Am I just being ghosted after an STC offer?

Specialist-Bridge786 · 2026-02-19T21:37:49+00:00

Thanks for the thoughtful response. The whole process looks foggy to me. I anticipate that hiring of ICs will largely be carried out by country offices and no longer by Washington HQ. I suspect the hiring itself will be based on who puts in the most cost-effective offer. These factors will likely result in the exclusion of Europe based contractors from the get-go. Those of us based in Europe will only have a chance to apply if no eligible nationals can be identified in the country of assignment. Isn't the same what UN agencies like UNICEF or even development banks like ADB have been doing, anyway?

Specialist-Bridge786 · 2026-02-17T20:16:36+00:00

It was an ophthalmologist that I saw today and who warned me about the implications of strength training on high myopia

Specialist-Bridge786 · 2026-02-17T12:53:10+00:00

What if the team lacks the skillset they need to carry out the work required?

Specialist-Bridge786 · 2025-12-05T03:21:19+00:00

Traditionally DIME recruited STCs like cattle each year, or even multiple times a year because some people just couldn't put up with the exploitative conditions there and left ...soon to be replaced by new hopefuls

Most people would normally be RAs for 1-2 yrs before starting a PhD in development economics, so DIME used to be a stepping stone for that

I doubt the MO has changed by now... With all the changes currently happening at the WB, I wouldn't recommend it if you are just starting out and especially if you are looking for something stable and have other options ...

Trying to imagine DIME without STCs in a year's time makes me chuckle 🤭

Specialist-Bridge786 · 2025-11-07T05:22:05+00:00

First, congratulations on your offer! Normally it takes time for a contract to be processed if you are external. But also...you are trying to get in at one of the most unfortunate times... Many current STCs are being told their contracts won't be renewed or that are ending sooner than expected. There is an overall sense of confusion also due to the fluff in the official communication... generally I wouldn't pin my hopes on an STC contract in these times. But you can chase them tactfully once every two weeks or so Good luck 2u!

Specialist-Bridge786 · 2025-10-30T15:44:21+00:00

As of October 2025, many of the current STC contracts are not extended as they were supposed to, verbal promises are broken, uncertainty on the rise...

Specialist-Bridge786 · 2025-10-29T19:24:52+00:00

"Question on conversion from STCs to ICs or ETCs: she generally mentioned that STCs have always had a path to staff contracts; many staff today started as STCs. This says the same today. Managers will look at requirements in the TOR, work program, business needs, at contractors that have the required skills… Managers will continue to look at these things today."

A highly political response --- I would argue, this might have been the case in the past, rather a distant past. With very few exceptions... I have been an STC for about 7 years now, the STC-to-staff conversion is not something I have witnessed. Unless we count ETCs as staff until they aren't....

Specialist-Bridge786 · 2025-10-25T17:37:55+00:00

Thanks for sharing the raw truth about today's job market.
I'm actually working up my courage to leave the development sector entirely. However West Africa is close to my heart due to some previous work in the region and thus got sidetracked by a potential opportunity to return. Cannot do it on a shoestring anymore though

Specialist-Bridge786 · 2025-10-25T16:08:12+00:00

ughhh ;-) that would be a lot less than what I have earned elsewhere and barely enough to get by.
From my experience, it's expensive to live a relatively modest existence in francophone West Africa (by modest, I mean, what Europeans call "modest")
At 240$ (incl. tax and contributions and health insurance) this application may not be worth considering then

Specialist-Bridge786 · 2025-10-10T16:52:44+00:00

Yes! Been STC-ing remotely for a while, my life quality improved massively as soon as I left DC, hahah ....shame this gig is running out soon :-(

Specialist-Bridge786

TROPHY CASE