OCHA

The course aims to equip environmental experts and international first responders with the necessary knowledge to rapidly identify, prioritize, and mitigate the impacts of industrial chemical releases to human health and the environment. Upon completion of the eLearning course, participants will be able to list the basic FEAT principles, demonstrate its use in various scenarios, recall the step-by-step procedure for conducting a FEAT assessment and propose risk reduction measures for the different types of impact.

Learning Objectives:

After completing this course, participants will be able to:

• Recognize an environmental emergency
• Recognize the importance of safety rules when applying the FEAT methodology
• Identify the underlying elements of the FEAT Concept
• Confidently apply confidently a set of steps in order to prepare for response to a chemical accident situation

The course provides humanitarian actors with information on how to effectively integrate environmental issues into humanitarian response and early recovery strategies. It highlights the key opportunities, misconceptions and challenges for mainstreaming environmental issues into humanitarian action.

Learning Objectives:

After completing this course, participants will have:

• Improved awareness of the role the environment plays in humanitarian work
• A better understanding of the outcomes of aid by anticipating and addressing potential negative impacts
• Increased awareness on why it is imperative to integrate key environmental concerns into humanitarian activities
• A greater familiarity with the related tools and trainings (EA, REA, ENA, EIA, MIRA)

The course seeks to provide humanitarian response staff as well as local, national, and regional government authorities with increased awareness and enhanced knowledge on disaster waste and management strategies to mitigate their environmental impact. By taking the course, participants will be better prepared and more able to predict, identify, analyse, and plan the impacts of disaster waste in an emergency.

Learning Objectives:

After completing this course, participants will be able to:

• Identify the various types, compositions, and sources of disaster waste
• Prioritize which types of disaster waste to focus on in the immediate, short, medium, and long term
• Select the most appropriate waste management options based on the context of the disaster
• Explain the opportunities that successful disaster waste management can create, including how to make projects sustainable
• List the specific ways to prepare for disaster waste given the types of disaster which can occur

The course provides an overview of the international environmental emergency response mechanisms and introduces the main actors and tools available for preparing for, and responding to, environmental emergencies. It also introduces tools and resources such as the Flash Environmental Assessment Tool and the Disaster Waste Management Guidelines, for which separate follow-up courses are available. The course is targeted to representatives of countries and organizations wishing to improve their readiness for environmental emergency response.

Learning Objectives:

After completing this course, participants will be able to:

• Recognize an environmental emergency
• Recognize where to seek assistance for preparedness and response to environmental emergencies
• Select appropriate emergency response tools for different situations

The United Nations Humanitarian Civil-Military Coordination (UN-CMCoord) eCourse is an online learning experience that brings together practitioners and experts to discuss UN-CMCoord concepts and principles and their practical applications in responding to natural disasters and complex emergency settings.

Based on the UN-CMCoord Field Handbook, this course provides a well-rounded and interactive approach to learning and is accessible to all organizations and individuals interested in the topic of humanitarian civil-military coordination.

Sphere in Practice is for anyone who wishes to learn about humanitarian standards in an interactive and engaging way. You can study at your own pace, completing all lessons in 8-10 hours in total, or attend a massive open online course (subject to availability).

Learning Objectives:

• explain how an organisation or individual can adopt the Sphere approach
• recognise the elements of a minimum standard
• distinguish the typical phases in the humanitarian programme cycle
• identify the key contextual factors when providing assistance during a crisis
• identify the value of information sharing and effective two-way communication with affected people
• recognise the value of active participation and of building on existing capacities in areas affected by disaster and conflict
• explain the importance of protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA)
• use the Sphere Handbook to analyse programmes to manage malnutrition and to support feeding of infants and young children
• explain the features of effective information sharing among stakeholders
• distinguish the characteristics of different types of assessments
• recognise the importance of disaggregating data and the benefits of working closely with other organisations
• define the components of a well-designed response
• define accountability to affected populations (AAP)
• define different kinds of resilience
• give examples of how resilience can be built during recovery programmes
• discuss the importance of monitoring and evaluating humanitarian projects
• briefly discuss the connections between the humanitarian and development sectors
• promote resilience and implement effective monitoring and evaluation processes

Building the first tier of local capability involves the training and development of existing local emergency services and community responders to meet the needs of the affected population at the onset of the incident. Termed ‘USAR First Responders’, their role at the initial phase of an incident is that of:

• Assessing the nature and scale of the incident
• Rescue and basic casualty care in the initial stages of a collapse incident
• Providing information to domestic decision-makers about the event
• Requesting the appropriate resources required to successfully complete the rescue phase

First Responder Networks would be most effective in areas where no organised USAR capability exists, as well as areas where any USAR response from structured teams may be delayed. It is envisaged that USAR First Responders will typically be personnel working in the local community or staff of local government organisations tasked with emergency management or response. For example; local police, medical staff or fire-fighters, government workers (including civil protection) or members of volunteer organisations.

Training package on the IASC Emergency Response Preparedness approach, including facilitator's notes, powerpoint presentations and group exercise material

Learning Objectives:

• Explain the fundamental components of an effective and sustainable ERP approach.
• Demonstrate ability to facilitate the implementation of the 4 steps of the Risk Analysis and Monitoring Process. 
• Explain the basic steps needed to facilitate the identification, implementation and maintenance of MPAs in a specific national context.
• Explain the basic steps needed to facilitate the identification, implementation and maintenance of risk-specific APAs in a specific national context. 
• Demonstrate the ability to facilitate a contingency planning process and to support the HCT to identify and address preparedness gaps
• Share plans for regional and country roll-outs
• Request and access adequate technical support for the ERP roll-out 
• Provide feedback on ToF and ERP materials for country roll-out

Experience has shown that coordinating needs assessments is an important element in delivering targeted response to the affected population. Throughout an emergency, credible and accurate assessments contribute to the evidence-base that increase the effectiveness of humanitarian response, ensure well defined response planning and timely decision-making. 

The Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Coordinated Assessment guidelines and the Humanitarian Programme Cycle (HPC) reference module are the main policy references to guide coordinated assessments in humanitarian emergencies. Central to this are (1) the Multi-sector/cluster Initial Rapid Assessment (MIRA) approach (revised 2015) and (2) the Humanitarian Needs Overview (HNO)​. 

While commitment and knowledge of the Coordinated Assessment approach is improving within OCHA and humanitarian partners, there are still major gaps in OCHA staff competencies related to needs assessment and analysis almost throughout the needs assessment life cycle. There is increasing need to build the OCHA’s staff capacities in the country and at the regional level, to be able to lead, facilitate, assist, support, prepare, plan and implement the Coordinated Assessment processes for different contexts. OCHA in support to the country leadership, should be able to mobilize partners and resources for coordinated assessments, ensure ownership amongst the partners, and together with stakeholders produce high quality joint analysis and the production of fast and useful outputs (situational and needs analysis, multisector needs assessment reports, structured inter-sectoral analysis and Humanitarian Needs Overview etc.). These assessment outputs if customize of local context can inform help in prioritization, inform key decisions and support development of response plans.

The aim of CAIM training is to upgrade the skills of OCHA and humanitarian actors with existing knowledge and skills in Coordinated Assessments. CAIM training is continuously evolving and focusing on translating guidance, tools, field practices, innovative concepts and practical solutions to implement needs assessment life cycle. This practical training helps field practitioners to take leadership and support role in coordinating, managing, planning and implementing needs assessments in the field. ​

The course aims to raise awareness about industrial accidents in order to strengthen the capacity of government, industry and civil society representatives. With an improved understanding of what constitutes an 'industrial accident', participants will be better able to prevent, prepare and respond to these types of incidents. By taking the course, participants will also gain an understanding of when countries should ask and receive international assistance in preparation for or in response to an industrial accident.

Learning Objectives:

After completing this course, participants will be able to:

• Recall the meaning of industrial accident
• Recognize the value of a national programme for industrial accident prevention and preparedness
• Repeat the phases of developing a national industrial accidents programme
• Identify the core elements that form part of an effective industrial accidents programme
• List the frameworks and organizations that can assist a country in preparing for and responding to an industrial accident