Paper details
| Paper authors | Merit Hietanen |
| In panel on | Who or what constitutes the humanitarian? |
| Paper presenter(s) will be presenting |
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Abstract
Aid sector staff work in some of the world’s most challenging environments, from conflict zones to sites of natural disaster and refugee camps. For a long time, the aid worker was typified by the lone white male, flying from place to place and seeing his family during the holidays. But now, as the world changes and the sector diversifies, how can family life be reconciled with the challenges and travel commitments of this particularly difficult career? The Humanitarian Parent delves into these challenges, exposing the problems that persist and pointing a path for organisations to adopt a more human-centred, staff-centred, parent-centred, feminist approach to humanitarian and development work.
Drawing on the author’s own experiences as an aid worker, as well as original interviews and desk research, the book looks at the challenges faced by those who aspire to a family life, from finding a partner, to dating in difficult contexts, to being away from home and extended family, and settling children in new countries and cultures. Local workers face their own challenges, often suffering from a lack of support in comparison to their international colleagues. For many, the cost is too great, and the sector suffers from a brain drain as experienced staff leave.
It doesn’t need to be this way. This book points a way for organisations to adopt policies that support mothers and fathers.
