Gaps & Good Practice in Training for Humanitarian ReformCommissioned by USAID/OFDA and UN OCHA

Geneva, 26 March 2012Andy Featherstone

Introduction to the OFDA/OCHA study Purpose – to contribute to a better understanding of

training & capacity building initiatives aimed at NGOs in order to strengthen practice and foster participation

Methodology - a quantitative mapping exercise and qualitative research focusing on NGO participation in humanitarian reform and training practices which help and hinder this

Outputs – (i) a searchable database with 405 humanitarian reform-related training events, (ii) a research report, (iii) a Gaps & Good Practice Toolkit

Humanitarian Reform Training Practice Humanitarian Reform Mechanisms shoulder much of

the burden for reform-related training

UNOCHA country offices play an important role in capacity building for humanitarian reform

INGOs with cluster responsibilities support training but most deal with reform through internal inductions. National NGOs learn on-the-job

Interagency initiatives play an important role in trialling good practice

Some clusters sub-contract training to institutions a few of which have significant expertise & experience

Gap Analysis Work to do in linking training to capacity needs

assessment and staff development

Lack of coordination of training initiatives at the country-level

A need to strengthen strategic leadership and teamwork within Humanitarian Country Teams

The importance of addressing the partnership gap

The need to engage front-line staff

The importance of coordinating efforts to address accountability to crisis-affected communities at the cluster level

Good Practice (1) Supporting front-line staff and surge capacity in Haiti by

delivering needs-based training

A sound approach to building regional and national staff capacity by the Consortium of British Humanitarian Agencies

A high value placed on simulations which support learning by doing & provide a safe space to make mistakes

Good practice in capacity assessment at the cluster (Education) and organisational (ACT Alliance) level

Good Practice (2) Cascading training to front-line staff in the Education

Cluster

Online training repositories and e-learning still in its infancy but becoming more widespread

Good practice in humanitarian partnership from the NGOs and Humanitarian Reform Project, MERLIN, OCHA and the Humanitarian Partnership Forum

Emergency Capacity Building Project working with clusters on accountability

A proposal to strengthen HCT strategic leadership

3 Key Messages… Prioritise Partnership and collaborative learning

Foster a field focus

Strengthen country-level capacity assessment and coordination