Logo for InfluenceWatch InfluenceWatch

Donate
For-profit

Devex

Location:

Washington, D.C
Status:

For-profit
Founded:

2000
President:

Raj Kumar

Contact InfluenceWatch with suggested edits or tips for additional profiles.

Devex is a for-profit news outlet based in Washington, D.C., that is geared towards the international aid and development community. The outlet specializes in reporting news that is of interest to those who work in the fields of global development and foreign aid.

The focus of Devex’s reporting is issues related to international development. It covers the inner workings of international organizations such as the World Health Organization, the United Nations, the World Economic Forum, the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development, and other similar organizations. The media outlet partners with these organizations to bring their media coverage to their meetings and make it available to their members and employees. 1

In addition to working with international organizations, it has partnerships with non-governmental organizations and government agencies. Among the organizations that it partners with are the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Milken Institute, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), UNICEF, and the World Bank. 2

Overview

Devex is a for-profit news outlet based in Washington, D.C., that is geared towards the international aid and international development community. In addition to its office in Washington, D.C., it has offices in Barcelona, Spain; London, England; and Manila, Philippines. The organization advocates lowering the administrative costs of international and donor organizations so they can spend more money on grants and projects. 3

Devex’s target audience is those who work in the fields of international economic development and international aid. The focus of Devex’s reporting is on trends within the international development sector, covering news related to international development and foreign aid, and commentary and analysis from those who work in the international development field. 4

In addition to providing news coverage of the international development sector, Devex serves as a networking platform for aid organizations to network and connect with everything from donors to potential job seekers in the field. The organization also hosts live events and conferences where professionals in the international development field give their opinion on issues related to the international development field. 5

The company began as a student project at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government in 2000. 6

Reporting

In 2017, Devex reported on the fact that the United States Agency for International Development’s largest ever contract was facing major problems. The $9.5 billion global health supply chain project was awarded to Chemonics International and it allowed contractors who did not meet performance requirements to get paid. The reporting led to Congressional hearings in 2018. 7

In December 2017 at the height of the #MeToo movement, Devex hosted a Twitter chat about the #AidToo hashtag campaign. The hashtag rose in response to allegations of sexual harassment and sexual abuse of employees of international aid organizations by superiors. 8

In December 2017, Devex published an op-ed on how foreign aid advocates could defend against potential foreign aid cuts by the Trump administration. It urged advocates to make national security, faith-based, and economic arguments against any potential foreign aid cuts. 9

In May 2020, Devex first reported on a plan by the Trump administration to shift control of global health programs from USAID to the State Department. The plan was controversial because USAID is an independent agency, whereas the State Department is viewed as more political. 10

In May 2022, Devex reported on a World Health Organization working group proposal to boost the organization’s response to health emergencies. It also urged member nations to increase production of vaccines and therapeutics and to transfer that technology to less developed nations in the name of “equity.” 11

Leadership

Raj Kumar is the president and editor-in-chief of Devex. He originally founded Devex as a graduate student project at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. The project was intended to be a resource to inform and connect international development and foreign aid professionals around the world. The project was so successful that the dean urged Kumar to drop out of Harvard and develop Devex further. Previously, Kumar worked as Democratic political strategist. 12

Finances

Devex makes the bulk of its money through selling memberships and subscriptions to international development and foreign aid professionals. It was profitable within the first year of launch. 13

In 2008, it had $1 million in profit based on $4 million in revenue. It was on track to do $6 million in revenue in 2009. 14

As of May 2022, it had claimed to have 1 million members. 15

References

  1. “About Devex”. About Devex. Accessed May 30, 2022. https://pages.devex.com/about-devex.
  2. “About Devex”. About Devex. Accessed May 30, 2022. https://pages.devex.com/about-devex.
  3. “About Devex”. About Devex. Accessed May 30,2022. https://pages.devex.com/about-devex.
  4. “About Devex”. About Devex. Accessed May 30, 2022. https://pages.devex.com/about-devex.
  5. “About Devex”. About Devex. Accessed May 30, 2022. https://pages.devex.com/about-devex.
  6. Coster, Helen. “Jobs Without Borders”. Forbes. Sept. 21, 2009 https://www.forbes.com/global/2009/0921/entrepreneurs-devex-international-jobs-without-borders.html?sh=2995965a28b0.
  7. “5 Takeaways From The USAID Supply Chain Hearings”.  Wheels Report. May 18, 2018 https://wheels.report/trending-news/5-takeaways-from-the-usaid-supply-chain-hearings.
  8. Cooper, Glenda. “Reporting #Aidtoo: How Social Media Spaces Empowered Women In The 2018 Charity Scandals”. The Conversation. March 6, 2020 https://theconversation.com/reporting-aidtoo-how-social-media-spaces-empowered-women-in-the-2018-charity-scandals-133090.
  9. Scruggs, Gregory. “How To Defend Aid In The Trump Era: Try National Security, Business, And Faith”. Devex. Dec. 6, 2017 https://www.devex.com/news/how-to-defend-aid-in-the-trump-era-try-national-security-business-and-faith-91670.
  10.  Beaubien, Jason. 2020. “U.S. Mulls Controversial Foreign Aid Shake-Up”. NPR. https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/06/17/878507540/u-s-mulls-controversial-foreign-aid-shake-up.
  11. Ravelo, Jenny Lei. “WHO Working Group Proposes Ways To Boost Health Emergencies Response”. Devex. May 5, 2022 https://www.devex.com/news/who-working-group-proposes-ways-to-boost-health-emergencies-response-103177.
  12. Coster, Helen. “Jobs Without Borders”. Forbes. Sept. 21, 2009 https://www.forbes.com/global/2009/0921/entrepreneurs-devex-international-jobs-without-borders.html?sh=2995965a28b0.
  13. Coster, Helen. “Jobs Without Borders”. Forbes. Sept. 21, 2009 https://www.forbes.com/global/2009/0921/entrepreneurs-devex-international-jobs-without-borders.html?sh=2995965a28b0.
  14. Coster, Helen. “Jobs Without Borders”. Forbes. Sept. 21, 2009 https://www.forbes.com/global/2009/0921/entrepreneurs-devex-international-jobs-without-borders.html?sh=2995965a28b0.
  15. “About Devex”. About Devex. Accessed May 30, 2022. https://pages.devex.com/about-devex.
  See an error? Let us know!