Building Trust in Diverse Teams: The Toolkit for Emergency Response
Publisher: The Emergency Capacity Building Project (ECB) -Oxfam GB
Date Published: 2007
Languages: English
The toolkit aims to address issues of staff capacity, accountability, impact measurement, risk reduction, and the use of information and communication technologies in emergency response. It provides tools for improving the speed, quality, and effectiveness of the humanitarian community in responding to emergencies.
Main Contribution
The toolkit, titled "Building Trust in Diverse Teams: the Toolkit for Emergency Response," is designed to enhance trust within diverse teams involved in emergency response efforts.
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The toolkit is intended for emergency-response teams engaged in humanitarian efforts. It is a collaborative effort by seven agencies, including CARE International, Catholic Relief Services, the International Rescue Committee, Mercy Corps, Oxfam GB, Save the Children, and World Vision International.
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The toolkit can be used by emergency-response teams to build trust within diverse groups. It includes a Trust Index to assess and measure trust within teams and offers ten trust-building tools that can be selected based on identified team needs. The toolkit is user-friendly, with clear instructions and handouts.
GBV Prevention
Detailed sessions, trust cards, detailed sessions, facilitation
Creating Normative Change
The toolkit emphasizes the potential for creating normative change within emergency-response teams by introducing a set of trust-building behaviours and activities. The recommended exercises can be seamlessly integrated into agencies’ existing leadership-development activities, both within and outside the context of specific emergencies. The toolkit suggests that team leaders, at any stage of a team's life, can utilize these exercises for planning trust-building strategies.
The toolkit acknowledges the evolving nature of leadership styles during rapid-onset emergencies, emphasizing a shift from a directive approach in the initial stages to a more participative style as the situation stabilizes. It provides practical tips for leaders to navigate this transition effectively.One notable exercise involves addressing the formation of 'cliques' or 'silos' within the team, highlighting the importance of breaking down barriers that may hinder collaboration. This exercise promotes inclusivity and prevents the formation of exclusive groups based on work functions or friendships.
Additionally, the toolkit proposes the integration of its content into existing 360° review processes and the ECB Trust Index. This allows leaders to assess and enhance their trust behaviours systematically. The toolkit's adaptability is demonstrated in its recognition of cultural differences, suggesting alternative approaches, such as conducting activities separately for different gender groups if touching is culturally sensitive.
Furthermore, the toolkit provides a practical example of how changes in meeting locations, such as holding off-site sessions, can stimulate creative thinking and foster team invigoration.
For ongoing improvement, the toolkit recommends revisiting the Trust Index periodically, ensuring that trust-building efforts are monitored and adjusted as needed. The environmental factors affecting trust within emergency-response teams are also outlined, recognizing that some elements are beyond the team's control but may be mitigated to enhance trust levels.
In conclusion, the toolkit employs an appreciative inquiry approach, focusing on what works well within the team and emphasizing positive aspects to instigate normative change. It encourages self-reflection and commitment to personal behavioural changes, promoting a constructive and forward-looking team dynamic.
How it could be adapted to the communities
For practical adaptation within communities, a suggested exercise involves team members standing in a circle, receiving a list of questions for discussion. This exercise aims to enhance team dynamics and trust. The questions provided in Handout 9b can be tailored based on the unique composition and needs of the group.
It's crucial to note that the toolkit, including the mentioned exercise, has been reproduced and adapted with permission from CARE International's training curriculum on gender equality and diversity. This emphasizes the importance of respecting intellectual property rights and acknowledging the source.
Additionally, cultural sensitivity is highlighted in the toolkit, recognizing that activities involving physical contact may not align with certain cultural norms, particularly regarding interactions between men and women. To address this, the toolkit suggests alternative approaches, such as conducting the activity in separate gender groups simultaneously, ensuring inclusivity and cultural appropriateness.
In summary, the adaptability of the toolkit is emphasized, encouraging users to tailor exercises to suit the specific needs and cultural contexts of the communities they are working with, while always respecting copyright and seeking permission for any modifications beyond teaching purposes.
Keywords
Building trust, Emergency Capacity Building Project, Trust Index, Trust-Building Tools.
