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www.ngomanager.org

Leadership Development for Humanitarian Practitioners

ExEcutivE cErtificatE

in Humanitarian action

NGOManagementSchool

Switzerland

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ExEcutivE cErtificatE iN HuMaNitariaN actiON

Leadership Development for Humanitarian Practitioners

Today’s humanitarian environment is becoming increasingly challenging to operate in.

While the causes of human suffering have not changed signiicantly from the past, the globalised contexts in which both natural and man-made disasters unfold are increasing-

ly characterised by complexity. Geo-political considerations, and the involvement of an increasingly wide-range of both state and non-state actors, are today having a profound inluence on the nature and character of humanitarian interventions and responses to both catastrophes and conlict-based situations.

This evolution in the humanitarian sector requires accelerated professionalism on an

organisational and management level to leverage the effectiveness of assessment needs, map out and plan operations, raise funds, develop sustainable and relevant action plans to respond to the needs of victims while at the same time communicating effectively with

the public and donors.

Humanitarian organisations, whether dealing with natural disasters and/or armed conlicts need to better communicate, coordinate and network together. They should cooperate more eficiently on interventions and advocating for the respect of human rights and humanitar-ian principles.

NGO Management Association (NMA) and its NGO Management School (NMS) have

developed this speciic Executive Certiicate in Humanitarian Action to respond to a clearly identiied need for the beneit of the humanitarian sector.

NMA offers the knowledge, skills and tools needed for conceiving, planning and executing effective and eficient humanitarian responses in accordance with international standards. Our trainers are all seasoned ield and Headquarters’ professionals with in-depth knowl-edge and experience of the various issues addressed in the comprehensive set of modules

offered in the Executive Certiicate in Humanitarian Action programme.

With NMA’s post-course individual coaching, we help you transform newly acquired knowledge and skills into competencies.

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ParticiPaNts

The Executive Certiicate is designed for professionals working in the humanitar-ian sector; it provides insight, tools and expertise to leaders and managers of

humanitarian organisations.

LEarNiNg ObjEctivEs aNd

OutcOMEs

During the training programme partici-

pants consolidate their experience with a

comprehensive strategic understanding of

humanitarian action that enables them to

operate safely and effectively. Focus is

placed on protection and the provision of

assistance to groups and individuals affect-

ed by violence and disasters.

Participants will:

• Enhance their knowledge and under-standing as well as develop skills essential for effective service in a

humanitarian crisis.

• Develop a comprehensive approach

to identifying problems, formulating solutions and deining objectives and strategies to respond to humanitarian

emergencies.

• Promote and implement international

standards and good practice.

• Develop leadership skills from decision making to implementation; guiding and directing individuals and

teams.

• Have the capacity to promote cooper-

ation and dialogue among non-govern-

mental, governmental and internation-

al agencies involved in humanitarian

action.

• Be able to reach out and communicate

effectively with different target audienc-

es and stakeholders using the most relevant tools.

• Build leadership capacity and gain

insight into managing a humanitari-

an organisation; understand the sig-

niicance of continued learning within organisations.

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ExEcutivE cErtificatE: MOduLEs

MOduLE titLEduratiON

(days):

1 Analysing Humanitarian Contexts 3

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Leadership Skills and Communication:• Developing Effective Leadership Skills for Humanitarian

Programmes

• Communicating and Cooperating with Stakeholders

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3Needs Assessments, Decision Making and ProtectionActivities

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4 Financial management 1

5Planning, Programming and Monitoring Humanitarian Projects and Programmes 3

6 Provision of Assistance 2

Total 15

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Module

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aNaLysiNg HuMaNitariaN cONtExts

• complex Humanitarian Emergencies: Situational analysis through

real-life case studies, with focus on international legal frameworks associated with disaster response.

• international standards, codes and Ethics and their application in

ieldwork:SPHERE, Accountability - HAP, Codes of Conduct for the International Red Cross, Red Crescent Movement and NGOs in Disaster Relief.

• Humanitarian actors in the field and cooperation: Who is who?

Stakeholder mapping and analysis, local and international coordination and cooperation, humanitarian dilemmas, current trends in humanitarian action.

• Ensuring staff security in an Emergency: Assessing the security

situation, developing a security plan; security rules, security training, exit strategy, evacuation plan, personal safety.

Module

2

LEadErsHiP skiLLs aNd cOMMuNicatiON

DevelopingEffectiveLeadershipSkillsforHumanitarianProgrammes• How to lead an emergency operation, switching from development work

to humanitarian action, leadership assessment• Setting up, managing and coaching a leadership team or task force• Recruiting and managing competent staff and volunteers, team building,

staff welfare

• Internal communication and cross cultural communication skills• Managing conlict within teams

CommunicatingwithStakeholders• Ethical considerations• Advocacy in humanitarian action and communication with the media

(press releases, interviews on radio and TV) • Communicating with beneiciaries• Coordinating humanitarian action between organisations, government

bodies and donors.

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Module

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NEEds assEssMENts, dEcisiON MakiNg aNd PrOtEctiON

activitiEs

• How to conduct a needs assessment in an emergency: Selecting the

appropriate type of needs assessment, preparing ield visits, interview techniques, tips and tricks for successful information/data collection, conducting ield visits

• How to analyse indings from the ield visit: Identifying key needs gaps through problem analysis, drawing recommendations

• Checking complementarity with other actors and deining operational strategy

• Protection activities and their linkage with assistance

Module

4

fiNaNciaL MaNagEMENt

• Financial management and organisational effectiveness

• Finance planning and budgeting

• Financial statements; what do they mean and how are they used

• Evaluating inancial information• Project funding and relationships with donors• Improving inancial management in organisations and its links with pro-

gramme effectiveness

Module

5

PLaNNiNg, PrOgraMMiNg aNd MONitOriNg HuMaNitariaN

PrOjEcts aNd PrOgraMMEs

• Planning a project based on needs assessment: Results-Based Management and Logical Framework Approach

• Deining objectives and potential risks• Identifying indicators and sources of veriication• Deining sequencing and scheduling of activities• Programming human, inancial and logistic resources• Assessment, monitoring and evaluation concepts

Module

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PrOvisiON Of assistaNcE

• Identifying appropriate relief commodities and services

• How to effectively distribute goods

• How to carry out a relief programme using cash and vouchers and how

to monitor the provision of commodities and services

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LEarNiNg MEtHOdOLOgy

NGO Management School uses a

fully participatory action-learning approach

to enhance learning opportunities through

case studies, group work, brainstorming, Q&A sessions, short presentations and simulations.

• Modules combine and integrate good

practices and lessons learned from a

large range of humanitarian contexts.

• Customised learning materials facili-tate a smooth and fast-track approach to learning and to achieving each

module’s objectives.

POst-cOursE cOacHiNg

Skills and knowledge acquired during the training shall be embedded in profession-

al practice. For the purpose, we offer three hours of post-course sessions of tailored

coaching to each participant in the months

after the course.

cErtificatEs

Upon successful completion of all mod-

ules in the programme, participants obtain the Executive Certiicate in Humanitarian Assistance. Participants who follow

individual modules obtain a Certiicate of Attendance for each module successfully

completed.

The NGO Management School is certi-

ied by eduQua, the Swiss label of quality management in continuing education.

traiNErs

All trainers of the Executive Certiicate in Humanitarian Action have extensive ield and senior headquarters experience in humanitarian operations with international organisa-

tions. They have worked in several countries, particularly in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Additionally, trainers have all previously worked for one, or several, of the following humanitarian organisations: International Committee of the Red Cross, MSF, RedR, Inter-national Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

NgO Management association

Route de Chêne 41a 1208 Geneva, Switzerland +41 22 731 76 66

courses@ngomanager.org

www.ngomanager.org

Our visiON aNd MissiON

NMA’s vision is of a world in which non-proit or-ganisations have the leadership and management

capacity to maximise their contribution to social

justice and human rights. Our mission is to assist non-proit organisations to optimise their perfor-mance and impact.

NMA seeks to help you ensure the ongoing rele-

vance, effectiveness, eficiency and sustainability of your organisation. The support NMA provides

to your organisation is our contribution to social

change.

We measure its success in terms of your increased

performance and impact.

The NGO Management School (NMS) is a depart-

ment of the NGO Management Association (NMA).

©NGO Management Association 2013

Design by Yulia Lemeshchenko