Evaluation on the effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Secondment of International Development Workers

Coworkers (Christliche Fachkräfte International e.V.) commissioned FAKT to evaluate the effects of the current Covid-19 pandemic on seconding development workers abroad. At two intervals in 2020 and 2021, FAKT collected quantitative and qualitative data (via large-scale online survey and semi-structured interviews) among development workers and partner organisations in Africa, Asia, Middle East and Southern / Central America. The findings show that the relevance of development workers actually increased during the pandemic. Many assisted partner organisations on a strategic level to undergo transformation processes. Flexibility and competence in organisational development were important for them. The study provides guidance to Coworkers on how to best prepare and support seconded development workers and partner organisations during this particular period.

FAKT and Coworkers have a long-standing strong working relationship and FAKT has evaluated other aspects of Coworkers programmes in the past. The study (in German) can be downloaded here.