Publication: In Development
Topic(s): Global development, innovation, entrepreneurship, policy, technology, urban planning, AI, healthcare, economic reform, development projects
Rate: $2,000 per article

Writers looking for high-paying freelance writing jobs in development journalism, innovation reporting, and policy analysis should pay attention to this opportunity from In Development.

The publication is commissioning deeply reported 2,000–4,000-word features exploring what works — and what fails — across the developing world. They want stories that combine expert-level insight with accessible storytelling for readers including policymakers, researchers, and development practitioners.

This is a strong opportunity for freelance journalists, analysts, researchers, and writers with experience covering international development, public policy, economics, technology, infrastructure, healthcare, governance, or social innovation.

They are especially interested in:

• Unexpected success stories involving projects, startups, entrepreneurs, or policies creating measurable impact.
• Failed development initiatives and the lessons policymakers can learn from them.
• Technological innovation in low- and middle-income countries, including AI, energy, health, and urban systems.
• Institutional and regulatory experiments, including land reform and governance models.
• Data-driven or research-heavy stories supported by charts, graphs, and empirical analysis.

The publication values original reporting, underreported ideas, and nuanced analysis connected to real-world policy debates.

Your pitch should include:

• The central question or problem your story investigates.
• Why the story matters now and what makes the angle unique or surprising.
• A short bio with 1–2 links to previous work, essays, academic publications, or writing samples.

Payment is $2,000 upon publication. Accepted stories typically go through 2–3 rounds of revisions, fact-checking, and copy editing over a 1–2 month editorial process.