in international development business, careers, and news.
• International Development Virtual Library A portal with links to all things international development.
• International Development Association (World Bank) A branch of the World Bank, has lots of good development information online.
• Center for International Development at Harvard University The CID actively creates, applies and integrates knowledge from across Harvard University and beyond to advance understanding of development challenges and solutions.
• International Institute for Environment and Development (IIDE) An independent international research organization that advises governments, business and international development agencies and publishes widely.
• International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) A Canadian-based, policy research institute that has a long history of conducting cutting-edge research into sustainable development.

Where can I find international development job and internship opportunities?

• DevEx (international specific site--job and internships postings + latest international development news)
• Indeed (general site--search "international")
• OneWorld Global Jobs
• International Jobs
• LinkedIn has an International Development Job Board

Where can I find international fellowship opportunities?

The Institute of Current World Affairs offers 2 year fellowships in developing countries.

The Council for International Exchange of Scholars administers the Fulbright Program which provides fellowships ranging from two months to one year.

 

What professional associations should I consider joining?

Society for International Development (SID) The largest and most renowned professional association for international development, the SID provides a network for individuals and organizations working in various sectors of international development. The SID has consistently been at the forefront of shaping the theory and practice of development, challenging existing practices and suggesting alternative approaches.

 

U-M student clubs and organizations with an international development focus

Emerging Markets Club of the Ross School of Business

SEEDS - Students for Education, Empowerment, Development and Sustainability

Check out a complete listing of UM student organizations here: Maize Pages

 

Networking

LinkedIn is a popular site for professional networking and is used widely in the international development world. Join international development-related groups to get connected.

The Global Development Network is a worldwide network of research institutes, academic institutions, think tanks and more than 8,000 individual researchers worldwide. GDN promotes the generation, sharing, and application to policy of multidisciplinary knowledge for the  purpose of development.

A Special Thanks . . .

SNRE would like to thank Kerby Smithson (SNRE M.S. 2011) for creating this webpage and for starting off the international development career listserv.

Webpage Suggestions

If you have any suggestions about other information or organizations that should be listed, please email us and include "International Development webpage" in your subject line: snre.careers@umich.edu