The roles of, and relationships between, expatriates, volunteers, and local development workers

Abstract

This article reports on exploratory research based on interviews with expatriate and local aid workers employed by local and international NGOs in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Thematic analysis of the interviews found that personnel were placed in groups based on their job category – consultant, volunteer, or permanent staff – regardless of experience. These categories logically reflect each worker's pay level, purpose, and role, but they may also have an implicit power meaning which reinforces group differences and inhibits inter-group relationships. Relationship building was reported to be the most important factor contributing to the success of capacity-development initiatives. Four sub-themes were identified: communication, friendship, reciprocal learning/teaching, and confidence.

Les rôles des expatriés, des volontaires et des travailleurs de développement locaux et les rapports entre eux

Cet article présente les résultats de travaux de recherche exploratoire basés sur des entretiens avec des travailleurs humanitaires expatriés et locaux employés par des ONG locales et internationales à Phnom Penh. L'analyse thématique des entretiens a montré que le personnel a été placé dans des groupes formés en fonction de leur catégorie de poste – consultant, volontaire ou personnel permanent – indépendamment de leur expérience.Ces catégories traduisent de façon logique le niveau de salaire, l'objet et le rôle de chaque travailleur, mais elles peuvent également avoir une signification implicite liée au pouvoir qui renforce les différences entre les groupes et inhibe les relations entre eux. Le développement des relations a été mis en évidence comme le plus important facteur contribuant au succès des initiatives de développement des capacités. Quatre sous-thèmes ont été identifiés: communication, amitié, apprentissage/enseignement réciproques et assurance.

O papel dos expatriados, voluntários e trabalhadores locais de desenvolvimento e as relações entre eles

Este artigo relata pesquisas exploratórias baseadas em entrevistas com funcionários expatriados e locais de ajuda humanitária empregados por ONGs domésticas e internacionais em Phnom Penh. Uma análise temática das entrevistas constatou que os funcionários eram agrupados com base em sua categoria funcional – consultores, voluntários ou funcionários permanentes – independentemente de sua experiência. Essas categorias logicamente refletem o nível de remuneração, objetivo e papel de cada trabalhador, mas elas podem também ter um significado de poder implícito que reforça as diferenças de grupo e inibe as relações inter-grupo. Constatou-se que a construção de relações foi o fator mais importante para o sucesso das iniciativas de desenvolvimento de capacidade. Quatro sub-temas foram identificados: comunicação, amizade, aprendizado/ensino recíproco e confiança.

Expatriados, voluntarios y empleados locales en el desarrollo: sus roles y las relaciones entre sí

Este ensayo expone una investigación preliminar basada en entrevistas a expatriados y empleados locales que trabajaban para ONG nacionales e internacionales en Phnom Penh. El análisis temático de las entrevistas reveló que al personal se le clasifica según la naturaleza de su empleo – consultor, voluntario o empleado permanente – sin importar su antigüedad. Aunque estas categorías reflejan el ingreso, el objetivo y el rol de cada empleado, también pueden encerrar una relación de poder implícita que acentúa las diferencias entre grupos e inhibe las relaciones intergrupales. Se encontró que la construcción de relaciones es el factor más importante para el éxito de iniciativas destinadas a fortalecer capacidades. Se identificaron cuatro subtemas: comunicación, amistad, enseñanza/aprendizaje recíproco y confianza.

Keywords:

• Aid
• South East Asia

Acknowledgements

This article is based on my initial doctoral research, made possible by the generosity of the New Zealand Agency for International Development (NZAID) in granting me a Postgraduate Field Research Award to spend time interviewing aid workers in Cambodia. I would like to thank the participants for their time, and for being so open about the issues being discussed. Special thanks to my supervisors, Stuart Carr and Mac MacLachlan, for their expert guidance and support. Thanks also to an anonymous reviewer and the editor for their constructive feedback on the draft article.

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Ishbel McWha

Having worked in India and Cambodia, Ishbel McWha returned to New Zealand in mid-2007 to join Massey University's Poverty Research Group. Her interests focus on I/O Psychology and poverty alleviation, including the social marketing of aid and methods for improving the effectiveness of NGOs, both internally and externally.