What the study found
Experienced humanitarian workers identified five essential skill areas for capacity sharing with people affected by climate- and environment-related crises: human- and beneficiary-oriented working methods, coping strategies aligned with ethical norms, essential skills for professional practice, religious and cultural literacy, and effective communication skills.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that these findings offer useful guidance for developing targeted education and training programs for newly recruited humanitarian workers and volunteers in Kenya and elsewhere, especially in flood- and drought-affected regions.
What the researchers tested
The study used purposive sampling and conducted 14 semi-structured interviews between 2015 and August 2020 with national and international humanitarian workers who had worked with flood- and drought-affected communities in Kenya. The interview data were analyzed thematically.
What worked and what didn't
The thematic analysis produced five themes, and these themes formed the main findings of the study. The abstract does not report comparative testing of interventions or specify any approaches that failed.
What to keep in mind
The summary is based on interviews with 14 humanitarian workers in Kenya, so the scope is limited to those participants and settings. The abstract does not describe further limitations.
Key points
- Five skill areas were identified for capacity sharing in humanitarian response.
- The themes included beneficiary-oriented methods, ethical coping strategies, and communication skills.
- Religious and cultural literacy was one of the identified skill areas.
- The findings are presented as guidance for training new humanitarian workers and volunteers.
- The study was based on 14 semi-structured interviews with humanitarian workers in Kenya.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Humanitarian workers need human-centered, culturally aware shared skills
- Authors:
- Jaana Tilli, Jussi Kauhanen, Tuula Vaskilampi, Ikali Karvinen
- Institutions:
- University of Eastern Finland, Diaconia University of Applied Sciences
- Publication date:
- 2026-04-23
- OpenAlex record:
- View
Get the weekly research newsletter
Stay current with peer-reviewed research without reading academic papers — one filtered digest, every Friday.