KLS Case Study: Language Support for UN Agency Trainings on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
Trainings on protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) are a standard requirement for staff of international organisations worldwide. Behind this requirement lies a specific operational task: providing quality language support for an event where the topic is sensitive, the format is interactive, and participants come from different languages and cultures.
This was exactly the task facing the KLS team.
Project Details
Client: a UN agency (name withheld under NDA)
Format: in-person trainings in two cities
Locations and duration:
- Odesa — 1 day
- Chernivtsi — 3 days
KLS services:
- Simultaneous interpreting Ukrainian ↔ English
- Full technical support for the events
Training format: group discussions, team exercises, video materials, instructor-led presentations, role-playing exercises.
What Makes This Case Non-Standard
Standard simultaneous interpreting involves structured content: a speaker talks, the interpreter renders it. The pace is predictable, terminology is known in advance, the format is stable.
SEA trainings are a different situation across several dimensions at once.
- Terminology with zero tolerance for inaccuracy
SEA is established terminology used by international organisations, with specific definitions enshrined in UN documents. "Sexual exploitation," "sexual abuse," "sexual harassment" — each term has a precise official equivalent. An imprecise rendering is not a stylistic error. In a context concerned with protecting people and reporting procedures, it is a distortion of meaning.
KLS's advantage here is not that interpreters "studied the topic before the event." It's that they already know this terminology base from previous projects with international organisations. Preparation for a specific event — the detailed agenda, glossaries, client-specific requirements — builds on already established expertise. That is the difference between a contractor and an experienced partner.
- The interactive format as the main challenge
Role-playing exercises and group discussions are the most demanding format for an interpreter. There is no structured monologue with a predictable pace. Participants speak simultaneously, interrupt each other, switch to colloquial language and abbreviations, react emotionally. The interpreter must follow the thread of the discussion and convey not just the words — but the meaning and dynamics of the interaction in real time.
- Video materials present a separate technical challenge: audio quality, speech pace, accents, and the absence of prior scripts.
- Sensitive context
The subject matter of the event requires particular care with wording. Conveying meaning correctly on topics related to abuse is a matter not only of linguistic accuracy but also of respect for the participants and the gravity of the topic. An interpreter who doesn't understand the context can render the words correctly and the meaning incorrectly.
Outcome
Thanks to the team's coordinated work, participants in both cities had full access to the training content in their native language. The complex interactive format — discussions, role-playing exercises, video materials — was supported linguistically at every stage and in both locations.
The client confirmed once again: the level of language support fully met the organisation's standards. Thanks to the professional work of the KLS team, the trainings were delivered to a high standard and the event's learning objectives were achieved.
What This Case Means More Broadly
Simultaneous interpreting for international organisations is a distinct competency. It is built on three things at once: knowledge of the terminology and procedures of specific organisations, experience working with sensitive and technically demanding topics, and the ability to deliver quality in a format that leaves no room for error.
For organisations implementing programmes in Ukraine — USAID, UN agencies, the EU, EBRD, international NGOs — finding a reliable language partner with local presence and a proven track record is an operational priority. Not because "translation matters." But because without the right language support, programme objectives are not achieved.
If you're looking for a language partner for events run by an international organisation — with experience working with the UN, IFIs, the EU, USAID, an understanding of sensitive subject matter, NDAs, and full technical support delivered end-to-end — get in touch with KLS. We take care of all the organisational details and deliver the result.
Yes. We sign NDAs and have experience working on projects where confidentiality is a mandatory condition — including projects for UN agencies, USAID and EU donor organisations.
Preparation for each event includes a detailed review of the agenda, obtaining glossaries and materials from organisers, and team briefings. For complex topics — our interpreters have accumulated experience in specific subject areas, allowing them to get up to speed quickly and accurately.
Yes. Technical support — equipment, setup, support throughout the event — is part of our package. The organiser doesn't spend time on technical issues during the event itself.
Yes. This case is an example of sequential work in two cities with different durations. We coordinate team and equipment logistics for multi-location projects.