About a week ago I was finally able to meet the other interns working throughout the organization in logistics, nutrition, policy, and project management divisions. These interns come from around the world and are taking anywhere from a month to a year off to serve. To be eligible for an internship one must be a full-time student in good standing and be willing to work for US 700/mo. Needless to say you won't get rich in this position but you will be exposed to one of the largest UN organizations and see sophisticated supply chain management first-hand. Yes our system even includes unconventional methods like elephants and camels to get food to the worlds 1 billion starving people.
My boss is in Japan to check on our liaison office as well as recruit Japanese staff. I am currently managing a large survey and interview project to identify the key reasons staff are unhappy an ultimately leave the organization. The WFP (and many international development organizations for that matter) is unique because it expects its workforce to be completely mobile. Over 90% of the workforce is expected to be available to work in any country the organization serves. There are three types of positions/posts:
- A posts - Non-hardship posts. Places such as Rome/Japan/New York fall into this category. Staff can only stay in places up to 4 years before they are forced to move to a B or C post.
- B posts - Non-hardship posts but don't have the amenities of A posts. Places such as Bangkok/Nairobi/Panama City. Staff can only stay in B posts up to 3 years before they must transfer to an A or C post.
- C posts - Hardship posts. Most of the time staff live in primitive quarters such as tents or other easily constructable dwellings. 90% of WFP staff are posted in this environment given this is where services are rendered. Staff can only stay in a C post up to 2 years before they must transfer to a B or A post. Staff are unable to bring any dependants to these posts.
Attrition from the organization is high and the Office of the Executive Director is determing if there are steps the organization can take retain staff (especially women with children) within the organization. Theoretically, over a 20 year career, a staff member will be stationed at more than 7 locations and only be allowed to have family at 2 or 3. Staff members typically spend the beginning of their careers with WFP but leave once they decide to settle down and start a family. Through an exhaustive 100 question survey I am one of many staff tasked with statistical analysis of results and summarizing of key points obtained during the interview process.
That is all for now!
Kendra
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