Q&A: Communications, Counselling, Development during Maoist insurgency, Emergency water, Reproductive health, DRC

Topics included:

• Communication Skills
• Aid Worker counseling
• Development during a maoist insurgency - how?
• Emergency water systems
• Reproductive health in Iran
• DRC: Where to find information?
• Increasing Your Effectiveness as a People Manager

Can you offer any insights or pointers to useful information/contacts on these topics? Thank you.

Responses to the previous questions are summarised below. Please continue the discussions online at Aid Workers Forum or e-mail exchange@aidworkers.net

New Questions

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Lamqaddam El Mostafa in Morocco would like to know if anyone has experienced problems in communicating with communities or with project sponsors? What are the pitfalls? What are the lessons learnt? http://oldforum.aidworkers.net/messages/124/10852.html

AID WORKER COUNSELING

Sankar Rajkumar hasn't found programs for aid workers who are in transition or have difficulties with stress or ideological conflicts. Do you know if this kind of support is available in India or elsewhere? http://oldforum.aidworkers.net/messages/116/71.html

RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN A CONFLICT-AFFECTED AREA

Elizabeth is in Nepal, where there is an official government and a de facto maoist government, which controls many areas. To carry out development activities she must deal with both, and she's finding it extremely difficult to follow do-no-harm principles. What experiences can you share to help her? http://oldforum.aidworkers.net/messages/1/10833.html

REGISTER ON AID WORKERS FORUM

You can now receive automatic email notification of new questions and responses posted to selected topics. To find out more visit http://oldforum.aidworkers.net and click on "Register" at the top of the screen.

Responses

EMERGENCY WATER SYSTEMS

For installing emergency water systems, Stephen's advice is to use what is available, encourage local volunteer response, use local techniques, and don't pay in such a way as to raise expectations or block any future possibilities. Also, if there isn't a health warning system, establish one so you know where to concentrate your efforts. Alan suggests that this is a participatory question rather than a technical one. Luis recommends "Managing Water in the Home: Accelerated Health Gains from Improved Water Supply," a 2002 WHO publication available on the web. http://oldforum.aidworkers.net/messages/141/10728.html

REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH IN IRAN

Beth tells us the Global Gender-based Violence Technical Support project has worked on reproductive health issues for several years and shares web links that have information and support. She suggests pitching the health angle. Everyone agrees that healthy babies, mothers, and fathers is a good thing. Bryan directed a birth defects research unit in Sri Lanka. He offers many details from his store of experience. A clinic could serve the needs of 3 groups: (1) government officials--meeting a justifiable need; (2) health workers--source of information, coordination and education; (3) mothers and families--giving help and education. http://oldforum.aidworkers.net/messages/141/10790.html

DRC: WHERE TO FIND INFORMATION?

Jean provides a brief overview on living in DRC. Most humanitarian workers live in eastern Congo. It's safer in Bakavu, from which you can reach the rest of the country by boat, plane, or auto. Several international and local NGOs are based in the cities. Keeping safe requires some vigilance. Local wages are low, and the economic situation could be better. The cost of living is affordable except for areas near mines, such as Lubumbashi, Mbuji Mayi, or Kananga. Rent for a house varies throughout the country, from US$200 to US$1200. Postal service is slow, but major cities have Internet service, and three- quarters of the country has telephone service. http://oldforum.aidworkers.net/messages/136/10801.html

INCREASING YOUR EFFECTIVENESS AS A PEOPLE MANAGER

To Ben's points, Bryan adds that it's important to keep in touch with the beneficiaries and keep their aims and objectives in sight. "Overall, an enhancement in sensitivity to others, whether colleagues or beneficiaries, must lead to better management." Majboor, in Afghanistan, welcomes this timely article and asks, "what is the scope of an HR Manager/department functions in today's workplace?" Ahlam Abdelmajeed's workplace has an annual performance appraisal for each staff member. But how, Ahlam asks, to ensure that the review is objective and honest? Jan bemoans relief agencies' short-term view: "Hire them, then lay them off at the end of contract. But who trains, who encourages the development of skills and the passing on of knowledge?" http://oldforum.aidworkers.net/messages/258/10827.html

 Aid Workers Exchange 16-JUL-03 ISSN 1478-5137