Did you dream when you were little about working for any of those famous agencies that stood for everything that is good in this world? And then realizing that their internal world was very far from anything resembling a happy family?
If that is you, I am here to make you understand you are not alone. Sometimes it is an enormous console just to know you are not alone.
And there are a waste number of aid workers struggling with bad working environments; or just disenchantment over ineffectiveness and inefficiency.
I do not mean that everything with international aid is bad. The problem is that the industry and its partners could have achieved so much more if they could pay more attention to solving their own internal problems. We do not need better policies or more tools, but better behaviour.
If you are a happy aid worker, do not be dissuaded. You are of course more than welcome. We need you.
You may be working for the UN, a national or international NGO, a government, donor or anything else. However, I focus on issues related to aid. Deliberately I do not distinguish between “Humanitarians” and “Developers”.
My international experience is mostly related to disaster risk management and risk reduction. Hence, I share some material and input on those issues, too.
There are plenty of other professionals and bloggers more knowledgeable and experienced than me, who can offer advanced strategies and insights.
Instead I will be talking to you.