Humanitarian Academy

HR and management

Human Resources and Team Management in NGOs

Recruit fairly and safely, lead, appraise and look after your team in an NGO.

  • 3 days · 18 hours
  • 3 levels · 3 certificates
  • 2 scenarios
  • Verifiable certificate
Start the course
  • Free, unlimited access
  • 3 one-day modules
  • 2 scenarios and 9 quiz questions
  • 3 graded case studies and 3 exams
  • Certificate in your name, verifiable online

What you will learn

  • Recruit fairly, transparently and safely (safeguarding, reference checks).
  • Manage the employee life cycle: contract, onboarding, objectives, appraisal, discipline and end of contract, in compliance with local law.
  • Lead a team: communication, delegation, conflict management, well-being and duty of care.

Course information

Level
Beginner → Intermediate → Advanced (one certificate per level)
Study time
18 hours over 3 days (lessons, case studies, exercises)
Format
Online, at your own pace, free and unlimited access
Assessment
Per level: graded case study + 20-question exam (30 to 40 min, pass marks 70%, 75% and 80%)
Credential
Named, numbered certificate of achievement, verifiable online (QR code)
Reference frameworks
CHS Alliance · SCHR · Antares Foundation

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Prepare for the written test and interviewA model written test in this field, interview questions with sample answers and the STAR method.See the model test →

A 3-level certification pathway

Progress from Beginner to Advanced. Each level ends with a graded case study and a timed exam, and leads to its own verifiable certificate.

Level 1Beginner

Exam: 20 questions · 30 min · 70% to pass

Beginner certificate

By the end of this level, you will be able to:
  • Understand the employee life cycle, from recruitment to end of contract.
  • Know the basic rules of fair and safe recruitment.
  • Identify legal obligations and staff regulations.
  1. Day1Recruiting and managing the employee life cycleFair and safe recruitment · Contracts, local law and policies · Induction and onboarding · Plan the workforce before recruiting: organisational chart, budget and job description · Conduct rigorous selection and safer recruitment, step by step · Worked example: recruiting six community mobilisers and a supervisor in Moréna district · Employment statuses, contracts and personnel files: compliance in practice · Welcome, induction and probation: a 90-day plan · Common mistakes, auditors' expectations and variations by context · Interview questions and key references Scenario: Recruiting under pressure
  2. Graded case study : Recruiting a community mobiliser Field office · 20 questions including a case study · 70% to pass
Level 2Intermediate

Exam: 20 questions · 30 min · 75% to pass

Intermediate certificate · Opens after the Beginner certificate

By the end of this level, you will be able to:
  • Run a full recruitment (job description, scoring grid, reference checks).
  • Manage: objectives, performance reviews, regular feedback.
  • Prevent burnout and organise psychosocial support.
  1. Day2Leading, appraising and caring for the teamObjectives and performance · Conflicts, discipline and grievances · Well-being and duty of care · The performance management cycle: complete method and tools · Worked example: a performance improvement plan for a monitoring officer · Internal complaints, conflicts and disciplinary procedure: the mechanics step by step · Duty of care and wellbeing: a complete system, from recruitment to departure · Managing remotely, in deteriorating security and with partners · Common mistakes, variations by context, interview questions and references Scenario: An exhausted team
  2. Graded case study : A team under pressure Emergency project, month 5 · 20 questions including a case study · 75% to pass
Level 3Advanced

Exam: 20 questions · 40 min · 80% to pass

Advanced certificate · Opens after the Intermediate certificate

By the end of this level, you will be able to:
  • Manage a restructuring or downsizing fairly.
  • Conduct a disciplinary procedure or internal investigation.
  • Steer pay policy and fairness between national and international staff.
  1. Day3Advanced module Advanced HR: restructuring, discipline and fairnessRestructuring without breaking trust · Discipline and internal investigations · Pay and fairness · Conducting a workforce reduction: timeline, legal steps and criteria · Worked example with figures: going from 40 to 28 employees at the end of a grant · Conducting an internal investigation: method, roles and standards of proof · Building and managing a remuneration policy: method and example · Common mistakes, auditors' checks and variations by context · Interview questions and key references
  2. Graded case study : Downsizing and an internal investigation Country office, end of funding · 20 questions including a case study · 80% to pass

Who is it for?

HR assistants and officers, administrators, project and base managers who supervise a team, and new managers in national and international NGOs.

The certificate

With at least 70% correct answers in the final assessment, you receive a certificate in your name, with a unique code that recruiters can verify on Humanitaires Jobs. A free Humanitarian Network account is required.

Key concepts

The vocabulary you need to master for this course and the exam.

Job description
The purpose, responsibilities, reporting lines and competencies of the post.
Scoring grid
Common criteria for comparing candidates fairly.
Onboarding
Induction of the new employee: code of conduct, security, procedures.
Performance appraisal
A structured dialogue on objectives, results and development.
Disciplinary procedure
A fair process: facts, right of reply, proportionate decision.
Situational leadership
A management style adapted to each person's competence and commitment.
Psychosocial support
Measures to prevent and provide support for stress and trauma.
Salary scale
A transparent pay scale that guarantees internal equity.

References and recommended reading

The official texts and sector reference works on which the course is based.

  1. CHS Alliance (2024). Core Humanitarian Standard – Commitment 8: competent and well-managed staff. www.chsalliance.org
  2. SCHR (2019). Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. misconduct-disclosure-scheme.org
  3. Antares Foundation (2012). Managing Stress in Humanitarian Work. www.antaresfoundation.org
  4. CHS Alliance, Groupe URD, Sphere (2024). Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability (CHS). www.corehumanitarianstandard.org