• Planning overview
• Assessing staff needs
• Recruitment essentials
• Sourcing staff
• Financial resources
• Staff turnover
• Competition and collaboration
• Accountability

• Case studies
• Resources
• Further reading

• People In Aid Code

Further reading

Free downloads

Basic elements in a human resource system – An information note outlining 25 key elements in a Human Resource System, from organisational structure to social interaction.

Emergency Response Rosters – An information note providing comprehensive details on emergency response rosters, covering the advantages; pitfalls and various considerations.

Humanitarian response review – summary/response – The Humanitarian Response Review was commissioned to "assess the humanitarian response capacities of the UN, NGOs, Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement and other key humanitarian actors including the IOM, identify the gaps and make recommendations to address them." It contains many recommendations to improve current deficiencies in the system. We have digested the report for you focusing exclusively on human resources matters. Below you will find mostly direct quotes from the report, and some commentary from People In Aid.

Motivating staff and volunteers working in NGOs in the South – People In Aid commissioned research to look at ways in which these organisations motivate their staff and volunteers. The aim was to identify the various non-financial incentives used by NGOs working in the South. The research was undertaken by FRONTERA, an international management and development consulting organisation, working with in-country consultants.

Turnover and retention – literature review Jan 2006 – The objective of this literature review was to capture the broadest possible view of turnover and retention, not only covering humanitarian agencies, but also the corporate sector.

Turnover and retention – literature review summary – Jan 2006 – This summary of current literature on turnover and retention is largely based on the literature review document that was simultaneously prepared for People In Aid, Turnover and Retention – Lit Review – Jan 2006

Working effectively with consultants – Notes from an affinity group on working effectively with consultants – held in June 2004.

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Developing a human resource strategy – This handbook, written for one of the series of successful People In Aid workshops, aims to provide some guidance mainly to those organisations which are planning to develop an HR Strategy for the first time. It is aimed to help you to plan your process and to avoid some of the pitfalls along the way. For those agencies who have already got an HR strategy and are thinking about producing a further one we hope that it will help you to think through how to improve on the process that you used last time.

Just rewards – A substantial survey of salary scales, allowances and benefits packages offered by international NGOs to expatriate field staff and volunteers in 2000.

Practical application of competencies in aid work – Many organisations involved in delivering development and humanitarian responses are now using competency frameworks to underpin the performance of their staff and to have a more open dialogue about that performance. This handbook focuses on the very practical aspects of how to make those frameworks come alive for line managers and staff using them. The handbook will be especially useful for those managing and recruiting staff in international aid & development agencies.

Staff health and welfare – These guidelines are intended to raise awareness of health care issues amongst organisations and their staff who travel internationally. In addition they guide organisations on how best to make appropriate health care available, before, during and after international assignments. They also help organisations budget realistically for all expenses related to health care.

Under cover 2 – A survey of international aid agencies in the UK, this report investigates the current situation regarding insurance cover for aid agencies, the difficulties experienced in obtaining insurance and how agencies deal with the problems of obtaining adequate, cost effective cover.

People In Aid resources

People In Aid offers a range of practical resources for agencies seeking to improve the quality of their human resources management. Many publications are free of charge, but for those which are sold, substantial discounts are available for members. Members also also have access to a unique collection of policies shared by organisations in People In Aid's policy bank as well as a growing number of country profiles containing information about local employment issues.