International Medical Corps

Objective

Following the massive earthquake that struck Nepal in 2015, International Medical Corps immediately deployed tremendous resources to assist the communities most affected by the disaster. International Medical Corps has long been known for its rapid emergency response work following humanitarian crises around the world, and the response in Nepal was no exception. Immediately following the initial earthquake and subsequent quakes and tremors, conditions on the ground were very difficult for staff. International Medical Corps recognized these challenges and the need to provide psychosocial support for its staff members (both expatriate and local nationals) to help them cope and be resilient while doing their important work. International Medical Corps engaged The KonTerra Group to provide assistance.

Solution

Within the first month of the initial earthquake, International Medical Corps had deployed substantial resources and staff to Nepal to assist with the response. Recognizing the resilience needs among staff, International Medical Corps was eager to provide support and to do so in a meaningful and effective way. To this end, International Medical Corps employed The KonTerra Group to deploy an international counselor to be on-site in Nepal with staff full-time, for an entire month. The KonTerra counselor was dedicated to International Medical Corps and was available to its staff every day, providing an array of support, including individual 1-on-1 consultations, group sessions, group training and workshops, support for managers, and strategic consultation and guidance for senior leaders. This full-time support for an entire month allowed the counselor to work closely with staff and engage in conversations in the mornings, over lunch, during breaks at work, or in the evenings – whenever was most convenient for staff. In addition, as a forward-thinking organization attentive to the needs of all staff, International Medical Corps was conscious of the unique needs of local staff. To support them, The KonTerra Group provided a local Katmandu-based Nepali-speaking counselor, to be available to any member of staff who might prefer to speak with someone from Nepal, or to have consultations in Nepali. The KonTerra local and international counselors worked hand-in-hand as a team, supporting staff not only in Katmandu, but in several field offices throughout the country.

Result

The support provided to International Medical Corps in Nepal immediately following the earthquake undoubtedly had a positive impact on staff. Staff were given the time and space to engage with the counseling team with flexibility, which is critical when staff are working long days and weeks immediately following such a disastrous event. The combined approach of an international and local counseling team was not only helpful for local staff who prefer to speak in local language, but also served to send an important message to staff, that International Medical Corps is committed to providing them with support, even in the most difficult of circumstances.