If that’s where you want to go applying directly to GiveWell would be the straightforward course of action.
Given FHI’s academic nature they probably do prefer people with degrees but I think FHI doesn’t want specific degrees but wants to hire people with expertise that they currently don’t have so they should be pretty open.
If you look at the give well job description for a research analyst (http://www.givewell.org/about/jobs/research-analyst) it doesn’t mention that GiveWell is interested that people who apply have a degree.
If that’s where you want to go applying directly to GiveWell would be the straightforward course of action.
Given FHI’s academic nature they probably do prefer people with degrees but I think FHI doesn’t want specific degrees but wants to hire people with expertise that they currently don’t have so they should be pretty open.