The job of the NGOs cooperating
The November 27, 2008 is presented in Milan on Dossier: "A difficult job. International Cooperation: Working with NGOs "edited by Link2007, COSV and SISCOS. A report well done, full of information and objective analysis on the situation of the trade of cooperating. From this report, we take our cue to stimulate debate among stakeholders, and since there is 'a certain mobility' between NGOs, donors, United Nations or the private sector technical assistance, we expect answers and comments from all . At the end of each paragraph some food for thought. From
photo provided by the report comes out a nation of heroes and idealists, but also precarious and underpaid (especially compared to colleagues who are in a job similar if not identical in international organizations and with donors). Not to mention the employees who work in the Italian offices ...
How can 'change the Italian co-operation so that' the interests of the NGO workers are protected? What are the practical solutions to critical issues that are mentioned in the report?
Some nodes to be addressed
From numerical point of view the NGO sector involved in international cooperation Italian employs just over 6000 people, of which about half 'women. One area not very small, if we add the number of people working in the headquarters of organizations in Italy. 55% work in Africa. One third are under 30 years, 40% had between 31 and 45 years, and another third are younger 'than 45 years.
The Dossier of Link2007 highlights some critical aspects and nodes of the "trade" that it is worth recalling. We have selected four which we believe may represent points of departure to propose alternative solutions.
1) The report shows that despite the thousands of resumes that come every year at their own locations for Italian organizations is often extremely difficult able to adequately cover the vacancies. There is hunger for project coordinators, the time of "construction" of the coordinators are too long compared to the needs, the route of "construction" of data is limited by a "raw material" (young people included in the first degree of professional development) are often not adequate for several reasons, the content of university education on the market do not actually correspond to what the role requires, and the discomfort of working places and the gap will make it difficult to build a family and established relationships.
requirements to become a project manager are too high?
The training and learning at work are not adequate?
The salary of the coordinator of projects is inadequate and urges us to find work elsewhere?
E 'right that there is an almost total absence of benefits for the schooling of their children and family dependents?
2) The report shows that a good cooperating must be able to combine the skills of managers, political, communicator and mediator. Even the best doctor, agronomist or architect, with no systematic attention to context, and a solid general knowledge in the social sciences, will work evil.
How can "reeducate" technicians to work more relational, managerial and political?
3) The report shows the working condition of aid workers is of great instability, based on short term contracts. The contractual form by far the most used by NGOs is to "contract project work" (co.co.pro). The majority of the employment contracts entered into and is short of between one and five months. Nevertheless, in 2007 the Italian Cooperation has offered a post at least a year to more than 1000 people (1078 to be exact in 2007 against 1009 in 2006).
The insecurity is now a feature of many trades, but not this must be accepted. E 'possible to rethink the design longer? With longer contracts?
E 'right that those involved in emergency ambulances should pursue in order to find work?
E 'unthinkable to create a "case of cooperating" to address those increasingly frequent moments of emptiness between a contract and the other?
4) have been well recognized 104 employees - 2% of total - with EU documents (one third of them English).
in crises like the current one is desirable in a loss of jobs in favor of foreign aid workers?
There is a similar level of "export" of aid workers to foreign organizations?
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