Prós
Good salary and benefits compared to the rest of the INGO market. Managed to stay somewhat afloat after the foreign aid cuts in 2025. Junior staff passionate about the work they do.
Contras
1. Structure of the organization creates an atmosphere of competition between teams, fighting for bids, encroachment of thematic areas by certain teams, and opaque and shady actions to try to get an advantage over others. There is no sense of the whole organization working together towards a common goal. Just in-fighting, backstabbing, and bad mouthing between teams.
2. So much favoritism. Different policies applied across employees based on preferential treatment, often even within the same team. Some staff were allowed to be 100% remote and work from wherever in the world they want to. Others are forced to be in DC and some even forced to come into the office certain days of the week. No transparency, no policy, no rules. Just favoritism from HR and supervisors for certain staff. HR has no measures/metrics in place that explain what the path is for promotions, leading to promotions and raises depending on if your supervisor likes you or not, regardless of performance.
3. Observed several cases of harassment, offensive behavior, and sexual misconduct reported to supervisors and HR which were not addressed. Toxic and even unethical behavior is often rewarded by executive leadership. No real safeguarding training or measures in place to protect junior staff or beneficiaries. HR is just there to protect senior leadership at the expense of junior staff.
