CASE STUDY 1

ETHICS TRAINING

 

Client’s needs: 

Following the #Metoo and #Aidtoo movements, the international development and humanitarian sector decided to focus on workplace conduct/ethics training. Several of our clients were searching for training that would meet the sector’s unique challenges, which include a decentralized, multicultural workforce with significant power dynamics. 

RISE actions: 

RISE developed and piloted training focused on building workplace respect and emphasizing prevention for a leading association of INGO member organizations. 

Based on participant feedback, RISE further developed the program titled “Fostering a Respectful Workplace” to include the PEARL framework which reflects the components of Promote, Educate, Act, Respect, and Learn. This approach ensures that employees not only understand relevant laws and policies but also why a respectful culture is important, how it is essential to living the organization's values, and their role in supporting it. The program also covered how to respond to concerns while centering on the complainant’s needs.  

Due to the program's success, RISE subsequently designed a comprehensive Training of the Trainer (TOT) program that was delivered to several INGOs. The TOT program also included guidelines for customizing the training to the country and/or organizational context.  

The key features that distinguish the training are: 

  • The PEARL framework focuses on workplace respect and offers a holistic approach to compliance and prevention 

  • It’s relevant to the learner, as activities are customized to the organization's priorities through use of a pre-training survey 

  • The learning supports application using case scenarios that are customized in the international development sector context (by far the most popular feature) 

  • Accountability is encouraged - the training is sponsored and attended by leadership and helps learners develop action plans to apply at the workplace 

 Outcome 

The Fostering a Respectful Workplace program has been delivered in various formats—in-person, virtual, and via TOTs customized to the organization’s needs, policies and context.  

Over the last several years, the program has been delivered to over 15 organizations directly or via the TOT program, covering participants from over 30 countries. 

Post-training ratings are regularly high at 4+ on a 5-point scale. 

Session participants said:

Some leading social impact organizations that RISE provided this training to include: