Working in International Policy and Development: Stories and Tips from Oxford Alumni
Working in the International Development sector involves developing policy coupled with practical implementation, that empowers people across the globe to improve their lives. Because of the range of organisations working in development and the diverse issues with which international development is concerned, the opportunities are wide-ranging and potential career paths vary.
Read the below career stories from Oxford University alumni for insights into what roles in the international development involve, the trajectory your career could take, and tips for breaking into the sector.
Emile Rolland - Junior Policy Analyst, OECD
MSc Modern South Asian Studies, St Antony’s College, 2016
What: My work is shared between the Governance Network (GovNet) of the OECD, which brings together governance practitioners and experts to explore and promote more effective governance in developing countries, and the Effective Institutions Platform (EIP), an alliance of over 60 countries/organisations that focuses on evidence-based policy dialogue, knowledge sharing and peer-to-peer learning on public sector management and institutional reform.
Trajectory: After an internship with the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), headquartered in Kenya, I settled in Nairobi for three and a half years, working first in the housing unit of UN-Habitat on normative issues around the right to housing and housing finance. Subsequently, I worked with Altai Consulting on the Monitoring and Learning System of the European Union Emergency Trust Fund (EUTF) for the Horn of Africa. The latter focused on migration, with the company being responsible for monitoring the outputs and outcomes of different projects as well as conducting different lessons learned exercises to inform future programming in the region. This allowed me to travel in different countries (e.g., Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya and Sudan) to conduct key informant interviews for our qualitative studies and meet our partners implementing projects on the ground.
Tips: Specialise in either a particular subject matter or a specific skill set to gain comparative advantage and transferability. Transferable skillsets in demand include being able to conduct advanced quantitative and qualitative research, notably through the use of software (e.g., Stata, SPSS, Python). Sectoral skillsets are related to different thematic areas in development (e.g., climate finance, urban development), and will provide you the entry point in the domain of your choice. Gaining experience in a developing country is crucial to better comprehend how international development project cycles function as well as better apprehending ground realities. Finally, working in the private sector for development consulting firms is likely to equip you with a broader skillset due to quick turnaround and fast-paced work.
Debasmita Boral - Environment and Climate Change Specialist, UNDP
MPhil Modern South Asian Studies, St. Antony’s College, 2017
What: I have worked as an independent consultant focused on gender mainstreaming, climate action and environmental justice since May 2018. This has involved formative research and project development support for funding mobilization from multilateral climate and environmental funds (Adaptation Fund, GCF, GEF). I have also worked with civil financial aid organizations (AFD and USAID) and UN organizations (UNDP, UN Environment , WFP). I have covered topics such as: livelihoods, land rights and community resilience; early warning systems and climate information products; climate and environmental action through ecosystems-based adaptation and nature-based solutions.
Why: The climate emergency is unfortunately here and has been for some time – particularly impacting vulnerable communities. We are dealing with a threat multiplier that has the potential to undo developmental achievements, while exacerbating energy, food and water insecurity and gender inequalities. I believe, therefore, justice and inclusion have to be a key part of climate change adaptation, and this is what motivates me every day. Trajectory: I began my career as an intern with UN Environment’s Gender and Safeguards Unit at their headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. This position was advertised through CareerConnect, which is a good resource, alongside DEVEX, Inspira and UNDP Jobs. I was fortunate to have built a network during the internship with project development and implementation teams as well as be guided by a knowledgeable mentor. This gave me the confidence to continue independently shortly after completion, while living in Nairobi – which is a hub for environmental and climate change-related international organisations and NGOs.
Tips: Live abroad, learn online and look around. Oxford equips you with a strong foundation for methodologies and research skills – my advice is to be able to add on to it by picking up sectoral knowledge, relevant languages and professional experience where your impact is clear and grassroots. The Oxford alumni network is a resource mine – do not be afraid to reach out and network with well-placed alumni, highlighting your interests, goals and expertise.
Looking for more?
The alumni profiles above were originally featured in the 2022 Oxford Guide to Careers.
For more alumni career stories, tips on how to build applications that stand out, how to improve employability skills, and more, read the Guide.
