.svg)
Supporting humanitarian work with one global HR foundation
Finn Church Aid (Kirkon Ulkomaanapu), Finland’s largest international aid organisation, works globally across both development cooperation and humanitarian assistance. Operating in complex and demanding environments, they support people affected by poverty, conflict and crises through offices across multiple continents. As their international footprint expanded, HR data and processes became increasingly fragmented.
The team in Finland was using a local HR system, but it could not support international operations. In other countries, there was no HR system at all. As HR Advisor, Anne Pirinen, describes it, “We wanted one shared HR master data system. Before that, we simply didn’t have one that could support our global needs.”
This made it difficult to gain a consistent overview of employees across countries, align HR processes or report reliably. At the same time, any new system had to work for a wide range of users, including many who had never used an HR system before. It had to be intuitive and easy to use.
What they needed
As Finn Church Aid began more systematic needs definition in 2021, they involved country offices and mapped requirements together. Their priorities were:
-
One global HR master data system covering all countries
-
Better visibility and reporting across international operations
-
More consistent HR processes, regardless of location
-
A system simple enough for first-time HR system users
-
Strong support for compliance, audits and governance
Just as importantly, they were looking for a partner who could guide them through a complex, multi-country implementation.
A structured and well-supported implementation
Rolling out Sympa was a huge project. Although Sympa is a ready-made system, everything within it is built on the organisation’s own data, which required careful planning and attention to detail.
What stood out most was the structure of the implementation. Project phases were clearly defined, timelines were transparent and expectations were aligned on both sides. “What really stayed with us was how solid the project management was,” says Anne. “It felt like we were in good hands.”
Continuity on Sympa’s side also played a key role. Finn Church Aid worked with named consultants throughout the project, without handovers. Internally, they ensured sufficient resourcing by appointing a dedicated project manager, helping the project move forward even when HR availability fluctuated.
One system supporting many realities
Today, Sympa serves as Finn Church Aid’s global HR system, supporting very different operational contexts. Some country offices have around 20 employees, while others, such as Kenya, employ hundreds of staff working across multiple refugee settlements.
HR responsibilities also vary. In smaller offices, HR often sits alongside finance, while larger operations have dedicated HR teams managing high volumes of contracts, absences and payroll coordination. Sympa provides a shared framework across these scenarios. “Now we have one system where all data lives,” she explains. “It doesn’t need to be stored anywhere else.”
Strengthening compliance and responsible use of funds
Audits and donor reporting are a constant part of both development cooperation and humanitarian work. Finn Church Aid must be able to demonstrate how funds are used and how efficiently the organisation operates.
With Sympa, HR data, documents and approvals are centrally stored, making it easier to demonstrate compliance with internal processes and external requirements. Contracts, salaries, codes of conduct and GDPR-related documentation can all be traced and verified within the system.
Reliable and accessible HR processes also support the organisation’s broader work. When HR runs consistently across countries, programme teams can focus on delivering aid effectively, with greater clarity on how resources are allocated and used.
This efficiency directly supports the organisation’s mission. “When HR runs consistently across countries, our teams can focus on delivering aid, knowing resources are being used in the right way.”
Everyday impact for HR and employees
Beyond governance and reporting, Sympa has delivered clear day-to-day benefits. Self-service and remote access reduce dependency on location and manual coordination, particularly important in international and mobile work environments. “People can do their work from wherever they are,” says Anne. “You don’t need to be in the same place or wait for someone else to handle things.”
Working with Sympa has also pushed them to reflect on existing HR processes, encouraging the organisation to consider whether some ways of working could be simplified or improved.
A stable base for the future
While Finn Church Aid continues to refine roles and access rights as their use of Sympa evolves, the foundation is firmly in place. They now have a global HR system that brings clarity, consistency and confidence across their organisation.
With Sympa providing the structure behind the scenes, Finn Church Aid is better equipped to carry out its work in development cooperation and humanitarian assistance around the world.
.svg)
