Projects Europe

Workshop on Emergency Management (WEM)

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) | Jul 2014

InterWorks facilitated a Workshop on Emergency Management (WEM) for UNHCR in Starum, Norway from 18-27 June 2014, hosted by the Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection and Emergency Planning. Overall coordination and planning for the event was done by the UNHCR Global Learning Centre (GLC) supported in particular by ECMS for core content, and other UNHCR content experts from different Divisions and Units of UNHCR relating to their own areas of expertise.

The intensive and demanding course prepared over 40 participants for emergency deployment focusing on three areas of emergency management: managing yourself, managing relationships, and managing your operational role through all phases of the deployment. The course was interactive and work-oriented, and employed a variety of methodologies, including simulation exercises, presentations and case study, as well as group and plenary discussions. The agenda included sessions on team-building, operations planning, financial and administrative systems, operational partnerships, communication and negotiation skills, security, coordination and information-sharing, telecommunications, and humanitarian protection.

Without any exaggeration, this was a great experience, a unique leaning opportunity, a beautiful blend of theory, practical and planning exercises. The sessions were designed to meet the needs of both who had some knowledge or who had absolutely no knowledge about some aspects. Thank you to all the facilitators and the host country for their generosity and kindness. Looking forward to [using] these newly learnt skills in the field.

– Workshop participant