Transcript Document

2B Sustaining a community of
humanitarian practice
Dr Michele Lipner, Jess Camburn
October 11, 2012
Professionalisation of the Humanitarian Sector
Preliminary Findings
11 October, 2012
Study Methodology
The Question: How to progress a professionalisation
agenda in Australia and the region?
•
•
•
With a focus on the practitioner
Looking not at the ‘if’ but the ‘how’ in general
In relation to the global discourse around:
–
–
–
–
•
•
•
•
3
Core competency framework
Standardised/accredited training and educational fora
Professional associations and/or community of practice
Regional Hubs
What can we do here to advance the agenda and do we have a
niche role to play
Key drivers
Challenges
Next steps
11 October 2012
Study Methodology
•
•
•
•
4
A questionnaire developed in consultation with the
ACFID Sub-Working Group of the HRG on
Professionalisation
Questionnaire sent out to approximately 60
individuals from Australia and the Asia-Pacific
40 responded and out of that number, 34 agreed to
be participate. Two provided written comment; 32
were interviewed via telephone over August/early
September
Breakdown of respondents: NGOs, UN, Red Cross,
AusAID, Academics, Trainers
11 October 2012
Preliminary Findings
• It Really Isn’t About Us
“We are talking about people’s rights to receive proper
humanitarian assistance”
– “The goal of the professionalisation agenda is about
improved quality of assistance”
– “It is fundamental in us doing better work…it is a means to
an end and not an end to itself”
– “We should never lose sight we are responding to affected
people and we need to be held accountable to them. This
should be the way we drive the process”
–
5
11 October, 2012
Preliminary Findings
• Change the Discourse
–
–
–
–
–
6
We need to move away from thinking in terms of “if” to the why,
the what and the how
The why is our end state/overall objective: saving lives and the
right of beneficiaries to receive the best aid possible
If the end point is ‘us’, we have no real imperative to change
If the end point is aid effectiveness and the rights of people to
receive the best aid possible, we have a greater imperative to
move into a comprehensive discussion/action around the ‘what’
and the ‘how’
We need to think in terms of good governance of the sector and
around those entities that support the sector
11 October, 2012
Preliminary Findings
• What’s the Problem?
There are no clear pathways into or through the sector
– Processes are still too subjective and ad hoc
– Those we support are increasingly demanding greater
professionalisation in response and in those who respond
– We do not have industry wide standards or systems of
accountability
– While we have standards around the quality of work we do,
we don’t have any set of standards we apply around our
own knowledge, experience and skills
– “The time of the well meaning humanitarian has passed”
–
7
11 October, 2012
Preliminary Findings
• What Should A Professionalisation Agenda Include?
Consistency in pathways for professional development—
and transferable
– Focus on skills, knowledge and experience
– Continuous/on-going learning opportunities
– Flexible core competency framework focused on technical
and behavioral competencies
– Standardised/certified educational programs/courses
blending theory and practice with emphasis on the latter
– Professional association
– No distinction between host country and international staff
–
8
11 October, 2012
Preliminary Findings
• Challenges
It must be seen as core business
– There must be an organisational commitment to this
agenda
– Everyone must own it
– Gate keeping and balancing exclusion versus inclusion
– Avoid elitism (e.g. big agencies over small)
– Newcomers and old timers
–
9
11 October, 2012
Preliminary Findings
• Challenges (continued)
Ensure that nationals are central to the process; the agenda
should be seamless with no differentiation between national
and international
– Level of greatest impact: National? Regional? Global?
– Where is the money going to come from?
– Time
– Eat the elephant piece by piece or swallow it whole?
–
10
11 October 2012
Where Do We Go From Here?
• Next Steps
11
–
Creation of a working group, a ‘coalition of the willing’, an
inter-agency body or consortia—either in Australia or the
region—to progress the professionalisation agenda and the
recommendations coming from study
–
As a working group, articulate the vision, set the goal,
decide what is achievable, prioritise, develop a road map for
moving forward with a time line for development of the
agenda. Do not reinvent the wheel but map what is out
there
11 October 2012
Where Do We Go From Here?
•
Next Steps (continued)
Begin the socialisation process for consensus building
– Use report findings; socialise via regional fora; take it to the
IASC
– Start moving—the time for complacency is over
–
o Donors
and governments expect those who deploy to meet
certain standards and competencies
o Don’t wait for the next tsunami
o Don’t be left behind
o Don’t wait to ‘be done to’ ……do it ourselves
12
11 October, 2012
Questions/Comments?
13
11 October, 2012
ACFID Council 2012
Sustainable Planet, Programs & Organisations
11-12 October 2012
Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/acfid
Follow us on Twitter: @acfid
Join in the conversation: #ACFIDcouncil #Rio2u