The Development Life: A Guide to Aspiring Professionals

Career Development

For some members, the choice to follow an international career was clear; after traveling during high school and seeing the effects of U.S. policies abroad, Ambassador Dawn Liberi decided she “wanted to be on the designing end” of these policies. Former Acting Administrator of USAID Alonzo Fulgham, having grown up in a relatively isolated community, relied on the evening news to provide exposure to all parts of the world, which later inspired him to join the Peace Corps. For other Academy members, the path to development and humanitarian assistance was murkier. Ambassador Mike Klosson says after graduate school, “I was not clear on what I wanted to do.” President of Refugees International, Eric Schwartz, says, “I knew I didn’t want to practice law, and I didn’t want to join the Foreign Service” after graduating from law school. Schwartz’s first job at Asia Watch and Klosson’s decision to take the Foreign Service Officer Test ultimately defined their careers. Their stories' common thread is that career plans will naturally evolve throughout life. 

Public-Private Split

While trying to implement changes on the ground, development practitioners encounter challenges bridging the gap between Washington and foreign actors. “If you’re in the U.S. government, working with grassroots organizations can engender a lot of suspicions,” recalls Klosson. Specifically, he notes that people in different countries may be less likely to “throw open their arms” to the U.S. government. Similarly, Ambassador Dawn Liberi mentions that one of the challenges in USAID is working with grassroots organizations and funding them directly. As she highlights, they focus more on performing the work-at-hand rather than “giving us the kinds of records that we need.” Part of the problem, says Anne Aarnes, former Career Minister with USAID, is that Capitol Hill is "much stricter with the budget [for USAID] than for the military” and that “[US]AID has been grossly understaffed for the last 20 years.” 

A common theme throughout these discussions is the importance of establishing solid relationships to overcome these challenges and accomplish mission goals. For example, during her time with USAID, Ambassador Pamela White says that she made it a priority to “get to know the people in Washington pulling the purse strings.” These lessons are a significant reminder to those seeking a career in international development that person-to-person connections are a useful diplomatic tool to overcome potential challenges.  

Many who have built careers in international development have cross-cutting experience in both the public and private sectors. Fulgham noted that his experience in the public sector with USAID made him more empathetic towards the private sector and vice versa. Having worked for the State Department and now the president of an NGO, Schwartz noted, “I’ve never had a single idea with how to most effectively make a difference.” While he says there are numerous benefits to working within the federal government, including “having significant and substantial influence in the actions you can take,” there are also drawbacks, such as feeling compelled to take positions that don’t reflect your view. Here, Schwartz refers explicitly to the fact that U.S. Foreign Service Officers swear to promote U.S. interests abroad as defined by the administration at the time. 

Ambassador Klosson reflects similar views, saying that at the State Department, the “policies are set above your pay grade,” but within an NGO, “you’re part and parcel of shaping what the policy is.” However, NGOs are not free of bureaucracy; in fact, Ambassador Dawn Liberi emphasizes that “no matter where you go, there is bureaucracy, but you have to decide what your tolerance is.” In truth, the public and private sectors are big players in international development. Those seeking a career in development should know that development practitioners use a variety of approaches to support lasting change, usually through collaboration between the two sectors.

Working in the Field

Likewise, fieldwork has played an essential role in the careers of many members. Ms. Aarnes specifically remembers visiting an oral rehydration center while working in Pakistan, which allowed her to see how projects implemented on the ground affected individual lives. Similarly, Ambassador White recounts an experience traveling to a local village while working on a vaccination program in Mali. In White’s program, Malian mothers described their hesitancy to vaccinate their babies and conveyed an overall sense of distrust for the male USAID vaccinators. In development, it may be necessary to recognize gender dynamics in a specific area thoughtfully; in this case, the USAID vaccinators’ gender served as grounds for distrust. White reorganized the program, employing female vaccinators and distributing culturally-appropriate vaccination materials, and the program achieved a 75 percent vaccination rate within a short period. Of course, not everyone in the development sphere focuses on fieldwork, and as Ambassador White notes, many get "bogged down” by bureaucracy. However, her experience and the experiences of other interviewees show the importance of leaving the office to achieve mission goals. One of the most pivotal lessons in development, especially in localization efforts, is the significance of interpersonal relationships and relying on the perspectives of neighboring communities.     

Conclusion

Academy members have a wealth of advice for those seeking international development careers. Fulgham advises to always to be honest in collaborating, while Aarnes recommends “travel and see stuff on the ground.” Several members recommend having a diverse skillset. Ambassador Liberi says, “the more cross-cutting you can be, the better,” Ambassador Klosson suggests casting a broad net. It is important to “reflect on what motivates you, what you like to do, and the kind of people you like to do it with, instead of thinking about a particular position,” Klosson elaborates. 

Another common theme from these discussions was the importance of a strong network. Having held several internship positions as an undergraduate and in law school, Schwartz emphasizes the importance of having networks of people to “support you in your effort.” For young women seeking a career in the foreign service, especially in development, Pamela White suggests “be buddies with all the women” and finding a strong mentor who can provide guidance. 

Overall, members at the American Academy of Diplomacy have a positive outlook on the contributions of future generations to international development projects.

Author: Caitlin Mittrick

Managing Editor: Sebastian Reyes

Web Editor: Shreya Lad