Intervention

ARTICLE
Year
: 2018  |  Volume : 16  |  Issue : 1  |  Page : 38--45

Our NGO family has suffered a tragedy, and we will survive.’ Evaluating a crisis response intervention with expatriate aid workers in Afghanistan


Sarilee Kahn 
 PhD, MSW, MPH, Assistant Professor, McGill University School of Social Work, Montreal, Canada

Correspondence Address:
Sarilee Kahn
McGill University School of Social Work, Montreal
Canada

In 2008, Taliban forces killed four aid workers in Afghanistan. Immediately afterwards, expatriate and national field staff undertook crisis management activities on the ground. While this was a devastating event, field and headquarters staff agreed that the organisational response to the crisis was positive. Nine months later, 19 expatriate staff members involved in the crisis response participated in an evaluation to reflect on personal and organisational factors that contributed to their post crisis resilience. Results suggest that clear security protocols, crisis simulation preparedness training, team cohesiveness, strong leadership, staff mobilisation, well timed psychological support and support from managers may all contribute to staff resilience in high stress environments. Recommendations are offered to the international nongovernmental organisation community seeking to support staff following critical incidents.


How to cite this article:
Kahn S. ‘Our NGO family has suffered a tragedy, and we will survive.’ Evaluating a crisis response intervention with expatriate aid workers in Afghanistan.Intervention 2018;16:38-45


How to cite this URL:
Kahn S. ‘Our NGO family has suffered a tragedy, and we will survive.’ Evaluating a crisis response intervention with expatriate aid workers in Afghanistan. Intervention [serial online] 2018 [cited 2023 Jun 6 ];16:38-45
Available from: http://www.interventionjournal.org//article.asp?issn=1571-8883;year=2018;volume=16;issue=1;spage=38;epage=45;aulast=Kahn;type=0