Firstly, there are several key intergovernmental bodies and development banks in the region which are useful both for staying informed and for employment.
Development Banks
Provide loans, grants, technical assistance, and equity investments across Asia with the aim of promoting economic and sustainable development. Look here for careers information.
Number of staff: >1000
Budget: > $500 million
Headquarters: Manila, Philippines (with 19 offices across the region)
- Islamic Development Bank (ISDB)
A multilateral development finance institution assisting development projects across the Middle East and Asia, containing 57 member states. Find out about careers here. An important initiative of this is the ISDB Lives and Livelihoods Fund (LLF), a $2.5 million fund for addressing poverty in the poorest member countries. Find out about careers here for the LLF.
Number of staff: +1000
Headquarters: Saudi Arabia
Offices: Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Malta, Senegal
Budget: + $500 million
- Fiji Development Bank (FDB)
Provides financial assistance to facilitate economic development in Fiji, specifically in the areas of agriculture, commerce, and industry. Find out about careers here.
Number of staff: +250
Headquarters: Suva, Fiji
Budget: +$100 million
Intergovernmental Organisations
An economic union containing 10 member states in Southeast Asia, with its primary goals being to encourage cooperation in:
- Economics
- Politics
- Security
- Military
- Education
- Sociocultural integration
It also has several associated entities, such as the ASEAN Institute for Peace and reconciliation (ASEAN-IPR) and the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB). Look here for careers information.
Number of staff: > 500 in the secretariat
Headquarters: Jakarta, Indonesia
With 18 members across the pacific, the Forum works to improve the lives of Pacific people via promoting peace, harmony, security, social inclusion, and prosperity. In recent news, Micronesia decided to split from this group in protest at election of the new secretary general. Find out about careers here.
Number of staff: +100
Headquarters: Fiji, with offices in New Zealand (Auckland), China (Beijing), Australia & (Sydney)
This organisation was founded in 1985 in Tehran by leaders from Turkey, Iran, and Pakistan. They aim to promote development, trade, and investment opportunities across their 10 members in central and western Asia. Find out about careers here.
Number of staff: +50
Headquarters: Tehran, Iran
A regional inter-governmental coalition focusing on climate change and environmental issues in the pacific region, with the overall aim of promoting sustainable development. Look here for career information.
Number of staff: ~100
Headquarters: Samoa
Budget: + $20 million
An intergovernmental knowledge and learning centre focusing specifically on the peoples of the Himalayan Hindu Kush region. Find out about careers here.
Number of staff: 50+
Headquarters: Kathmandu, Nepal
Focusing on achieving sustainable oceans, coasts, and communities across the region.
Number of staff: +50
Headquarters: Quezon City, Philippines
Humanitarian Organisations
This organisation started in Pakistan and since then has spread around the world. They provide medical care, homes for the destitute, drug rehabilitation and both national and international aid relief. The foundation has a history of donating to countries in the region, including giving $200,000 to Iran last year to help them handle the pandemic.
Number of staff: +500, but run almost entirely by volunteers
Headquarters: Karachi, Pakistan
A humanitarian NGO working officially since 1990, however it’s work in Pakistan dates back to 1947. They work both in Pakistan, and across the region, including India, Bangladesh, Syria, Indonesia, and others. Find out about careers here.
Number of staff: +300
Headquarters: Lahore, Pakistan
Budget: +$1.5 million
An international humanitarian development NGO founded in Korea in 1991 focusing on ending hunger. They are currently working across 40 countries in 192 communities. Career opportunities are advertised on individual country sites.
Number of staff: +1000
Headquarters: Seoul, South Korea
Budget: +$200 million
Helping refugees escape North Korea, along with assisting in resettlement and working to change narratives. Their founder has made several press appearances, and they have made documentaries shedding light on life in North Korea, like this one. Find out about careers here.
Number of staff: +50
Headquarters: Seoul, South Korea, and California (USA)
Budget: +$2 million
Provides emergency assistance and are particularly active on issues of mines and their removal. Find out about careers here.
Number of staff: +500
Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Budget: +$25 million
Based in Japan and operational across the world, they provide humanitarian assistance to those threated by conflict and poverty.
Number of staff: +50
Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Budget: +$1 million
Started by the Malaysian obstetrician-gynaecologist Dr. Jemilah Mahmood after her experiences in Kosovo in 1999. The organisation has since grown to work internationally providing medical relief in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Find out about careers here.
Number of staff: +1000
Headquarters: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Budget: +$3 million
An international relief & development agency and leader in Australian aid for providing humanitarian support. Find out about careers here.
Number of staff: +50
Headquarters: Yagoona, Australia
Budget: + $10 million
Organisations focusing on poverty and socio-economic development
A major player in terms of Chinese assistance overseas. CFPA develop projects in the areas of health, education, rural development, and disaster relief. International vacancies are advertised on their social media.
Number of staff: +100
Headquarters: Beijing (with offices in Myanmar, Nepal and Ethiopia)
Budget: +$30 million invested in development abroad
A Pakistan based organisation focusing on fighting poverty, with 125 branches operating nationally with international offices in the UK, USA, and the UAE.
Number of staff: +3000
Headquarters: Lahore, Pakistan
Budget: $1.5 million spent in 2019
A foundation formed by a famous Pakistani cricketer in 2014 with the aim of improving conditions for the poorest communities across the globe. Find out about careers here.
Number of staff: +300
Headquarters: Lahore, Pakistan
Budget: $1.5 million spent in 2019
Taiwanese organisation dedicated to socio-economic development and improved relations with developing country partners. Find out about careers here.
Number of staff: +150
Headquarters: Taiwan
Budget: +$100 million
SOLS 24/7 provides free education to the poorest 40% primarily in Indonesia and Malaysia. Much of this is online, and they have worked with over 550,000 students in the last 21 years. Find out about careers here.
Number of staff: +200
Headquarters: Malaysia
Environment
This Beijing based NGO works both nationally and internationally to promote sustainable development. They are a significant part of China’s international environmental impact. Find out about careers here.
Number of staff: 25+
Headquarters: Beijing, China
Budget: +$2 million
Their mission is to promote sustainable development across rural India. Find out about careers here.
Number of staff: +250
Headquarters: Patancheru, India
Works with international organisations, government agencies, local governments, private enterprises, and research institutions to investigate key policy issues for promoting sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region. Find out about careers here.
Number of staff: +50
Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Budget: +$1 million
Works on sustainable aquaculture and fisheries across Africa, Asia, and the Pacific.
Number of staff: +500
Headquarters: Penang, Malaysia
Budget: +$20 million
Strives towards better air quality in Asian cities. They have offices in Manila, Beijing, and Delhi, along with networks across Asia. Find out about careers here.
Number of staff: +25
Headquarters: Pasig City, Philippines
Budget: +$2 million
A network of over 3000 NGOs across 14 Asian countries focusing on issues of food security and sustainable rural development. A great source of information from a local perspective.
Child-focused Organisations
They started working in 1990 with the aim of ending child sexual exploitation in tourism in Thailand. It’s since blossomed into a worldwide network, both in Asia and across the world. Find out about careers here. They also have an internship program for recent graduates and young professionals.
Number of staff: +50
Headquarters: Bangkok, Thailand
Budget: +$3 million
A leading charity in India focusing on education for underprivileged children. They have projects in education, healthcare, livelihood development and women’s empowerment, with millions of children benefiting every year. Find out about careers here.
Number of staff: +500
Headquarters: New Delhi, India
Budget: $8 million
Founded in 2007 by Safeena Husain to work towards the education of girls in rural India. Find out about careers here.
Number of staff: +250
Headquarters: Patancheru, India
Provides the tools needed for education that promotes intercultural skills and mindsets. Find out about careers here.
Number of staff: +500
Headquarters: San Francisco, USA (Offices across Asia)
Budget: + $100 million
Working in Korea since 1948 to protect and promote children’s rights. They are recognised as the leading Korean organisation focusing on children’s welfare. Opportunities advertised on the international site.
Number of staff: +500
Headquarters: Seoul, South Korea
Budget: +$50 million
An international non-governmental organization that dedicates itself to providing children and their families with welfare and benefits.
Number of staff: +50
Headquarters: Taiwan
Working with agents on the ground to rescue children from sexual exploitation and help them re-integrate. They work across 6 countries in the Asia Pacific. Find out about careers here.
Number of staff: +25
Headquarters: Auckland, New Zealand
Budget: +$400,000
This was a collaborative effort between the Islamic Development Bank Group (ISDB) and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) to form a community of the world’s leading Muslim philanthropic donors. Opportunities advertised through the ISDB.
Number of staff: +1000
Headquarters: Saudi Arabia, with offices in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia and others.
Budget: + US$250 million
Healthcare
Provide essential healthcare across India and the broader region, with 480 branches in India and 49 branches abroad. Find out about careers here.
Number of staff: +1000
Headquarters: Udaipur, India
Working for more than 40 years in India to assist the elderly. Find out about careers here.
Number of staff: +500
Headquarters: New Delhi, India
Budget: + $5 million
Formed in 1952, it is the longest running NGO in Nepal. A faith-based organisation, they focus on health issues such as leprosy, spinal cord injuries, and other disabilities. Find out about careers here.
Number of staff: +250
Headquarters: Pokhara, Nepal
Budget: +$100 million
Working to promote sexual and reproductive health across 16 countries in Asia. Find out about careers here.
Number of staff: +25
Headquarters: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Budget: +$1 million
This NGO focuses on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), healthy cities, and resilient communities in countries such as Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. They work with big funders like USAID and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Find out about careers here.
Number of staff: +50
Headquarters: Oakland, USA
Budget: +$10 million
Human Rights
- Asia Centre for Human Rights (ACHR)
This organisation works by providing key information and complaints to key institutions, UN bodies and mechanisms. A great source of information for the most pressing human rights issues in the region.
Number of staff: +50
Headquarters: India
Aims to promote and protect human rights, with a network of 58 members in 19 countries. Find out about careers here.
Number of staff: +50
Headquarters: Thailand
This network contains more than 450 civil society organisations from across 38 countries, all working to protect the rights of refugees.
Number of staff: +50
Headquarters: Thailand
This organisation works hard to promote indigenous peoples’ rights across 18 countries in Asia. Members are national alliances/networks, local and sub-national organizations.
Number of staff: +25
Headquarters: Chiang Mai, Thailand
Focusing on helping women and children recover from the trauma of extreme human rights abuses, including slavery, trafficking, and abuse. They work primarily in Afghanistan, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Find out about careers here.
Number of staff: +250
Headquarters: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Defends and advances women’s and girl’s rights across the region. Find out about careers here.
Number of staff: +50
Headquarters: Melbourne, Australia
Budget: + $10 million
Working to strengthen unions and social movements across the region. Find out about careers here.
Number of staff: +50
Headquarters: Sydney, Australia
Budget: + $10 million
Cross-category Organisations
BRAC are the biggest organisation in the world, with over 11,000 development professionals. Find out about careers here.
Number of staff: +10,000
Headquarters: Bangladesh
Budget: +$700 million
Working in 10 countries across Asia in a variety of fields, including health, education, sustainable development, and emergency response. Find out about careers here.
Number of staff: +500
Headquarters: Bandung, Indonesia
This foundation is based on the principles of Buddhism. They focus their efforts on multiple areas, such as poverty relief, aid, education, and humanistic culture. While they started in Taiwan, they now work across 50 countries and have offices worldwide. Find out about careers here.
Number of staff: +500
Headquarters: Offices across the globe.
This is a non-profit research institute based in Hawaii which investigates and promotes cooperative policies in the Indo-Pacific region.
Number of staff: +25
Headquarters: Honolulu, Hawaii
They work across 18 countries in the region. They focus on a range of issues, including strengthening governance, women’s empowerment, environmental resilience, and peace. This organisation has an interesting history, as it was originally started by the CIA. Find out about careers here.
Number of staff: +1000
Headquarters: San Francisco, California
Budget: +$70 million
Informational/job hunting resources:
- Directory of Indian NGOs.
- Directory of Malaysian NGOS.
- Directory of Filipino NGOs.
- The Lowy Institute Pacific Aid Map analyses all aid money going into the pacific region.
- The Australian Council for International Development is the primary body for Australian NGOs working in international development and humanitarian action, with over 130 members working in 90 developing countries. They list vacancies across the sector.