Normand Champoux is part of the team of experts working on MHI's Technical Advisory Services Contract in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Stationed in Kinshasa since 2015, Normand is the Human Resource Management (HRM) Technical Advisor for the Human Resources Department (HRD) and Organizational Development Direction for SNEL (Société nationale d'électricité), the country's national utility.
“Working in this role has enabled me to increase my knowledge of the operations and management of a utility,” says Normand. “More importantly, this experience has broadened my perspective, given me a better sense of empathy, and a keen interest in learning more about the Congolese culture.”
MHI is working to implement an emergency recovery plan within SNEL and strengthen its abilities in key areas. A focus of this partnership is to facilitate knowledge transfer between MHI’s international experts and SNEL’s employees. MHI is providing support and advisory services to SNEL’s directors in key areas, relating to management and technical aspects of a performing utility.
“One of my greatest achievements on this project so far was when SNEL asked me to identify a candidate within the utility for the HRD Director position,” says Normand. “The person I recommended was appointed and has been doing a great job.”
As part of the team, Normand supports the organizational units to facilitate the change management and HRM processes, and to provide direction on how to translate these strategies into achievable results. He is also responsible for developing an HRM Plan in line with the Recovery Plan, developing the HR Department staff’s competencies, implementing HRM best practices, monitoring and supervising the change management process, and reviewing job descriptions and the evaluation process.
“I’ve had so many memorable moments while working on this project, including celebrating SNEL’s 45th anniversary (that MHI sponsored) and presenting the HRM Recovery Plan to SNEL Board Members. I also appreciated having one of the Unions Executive Committee members telling me that they enjoy working with me, because I understand their problems.” – Normand Champoux.
Normand (centre) with a football team at SNEL’s 45th anniversary in Inga.