Experts Opinions’| The future of remote working after Covid-19

Experts Opinions’| The future of remote working after Covid-19

The Coronavirus pandemic has brought new challenges for many global development employers as offices all over the world rapidly emptied and meetings went virtual. COVID-19 has forced teams worldwide to work from home. The question is, what lies ahead for how we work once the pandemic ends? We asked the opinions of several HR experts.

Gilbert Nguessan, HR expert

“In most places, reaching their work place and then getting back home has become a nightmare for employees due to long distances and traffic. This prevents them spending quality time with family. International face to face meetings involves long distance air travel as well which increases the negative impact of transportation (gas emissions) on the environment. Remote working maximizes the following advantages for both employees and the overall business environment: valuable time with family; a decrease in the impact of human activities on the environment, development of IT/internet infrastructures and tools and better business travelling for meetings, etc.”

 

 

Matanat Rahimova, Executive Management Consultant

“Some of the advantages of remote working in global development would be iterative capacity building approach whereby the capacity building process is divided up for more effective iterations to find solutions; reinforcement of development where the process of advising/learning over time allows for review and reinforcement; empowering local engagement because leveraging this enables a deeper understanding of specific local needs and the prioritization of concrete local problems; attracting top global talent in critical areas of expertise: reduced travel and on-site work whereby being able to partially deliver results remotely will attract more experts, particularly women who may, for some life situations, prefer less travel (family, study, for instance); ensuring efficiency drastically by reducing travel cost while maintaining high quality work. The disadvantage of remote working in global development is that a success gap between developed states and developing/least developing states will drastically deepen because of poor or expensive internet and mobile networks and data processing services and the lack of digitally savvy and remote working skills of beneficiaries in these states.”

 

 

How has the global development job market changed in the context of the quarantine?

Dr. Suman Lahiri, Strategy Expert

“Due to the disruptions in the supply chains and a lack of manpower, the development of remote work-forces is emerging as an important element. Also, the local manpower, as well as other local resources will find an importance  for the construction works in the infrastructure development , besides supply of manpower and resources from the international market.  This will open up opportunities for talent from the global south that has historically wanted to migrate to the developed economies for betterment. An emerging talent market can be witnessed in the global south leading to a faster development in the emerging economies. The job market cannot be visualized in isolation with the skills development and this means that these emerging requirements will need the development and recognition of the online education systems, institutes and universities which will positively impact upon the literacy across the world.”

 

 

Evian Gonzales, Independent Consultant

“There is an opportunity in every crisis, although there is no denying the large number of unemployed as a result of the coronavirus crisis. Is expected that many people will be able to find work again as businesses gradually reopen, even if that takes a while. Nowadays, about 85% of employees report their desire to work remote, companies who provide the opportunity to offer remote work will attract qualified professionals and, why not, top talent, that’s why companies should use this conjuncture to build the capability and platforms to offer remote work. The impact of aspects like age, race, gender or family status are reduced in virtual workplaces, in consequence, this is positive for diversity and inclusion. In conclusion, I think that despite the global crisis that followed the quarantine, global institutions and countries can respond better through technology and human capacity available worldwide that will surely be willing to contribute for a better world.”

 

How do you see the future of remote working in global development? 

Matanat Rahimova, Executive Management Consultant

“I think remote working could be a great opportunity for global development. If, during these tough times, global development organizations could ensure that the technical assistance they provide to global beneficiaries is relevant, goes uninterrupted and remains at a very high level, the credibility of the UN and development organizations will move to a totally new level altogether. This is a time when we should be absolutely persistent in ensuring relevant, efficient and effective service through a constant prioritization of goals and resources. It is also the responsibility and commitment of the states to ensure that power supplies are not interrupted, whether conditions are created for implementing low-cost internet and mobile network services and people are allowed and able to work remotely. It will take technical assistance to states around the globe to a totally new level. It is a serious responsibility for us and an enormous opportunity.”

 

 

Dr. Suman Lahiri, Strategy Expert

“The future of remote working in global development is positive in the sense that many assignments mainly requiring human interactions can be considered to be done remotely, for example, the consultancy works and the capacity building works. As far as the construction work is concerned where traditionally a human presence is essential on the ground, some of the  inspection and monitoring tasks can be  done remotely using the web-based IT and IS technology.”

 

 

 

Check more than 5200 job opportunities in international development here to find out which of them can be done remotely.