Humanitarian sector seeks professionalism, claims study

Tue, 22 Jun 2010

The humanitarian response sector is eager for its best staff to join the ranks of the professionals, according to a new study which says 90% of aid workers would support the creation of an internationally recognised profession.
 
The study was produced by  ELRHA – a network of aid agencies and UK universities - to explore how the humanitarian community could raise standards within aid work through training and certification.

The ultimate aim is to improve the level of service that aid agencies deliver to the people they work with and allow those who have dedicated their lives to helping in areas hit by natural disaster or conflict to be recognised for their work.

The study recognises that the humanitarian sector, which employs more than 200,000 aid workers worldwide, currently has no formal system of training and development. It also highlights that the traditional route into aid work is an expensive Master’s degree followed by self-funded voluntary work, which puts the career path out of reach of many.