The aim of this panel is to explore how decisions are made with respect to recruiting for management positions. The recent study published by Bioforce, « The State of Humanitarian Professions 2020 » provides an objective overview of this process and challenges it in terms of quality and ethics in the context of the committments made by the humanitarian community towards the « localisation » of aid. This issue has also been underlined by researchers who highlight the tensions between « expatriates » and « nationals » (Mamane Sani, Peter Redfield, Didier Fassin, etc.). There appears to be a contradiction between the choices in recruitment and the values of equity of the humanitarian sector.. The consequence of this is the establishment of borders within the humanitarian sector which seriously challenge the talk and policy of « localisation » of aid.

We propose to reflect on this issue with two angles : on the one hand around the differences between humanitarian staff at headquarters and field levels, with an intersectional perspective ; and on the other hand by looking into the question of the social and professional standards that are determined by these choices, and how these standards are shaped and integrated. Our overall objective is to create a dynamic discussion bringing together the experiences of practioners and the analyses of researchers in order to gain an overall picture of the practices that shape the ethics of recruitment in the humanitarian sector

Papers can be proposed  in English and in French. Proposals must not exceed 200 words. The panel will be made up of a mixture of researchers and practioners. The latter are strongly invited to participe and share their field experience on this subject. The panel is 90 minutes and the presentations selected will be maximum 20 minutes each. The deadline for submissions is 15 September.