Personnel management in Iraq

This briefing paper highlights lessons learned about how humanitarian operations in Iraq have cultivated stable, effective and contented staff in a difficult programming environment. It is based on ongoing conversations with Iraqi and international staff of a variety of humanitarian agencies currently active in Iraq, and incorporates the observations of field staff, programme coordinators and senior managers.

The Author discusses current issues and trends in Iraq such as:

• Staff retention: the loss of Iraqi staff due to insecurity, “brain drain”, and poaching by wealthier organisations
  
• Recruiting and the difficulties faced by organisations
  
• Staff effectiveness: individual Iraqi staff tend to have less personal access to different areas than previously, due to the escalation in inter and intra-communal violence, the proliferation of checkpoints and other attempts of combatants to control and limit movement between areas and neighbourhoods.

The paper gives details of lessons learned and recommendations for smooth running programmes, including:

• Strategic hiring - tribal and other affiliations of staff can provide safer access
• Hiring through relationships by experienced international and Iraqi managers
• Delegation of authority - if you have good staff you do not need to micro-manage them
• Continuous face-to-face contact via Skype and an open-door policy
• Systems to ensure that everyone knows exactly what is expected of them and oversight, accountability and performance standards so that no-one is left floundering
• Reserve capacity needed among key staff.