Tag Archives: aid workers’ burnout
A quick guide to getting out of aid work
By Alessandra Pigni and Janet Gunter Over time I’ve come across two groups of people in aid: those who desperately want to get into aid work and those who want to – equally desperately – get out of aid work. … Continue reading
When humanitarians cry
From the comfort of our blogs sometimes it’s easy to criticise humanitarian organisations: they often come across as neo-colonial, with hierarchical and bureaucratic structures, they tend to suffer from a “macho culture syndrome” and when it comes to staff care…well … Continue reading
How to overcome “humanitarian” burnout
Burnout is a serious problem among frontline professionals, nevertheless it is often misunderstood and its impact minimized. What causes burnout? How does it differ from PTSD? I discussed these issues with WhyDev and Devex, below are the links to the … Continue reading
Discussing ‘Organizations on the Edge of Chaos’ at Oxford University
“Organizations on the Edge of Chaos: Exploring Culture, Burnout, and Resilience in the Humanitarian Sector” a talk by Alessandra Pigni delivered on December 17, 2013 at Oxford University at The Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflicts (ELAC) in the course … Continue reading
It’s how we work that matters, not how much
The latest research on burnout is very clear: “While most people think job burnout is just a matter of working too hard, that’s not necessarily true. Burnout is not just when you need a vacation to recharge. It’s when you feel … Continue reading
Self-criticism will not change the world
This morning I read a post on ‘the trouble with aid’ written by yet another white guy who runs a multi-million NGO. It was the proverbial straw that breaks the camel’s back. Here’s why. The list of humanitarian workers’ blogs … Continue reading
Posted in Letters to the field
Tagged aid workers' burnout, organizational culture in aid
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Can Humanitarian Organisations be Humane with Aid Workers?
I’m thinking of giving myself a new job title (photographer?) while attending those curious socialising events called ‘expat parties’. When I don’t opt out altogether, I generally find myself hearing yet another story of burnout, unbearable stress, terrible managers, or impossible colleagues. Why … Continue reading
Why Self-Care is not Enough
I’ve been a strong advocate of self-care over the years, and now that the trend is slowly catching up (even) in the nonprofit sector, I’d like to say why self-care is simply not enough. First a disclaimer: self-care matters. Any nurturing activity … Continue reading
How to beat burnout in NGOs
Once again we are discussing staff care and how to create better workplaces over at the Humanitarian Professional Group on Linkedin. If you work for an NGO or UN agency you may want to take a peek at the brilliant … Continue reading
Burnout is an organisational issue
Burnout tends to hit idealists. People like you, who want have a meaningful job, while making some kind of contribution to this messed-up planet. Staff within NGOs, UN agencies, small community-based organisations, are at risk of burnout. Here’s a thought: … Continue reading