Policy, Charity and International Development Festival
Interested in a career in policy, charity or international development? Join us for the 2026 Policy, Charities and International Development festival! Network with professionals working in these sectors, find out how they got started, and what it's like to work in their roles.
Find the 2026 programme and useful resources below.
Follow our 'Policy, Charity & International Development Festival Collection' to be alerted as soon as any new events are added.
Careers in Charities & Development
Monday 26 January, 5:00-6:00pm
Virtual
Interested in a career in charities? Want to find out more? Wondering what the next best steps are for you? Our speakers will share their stories with you and answer your questions.
Careers in International Organisations
Thursday 29 January, 5:00-6:00pm
Virtual
Join us to find out more about careers in international organisations from professionals working in a range of different roles.
Networking Speed Meet - Policy, Charities & International Development
Tuesday 3 February, 6:00-7:30pm
In Person
Meet alumni and employers from policy, charity and development-related organisations and other employers with a social impact focus.
We will give you a chance to speak to each person in a small group, ringing a bell to move people along- like speed dating. After you've had a chance to meet everyone, there will be a chance to network more organically.
Careers in Government & Policy Panel
Monday 9 February, 5:00-6:00pm
Virtual
Thinking about a career in government and policy? Hear from those working in the sectors in this panel discussion.
Skills Session: Former diplomat's insights on Managing Difficult Conversations
Tuesday 10 February, 2:30-4:00pm
In Person
Join former FCDO Diplomat Arvind Mungur for an interactive skills session to help you prepare for and manage difficult conversations whilst ensuring your voice remains heard.
Follow our 'Policy, Charity & International Development Festival Collection' to be alerted as soon as any new events are added.
Blog Posts
Selected blogs from Cambridge students and alumni- how they built their work experience and their advice for you:
- Civil Service Stories tips and advice for those interested in a Civil Service career
- Developing a Career in Diplomacy
- Extending a helping hand to my past-self: how volunteering with Tutor the Nation has improved my outlook on my past and future
- Environmental Scientist Venturing into Politics – Alex on His UN Internship
- Leadership and making a social impact in British prisons – Siobhan on her experience with the Unlocked Graduates programme
- Overcoming Post-Graduation Uncertainty: Audrey Briggs’ Pursuit of a Career in International Development
- Alumni Story on Development Consultancy
You can read more blogs on politics, charities & international development
Contact us to share your career story.
Getting Work Experience
A common question our students often ask is how to get meaningful work experience in a sector where formal structured internships can be difficult to find.
- Our updated Pathways into Charity & Development YouTube playlist of 5 minute videos showcases people talking about their first steps into working in the charity and development sector
- Our new Pathways into the Civil Service YouTube playlist of 5 minute videos has a similar theme for Civil Service jobs
Find out more through our Careers in Charities and Non-Profits playlist, Careers in Government, Policy and the public sector and International Organisations Playlist
Other resources
- Read our Sector Guides on careers in Charities and International Development. You'll also find many more Sector Guides, covering everything from Political Risk to Scientific Research.
- Voluntary experience is a very common way to build experience in the sector - read our guide to find out more.
- Keep updated with news and opportunities in the sector by subscribing to our newsletters.
Sign up for our sector-specific newsletters and be the first to hear about vacancies, events, resources and opportunities. The Social Impact newsletter will be particularly useful to you if you are interested in careers in charities, development, government, policy and the public sector.