“I Never Thought a Dev Would End Up in Somalia…”
That’s when it hit me: blockchain’s role in humanitarian work isn’t just about flashy headlines or pilot projects—it’s creating entirely new career paths in the foreign aid sector.
As someone who’s spent the better part of a decade in crypto and blockchain recruitment, I’ve seen the shift firsthand. Techies who once dreamt of DeFi riches are now solving cross-border aid inefficiencies. NGOs are hiring engineers. And aid workers? They’re learning how wallets work.
Here’s what I’ve learned along the way—what’s worked, what’s flopped, and where we’re headed.
Decentralisation Is a Game-Changer for Transparency
Let’s start with the obvious one: accountability. If you’ve ever worked in or around aid, you know that one of the biggest criticisms is, “Where does the money go?” Blockchain flips that on its head.
With smart contracts and immutable ledgers, donors can now trace funds from source to recipient—no more black holes.
From a hiring perspective, I’ve seen this open up new types of roles: transparency officers, on-chain analysts, even ethics consultants. And it’s attracting people who used to be put off by the ambiguity of where their work was actually making a difference.
That said, not every org is ready for full transparency. Some still fear the spotlight—especially smaller NGOs navigating volatile regions. That’s where the conversation around permissioned blockchains comes in, and trust me, it’s a hot debate in the hiring circles right now.
Suddenly, Everyone Needs a Wallet
I remember interviewing a candidate—NGO background, brilliant communicator, loads of fieldwork experience—but she was stuck. Her dream job involved launching a crypto-based disbursement system, but she didn’t know what a private key was.
A year later? She’s heading up product for a blockchain aid startup in Nairobi. She learned fast.
Digital wallets are now a core skill—not just for engineers, but for field staff, programme leads, and even community liaisons. The rise of wallet-based distribution (whether crypto, tokens, or even stablecoins pegged to fiat) means the aid workforce is being upskilled at a rapid pace.
One project that stood out to me was Giveth—they’ve got this decentralised donation platform that allows donors to fund causes and track impact in real time. The teams behind these platforms are a mix of devs, ex-NGO folks, and a new breed of hybrid talent that didn’t exist five years ago.
Careers Are Becoming Remote, But Global
Here’s a weird paradox: the more global the work gets, the more local the hiring becomes.
Blockchain enables remote distribution, decentralised coordination, and borderless hiring. So we’re seeing aid careers shift from traditional HQs in Geneva or New York to distributed teams working from Nairobi, Berlin, or Manila.
I placed a backend dev last year with a company building cross-border remittance tools for post-conflict zones. He lives in Lisbon. The ops manager is in Kampala. The project lead is ex-UNDP and lives in a campervan (not joking). They’ve never met in person.
These setups were rare pre-2020. Now? They’re the norm. But it’s not without its challenges.
Time zones, dodgy internet, and cultural misfires still plague many remote teams. And not every organisation knows how to scale a decentralised workforce. The ones that do? They’re attracting top-tier talent who want purpose and flexibility.
So if you’re thinking of getting into this space, or hiring for it, here’s my two cents: prioritise asynchronous communication, invest in onboarding, and don’t underestimate the power of a good Slack channel.
It’s Not All Roses: Regulation Still Trips Us Up
Now, I’d love to end on a high note—but let’s keep it real.
Regulation is still the elephant in the room. Blockchain’s role in foreign aid is powerful, but it bumps hard against compliance frameworks, especially when crypto is involved. Try sending USDC to a rural Kenyan village and explaining that to your finance officer. Good luck.
Some countries are embracing it (hello, El Salvador), but many are cautious or downright hostile. I’ve seen multiple projects stall because of banking restrictions, anti-money laundering policies, or just good old-fashioned bureaucracy.
It’s why a lot of blockchain-for-aid companies are choosing to operate in regulatory grey zones or sticking with tokenised versions of fiat rather than diving headfirst into crypto. It’s also why legal and compliance talent is in massive demand right now. If you’ve got a background in financial law and a curiosity about blockchain, you’re golden.
We’ve got a long way to go—but momentum’s building. And the talent is following.
Why It’s Worth It
So, what’s the bottom line?
Blockchain’s role in reshaping foreign aid careers isn’t just hype—it’s happening. Slowly, imperfectly, but undeniably.
If you’re on the hiring side, start thinking outside the usual CV boxes. Look for passion, flexibility, and cross-disciplinary thinking.
And if you’re a jobseeker? Learn how wallets work. Read up on aid policy. Tinker with a smart contract. You might just find your career heading somewhere unexpected—in the best way possible.
