Professionalizing Humanitarian Sector: Challenges and Solutions

1. Accountability to primary clients • Steering donors • Build trust with Host Gov’s • Workers’ protection & development • Unifying the core of humanitarianism • Build future of profession

2. Professionalising the Humanitarian Sector • What are the problems to address (why bother) • Existing environment • Scope: demographics, sector- breadth • Content: values, skills, knowledge, experience • Certification system • Cost structure • Professional supporting structures • Relationship to funders, clients and profession

3. Existing environment Consortia such as, Nairobi IAWG, ALNAP NGOs, INGOs, Learning Providers - Bioforce, Mango, People in Aid, Bond, Intrac Masters degrees Other course providers In-house systems

4. Scope Demographics (1,000s) Issues One system or many? Sociology of aid workers? For what jobs and sectors are people recruited? Career paths? Competencies of present workers? Source: ALNAP 2009, forthcoming Oxfam-GB 4,600 emp’ 203 (4.4% are HP)

5. 5 Criteria for a modern profession • Monopoly on specialized knowledge • Knowledge used in an altruistic fashion • Therefore autonomy to self regulate • Responsibility to expand the Knowledge • Responsive to the users of the profession Source: Cruess, Richard L, Sylvia R Cruess, and Sharon E Johnston.  "Professionalism: an ideal to be sustained. "  The Lancet.  356.9224 (July 8, 2000): 156. 

6. Professions and Social Movements Regulation License Laws Credentials Rules Standards Guidelines Social Movement Interest experience affiliations association movement

7. Layering professions

8. Core Content / Competencies Values Skills Knowledge Experience Nutrition Logistics Source: ALNAP 2009, forthcoming

9. Nursing 2009 • Analytic/assessment • Policy development/ program planning • Communication skills • Cultural Competency skills • Community dimensions of practice skills • Basic Public health sciences skills • Financial Planning and management skills • Leadership and systems thinking skills

10. Certification system In the UK National > International Generic national model Ethiopia? Pakistan? USA? ISO/IEC 17024:2003 International Personnel Certification Association Higher education Continuing education Vocational training Professional accreditation

11. Cost structure • Who Pays? • The State? • The Employer • The professional? • Viable cost structure

12. Professional supporting structures Professional association Business association Academic association Research & Publishing

13. System? Trainer Acreditation Training Institute Content Accreditation Course Content

14. Focus Group Dan’s course

15. Key questions • What should be the core competencies? • Would you have used a certification system? • What’s the argument against

16. Survey pop’: Experience 1,223 respondents 1,020 completed

17. Survey pop’: Origin

18. Why Bother? 91.3%, yes to professionalism

19. Curriculum: Values

20. Curriculum: Knowledge

21. Curriculum: Skills

22. What else?