Abstract

This thesis examines the wellbeing of project-based development practitioners in Egypt, revealing how systemic pressures—bureaucracy, job insecurity, and fragmented workloads—undermine both wellbeing and productivity. The study employed a mixed-approach, combining 10 in-depth interviews with subject matter experts and practitioners and 75 surveys with development practitioners in Egypt. Data revealed that while many practitioners are driven by purpose, structural challenges erode resilience and motivation over time. Social support networks and personal coping strategies help but cannot replace institutional protections. The study argues that wellbeing must shift from being treated as an individual concern to a structural responsibility. Reframing organizational models around human-centered logic and community resilience is essential. Safeguarding practitioner wellbeing is not just ethical—it is key to sustaining effective development work.

School

School of Global Affairs and Public Policy

Department

Public Policy & Administration Department

Degree Name

MA in Public Policy

Graduation Date

Winter 1-31-2026

Submission Date

9-18-2025

First Advisor

Rana Hendy

Committee Member 1

Shahjahan Bhuiyan

Committee Member 2

Mohamed ELKaramany

Extent

109 p.

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval

Approval has been obtained for this item

Disclosure of AI Use

Thesis text drafting; Translation; Data/results generation and/or analysis; Data/results visualization

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