Highs and lows for international non-governmental organizations

By Della Weight

Gossip and rumours about staff layoffs, payoff, waste and organisational change in a big INGO can send shock waves around the INGO community. Without doubt, organisations have compelling reasons for changing, but I wonder if they take into account the damage unchecked rumours can do to their images as employers? Many commercial companies have learned the value of a strong image as a good employer in attracting and retaining talented staff. With hope, one day soon we’ll see an INGO tackle reorganisation with positive, external PR in place. After all, it should be the time to attract those rare and valuable top international fundraisers to their causes. FS