🌍✨📌 This post of Marina Kobzeva about “humanitarian sector’s best-kept secret” gives a personal and at the same time very analytical perspective on an often overlooked aspect of #InternationalCooperation: the crucial role of those traditionally referred to as “local staff”.

Full post on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/feed/upda… Marina Kobzeva @ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/marina…

First, the term ‘local staff’: As described in the post, this too often implies lower visibility or status. More of a ‘helper’ than a key enabler. So what makes local staff ‘local’? Even HQ staff are local somewhere. So the baseline should be to recognise those colleagues in a global company or institution who play a critical role, and to respond to the costs they bear.

Let’s go one step further: What if, for a moment, we forgot the traditional system of well-meaning outsiders and instead built the whole system around these critical colleagues? Imagine a coaching team, like a soccer team, working for the success of its professionals.

For success it needs responsibility and professionalism in a balanced system that, in its own interest, respects the special role of the colleagues working in the cooperation country. This requires serious reflection. Innovative support systems can help to move from insight to real change.

🤝🌍 #FutureOfCooperation