IPC Staffing Challenges
Challenge: Because IPCs are not target group members, they may be rejected by the target group participants.
Solution: The IPC trainings should focus on communication techniques that allow outsiders to break into target groups. The program as a whole can also work to gain the support and respect of target groups, thereby making the acceptance of individual members more likely. Alternatively, peer educators can be utilized if the target group is extremely untrustworthy of outsiders.
Challenge: High staff turnover.
Solution: This is often caused by volunteers quitting when they need to find work to increase their income. Similarly, volunteer IPCs may be busy with other activities or jobs and have little time to be involved in IPC activities. One solution is to pay IPCs or provide financial or material incentives. If resources are constrained, it is important to be very up-front about volunteer time commitments before hiring volunteers. Keep IPCs motivated with incentives, supervisory support, and by regularly rotating topics and messages.
Challenge: Legal ramifications from firing staff.
Solution: Even though IPCs or PEs may be volunteers, some countries’ labor laws still protect them from dismissal, even if a project is coming to a close. Legal advice should be sought when preparing contracts and outlining terms of employment.
Challenge: Unable to find qualified IPCs
Solution: Often identifying IPCs with IPC program or facilitation experience is not possible given local capacity. If this occurs, try widening your search by exploring other nearby geographic areas that may have a larger pool of applicants. If you simply can not identify qualified IPCs, it will be necessary to develop a more intensive and comprehensive training program. Furthermore, a new group of IPCs will need plenty of opportunity to practice the new skills they learn in the training. It will, therefore, be important to incorporate a mixture of training methods including role plays, case studies, and perhaps actual field practice in order to instill the appropriate skill set in your staff members.
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