TIE places communications professionals from developed countries on short-term work placements with NGOs* in developing countries, to assist them with their communications.
There are several stages to the process so rather than writing an essay we’ve put together a fancy diagram to demonstrate how it works.
Identify needs of the NGO
We spend a lot of time up front with the NGO figuring out what their communications needs are and how we can work with them.
It’s important for us to agree on very specific objectives because the CP is only on placement for a month and the time whizzes by.
Selection process
Once we’ve decided what the needs of the project are, we begin selecting the right person for the job. This could be a creative, account person, planner, marketeer, pr, events or digital media person. Obviously it varies each time depending on the kind of work involved. Mind you, as well as having the right professional skills, it is also important that they are a good fit with the NGO and host agency to ensure a good team dynamic.
Pre departure training
Before the CP heads off to work with the NGO, it’s vitally important that he or she has a good understanding of how the development sector works. TIE provides training to help CPs deal with the many challenges they will face, both professionally and personally.
Logistical preparation
Before they head off, we meet the candidate over a cup of coffee to run through our TIE survival guide, act as a support and discuss any concerns or questions they might have.
In-country training
Most of our placement schemes also have an in-country training and preparation element to them. Here the CP learns more specifically about the country in which they will be working, about local development needs and more about the placement itself.
Assignment
Our assignments currently last for one month. The CP is based partly with the host agency (if there is one) and partly with the NGO.
And then it's really over to the candidate.
We leave it up to them to manage their time and to figure out where they need to be and when. All parties have earlier agreed the predefined objective, but now is the time for the theory to stop and the practice to kick in.
Our task now is just to let them get on with it because this is where the magic happens...
Mid-assignment chat
After the first week of the placement we check in with everyone to make sure things are running smoothly. Hopefully everything is hunky dory, but we like to make sure we are on hand to iron out any wrinkles that may arise.
Evaluations
Towards the end of the placement TIE meets with all parties separately to talk about how they felt the placement went. We sit down over a nice cup of coffee and give everyone the opportunity to tell us how they benefited, to tell us what we could do differently in the future - and, we've found, to share a few stories about what's happened during the placement - it's never dull!
Debriefing back home
The TIE experience doesn't stop after the placement ends.
Once back home, the candidate is encouraged to meet up with the member of staff who sent them on the placement. Here they talk about their experiences, what they learned, how they benefited and what they accomplished.
Raising awareness
Once again the candidate is in the spotlight! TIE promotes opportunities back in the candidate's home city for them to raise awareness of the work they did.
This can be in the form of presentations to NGOs back at home, to other people in development, or to people within the communications sector.
Either way, it is an opportunity to promote development awareness and the issues facing people in the developing world so that more people in the candidate's home country have a better understanding of what is going on.
Follow up
Once the placement is over we don't forget about you. We hope that anyone who gets involved with TIE will stay a part of the family. We want you to keep us updated on how you're doing and how you think you have developed. We'll also be expecting the pleasure of your company at any "friends of TIE" events.
