ACT Emergency Management Training Program

Based on the findings of the evaluation, the EMT advisory group prepared a follow-up proposal that was submitted to the EMCOM during its meeting on February 27-28, 2003. The proposal was approved by the EMCOM (see the attached document).

The ACT CO has already started the implementation of this decision. We are in the process of discuss with the two current implementing members: Africa University (AU) and Church World Service (CWS), how to adjust the activities planned for this year according to the outcome of the evaluation.

However, the most important shift of the program is the decentralisation of the ACT EMT program to the ACT National/Regional Forum. In the 2003 appeal, a fund to support local EMT initiatives was already included. This fund will be maintained as it was proposed and adjusted based on the experience of this year .

The first activity planned in the appeal within this fund is an Emergency Management Program for the Eastern Africa and Great Lakes Regions that will start in March. This proposal was presented by the ACT Nairobi Forum (ANF) and it was based on a self- assessment of needs made by the ACT members in the region.

The activities proposed are 8 workshops of different length (ranging from 1 to 6 days), on the following topics:

• Emergency Preparedness
• Media Handling Communications co-ordination in Emergencies
• Project Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting
• Gender Approaches in Humanitarian Assistance
• Effective Logistics and Warehousing
• Sphere Standards of Humanitarian Assistance
• ACT orientation
• Psychosocial Rehabilitation in Emergencies

The workshops will be oriented to 120 staff working with the specific topics. The preparations for the program are already in place and the ANF is waiting the financial contribution requested to start the implementation . The total amount requested for this program is U$62,618 and will be a complementary contribution to the local resources.

The ACT CO kindly urge the funding members to support this proposal and inform us of your possible contributions.

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EMT EVALUATION

The Emergency Management Training ( EMT ) was evaluated during 2002, on the decision of the ACT Emergency Committee. A team of three consultants carried out the evaluation and the final report has been distributed to the ACT alliance. A debriefing of the evaluation was held on January 16, 2003. The main findings and recommendations reported below are based on both the evaluation report, and the debriefing and following discussions.

I. MAIN FINDINGS

• The ACT EMT program tackles only one element of the members capacity building which is training in emergency management, and related issues. The findings of the evaluation are related to this component.

• There was a limitation on the scope of the evaluation as only two regions were analyzed (Africa and Latin America). However, the team consider that it allowed them to draw general conclusions.

• The outcomes of the EMT activities in the two regions are quite different and this is related to the regional context, type of work of the members, type of disasters, etc.

• In the Latin America region, members are mostly development organizations that respond to emergencies when they happen. Natural disasters are the most common disasters. Mitch in 1998, sensitized and raised awareness for the need of co-ordination and disaster preparedness. Therefore, the impact of the ACT EMT program in the region has been very positive and has had a consistent follow up. Regional and local initiatives have been developed and ACT fora consolidated. The Latin America members, however, feel that further support and guidance from the ACT Coordinating Office ( CO ) / ACT alliance is needed in their co-ordination and preparedness efforts.

• In Africa the spectrum of ACT members responding to emergencies runs from churches responding ad hoc and local development organizations to well established international NG0’s. Complex emergencies are also the most common disasters, therefore, the instability of the situations affects the stability of the organizations.

• There has been insufficient collaborative effort to share information on the training programs available within the ACT alliance and insufficient research of those available through other organizations so increasing the risk of duplication of efforts in some cases.

• The curriculum is flexible, however, insufficient emphasis has been given to the ACT specific component. There is a call for greater time to be dedicated to the knowledge and understanding of ACT.

• The ACT/Church World Service ( CWS ) manual has been reported as very useful tool to follow up training activities. However, the lack of a manual from the ACT/Africa University ( AU ) has been a factor contributing to the lack of follow – up training in Africa.

• The database, operated and maintained by CWS, is outdated and little attention has been paid to circulation and promotion.

• The responsibility for follow-up of the ACT EMT activities is unclear. It has been left to the personal initiative of the participants.

II. MAIN RECOMMENDATIONS

• A strategic approach towards capacity building within the ACT alliance would entail:

• The EMT in Africa requires a conceptual and organizational shift in thinking. ACT cannot sustain long term training courses that simply benefit individuals and which are not "fed back" in any consistent manner.

• A continued funding of AU courses and core funding through the ACT EMT appeal and emergency funds raised by annual appeals is unsustainable. AU needs to find an alternative way of financing its core costs. ACT member staff participating in courses and training in AU should participate in the financing only through payment of course fees, with possible support from the ACT alliance. The fees should be calculated to include necessary AU costs.

• "First line" training courses, specifically for Training of Trainers ( ToT ) should be designed for those individuals/organizations that can demonstrate ability and funding to facilitate "second line" training.

• ACT supplementary funds might be accessed through established and representative national ACT fora. These funds would then be used to a) ensure quality participation in "second line" courses; b) provide productive feedback and monitoring on how such courses are conducted; c) provide specialist "tailored" courses where required, including appropriate course materials.

• Greater emphasis should be given to proposal writing and fundraising skills within the EMT courses.

• Attendance at any ACT EMT courses should be strictly contingent upon the commitment and demonstrated capacity of the "sending" organizations to undertake comprehensive follow-up in the form of onward training.

• Members suggest more support and guidance from the ACT CO for the next few years in order to strengthen an "ACT culture" and set-up the national and regional forums.

III. EMT ADVISORY GROUP PROPOSAL

The EMT advisory group met on January 17 after participating in the debriefing of the evaluation. The following is their proposal to implement the recommendations of the evaluation:

a. Principles

• Capacity building activities, including EMT, should be decentralized and the responsibility of the ACT members. Through their long term bilateral relations it is expected that funding members should support consolidation of institutional capacity of implementing members. The ACT CO should be kept informed in aspects related to disaster response.

• ACT EMT program will have a complementary and supportive role in this process. The ACT appeal will focus on supporting training activities, limited to emergency management and related issues.

b. Structure

• To decentralize the capacity building program to the ACT national / regional fora

• To delegate to the ACT CO facilitation of the following activities

• Compilation and development of materials (training modules) as required

• Training of Trainers as required

• Exchange of information (Database)

• Fundraising

• Promotion of capacity building initiatives in countries/regions where there is lack of capacity (follow up responsibility of the ACT appeals officers)

• To convene the ACT EMT Advisory Group

• Africa University, Church World Service and other members of the ACT alliance will be implementers of the activities above described on request of the ACT national/regional fora or/and the ACT CO.

c. Responsibilities

To prepare and implement proposals:

• Based on a capacity and training needs self assessment.

• Taking into account lessons learned (evaluations, experiences, best practices).

• Taking into account EMT opportunities available in the country/region.

• Presenting a clear commitment from the participant organizations to follow-up of the training. For that a defined plan and required resources to implement should be presented.

Note: The relevant ACT appeals officer should have an active role in the process, in communication with the individual ACT members and the ACT fora.

• To fundraise through an annual appeal, and follow up of the funding.

• To administer a fund for EMT activities under criteria to be developed.

• To facilitate the following activities:

Material development (Training Modules)

Training of Trainers

Exchange of information (Data base)

• To promote capacity building initiatives in countries/regions where there is lack of capacity (Appeals Officers)

• To develop the ACT specific training modules, and participate in training

• To convene the ACT EMT Advisory Group

• Keep the ACT CO informed of EMT training activities developed by them.

• To support capacity building activities of ACT members and to keep the ACT CO informed.

• To support the ACT EMT appeal.

d. Appeal

An appeal will be issued annually to cover:

• A fund to support EMT national/regional initiatives

• Facilitation activities for the overall program (ToT, development of materials, database, etc)

e. Other Recommendations

• The current cooperation with the AU will be phased-out. AU will be used as an implementing member for tailored short-term ToT courses and development of materials. ACT alliance should assist the AU in obtaining alternative sources of core funding to develop a permanent program on Disaster Management and Response. One way is that ACT members sponsor participants to these long term courses, through payment of course fees and other expenses.

• A database will be maintained to provide information about past and forthcoming events within the ACT alliance. The members will be advised about the possibility to enter the information directly. Reports will continue to be included. The list of participants will not be updated as there are not enough resources. The usefulness of such updated information is also questionable. To look into the possibility of making a more interactive database including documents produced by ACT members on disaster response.

• 2003 will be a transitional year. The program with the AU will be adjusted according to the findings of the evaluation.