AI Skills Global Development Professionals Will Need in 2026

Skills in the use of artificial intelligence tools are increasingly expected when hiring for global development roles, even if AI is not part of the job title. As organizations across industries operate with limited resources, many are considering using these tools to improve efficiency. The use of AI among humanitarian professionals is currently focused on document review, language translation, and supporting day-to-day tasks, said Ka Man Parkinson, director of communications and marketing at the Humanitarian Leadership Academy, who co-led a global study on the topic last year. The next level of expertise will include the use of AI tools for more contextual applications, such as monitoring and evaluation, data analysis and visualization, and program management and design, Parkinson explained at a recent Devex event. However, according to HLA’s recent Pulse Check survey, AI expertise remains in short supply. Parkinson said this is an opportunity for individual job seekers, and professionals who are willing to learn about AI and actively participate in conversations on the subject will have an advantage in the job market. AI is already commonplace. Rebecca Moreno Jimenez, a humanitarian data scientist who supports the integration of AI across functions, often tells the teams she works with that AI won’t take their jobs; someone who knows how to use these technologies will take their jobs. He encouraged professionals across industries to take courses that combine AI skills and specializations. According to Ali Al Mokdad, a senior strategy leader who advises organizations on AI strategy and implementation, the workflows of many knowledge-based roles are already changing as a result of these tools. For example, in strategy development, AI is already taking on a large part of tasks such as contextual analysis, scenario planning, and risk management, he explained. Meanwhile, in portfolio management, he said the integration of dashboards such as Power BI with generative AI tools to support the creation of reports and proposals has been a game-changer. Judgment and leadership are just as important as technical skills in AI While technical skills will always be in demand, Parson says it’s clear that you don’t need to be a nimble engineer or have coding skills to meaningfully engage with AI in development or humanitarian work. What’s important, she said, are project management and leadership skills, as well as a willingness to embrace agile ways of working. For non-technical roles, Mokdad said using AI requires understanding how to introduce these tools into workflows, which means being open-minded and curious. He has helped recruit for grants management and program management roles that required candidates to be able to read dashboards (data aggregation, management, and visualization tools), but the key skill was how senior executives at the national level leveraged those insights into decision-making. In other cases, such as director roles overseeing portfolios, we were not looking for expertise in specific AI tools, but rather candidates who could integrate those tools and manage changes in workflows. How and Where to Develop AI Skills Experts recommended a number of online platforms such as Coursera, HPass, Credly, and edX that offer courses in AI tools and, in some cases, badges in various skills. Parkinson suggested sharing these qualifications on LinkedIn and posting about what you learned, noting that HLA also offers learning resources for humanitarian workers interested in AI. It tells your employer that you’re serious about how you implement these tools into your work, she says. Mokdad pointed out that there are also many AI courses dedicated to leadership, data management, and international affairs, as well as webinars on the subject. But his recommendation is to use AI tools to search the internet and prompt them to provide important recommendations based on the information available online. Jimenez recommended learning through collaboration with data science teams, information technology teams, or teams working in the same discipline. Read the news to understand trends in your field and how AI is impacting it, she said. Demonstrating AI skills in the job search Jimenez suggested that job seekers can research the tools that are widely used in their field or specialty and list programs and AI tools that are relevant to the job on their resumes. Spokespersons may highlight Canva AI and the generative AI tools used for proofreading and editing, she said. Other skills relevant to development professionals include proficiency in basic prompting, AI-enabled project management tools, and, for data-centric roles, programming proficiency. Some of the positions Jimenez helps recruit for, such as AI researchers, require candidates to submit a written evaluation. She explained that the test is designed to see if and how AI can be used and includes citing references about AI and sharing information about prompts to use.