Division 1 Transversal competences required in many sectors of volunteering and employment and which are not specific to the field of humanitarian aid

• Is mindful of, respects and is capable of adapting to different working styles.

• Understands and accepts his or her role in the team and contributes positively and proactively to achieving the objectives of the team.

• Shares useful information and knowledge with colleagues and more widely when appropriate.

• Takes constructive action to resolve any conflicts which may arise.

• Communicates effectively with other members of the team and with others outside the team.

• Actively listens to new and different perspectives offered by others in his or her team.

• Uses a range of means of communication (in person, phone and e-mail) including non-verbal communication, adapted to the local context and the situation.

• Finds voluntary work rewarding.

• Has an understanding of and an opinion about the concepts of volunteering and active citizenship and their role in society.

• Is willing to make a contribution without receiving a financial reward in return.

• Is committed to the tasks he or she is given and carries them out to the best of his or her ability, even in the absence of financial reward.

• Seeks to contribute as a volunteer to the organisation and to help the beneficiaries (i.e. the local communities).

• Capable of coping with stress and overcoming difficulties.

• Identifies sources of stress and knows how to minimise their negative effects.

• Is willing to talk about stress and difficulties and seeks support when needed.

• Is able to adapt to living conditions where resources are very limited and the level of comfort is very low.

• Adapts calmly and reacts constructively to changing situations and constraints.

• Is aware of his or her strengths and limitations and of how these can influence his or her work.

• Organises his or her activities at the workplace and during leisure time autonomously.

• Manages his or her working day and prioritises appropriately.

• Recognises the limitations of his or her responsibilities and reports to a more senior responsible person(s) where appropriate.

• Has a realistic understanding of his or her contribution to the organisation and the help he or she can offer to the beneficiaries.

• Adjusts expectations to changing situations.

• Avoids cultural stereotypes.

• Is open to and embraces cultural differences.

• Respects other cultures and adjusts his or her own behaviours to avoid misunderstandings.

• Pays attention to non-verbal communication in a multi-cultural context.

• Adopts a non-judgmental approach to different beliefs, social conventions and values.

• Demonstrates empathy and sensitivity.

• Motivates other members of the team (local or international) for the task.

• Empowers people to take responsibility within the scope of their actions.

• Actively listens to others.

• Inspires confidence in others.

If in the role of responsibility:

• Clearly formulates the tasks to be completed by others and his or her expectations of them.

• Checks that these have been understood.

• Provides feedback and recognises the contribution made by others.

• Takes decisions that reflect the level of risk entailed by an action relative to its urgency.

• Adopts a 'can-do' approach and demonstrates a proactive attitude.

• Identifies critical improvements needed to ensure the sustainability of results.

• Communicates results effectively.

• Identifies the individuals expected to learn from his or her contribution and tries to give those who are expected to sustain the results an understanding of the work that has been done.

• Looks for solutions.

• Takes action to resolve any conflicts which may arise.

If with a particular role in capacity building:

• Knows and applies diverse methods of building organisational capacity in circumstances where resources are limited.

• Knows and applies methods of and tools for assessing needs, in order to identify the areas to be targeted in capacity building.

• Focuses on delivering results on time.

• Seeks feedback and takes action based on feedback received.

• Reports to the appropriate person(s).

• Challenges decisions and behaviours that breach the organisational code of conduct and/or other relevant humanitarian standards.