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Internal reviews of staff wellbeing in two large NGOs, Amnesty International and Save the Children, highlight the damaging effects of negative working practices in the sector, such as bullying, poor management, and lack of support channels. In spite of staff expressing great pride in working for their organization, some of the concerns raised include:
A recent study of the staff support needs of humanitarian workers in South Sudan highlights the ongoing divisions in treatment of national and international staff. The biggest concerns raised by respondents related to their salary and benefits entitlements (50% of respondents), and national staff, who comprised 58% of respondents, expressed disappointment that they did not receive the same protection measures, such as evacuation and R&R, as their international counterparts. Both national and international staff also emphasized the need for improved access to medical and psycho-support services.
The Healing Solidarity Collective, whose online conference in September 2018 brought together over 1,500 participants, has launched a new online platform dedicated to re-imagining the aid/development sector and reflecting on ways to resist damaging working practices. You can join their discussions on embodied practices, anti-racism, and collective care (among others) on their website.
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