New Case Study: Transforming Surge Capacity Through Training
This case study examines the process of designing and piloting surge capacity training as part of the Start Network’s Transforming Surge Capacity project that aims to transform surge by redirecting emphasis from an internationally-led focus to a regional and local one.
The Start Network’s Transforming Surge Capacity project aims to transform surge by redirecting emphasis from an internationally-led focus to a regional and local one. As part of the project, the first pilot of a new training curriculum was delivered to 36 delegates from local, national and international NGOs in Manila, led by CAFOD and hosted by Christian Aid.
This case study examines the process of designing and piloting surge capacity training. It includes information on the background to the project, the rationale for the training pilot, the process and challenges of designing the training curriculum, lessons learned and next steps.
One of the core conclusions from the 2007 Review of Surge Capacity report is that it is equally important to develop surge capacity at country and regional levels as it is at headquarters. From that report, senior humanitarian leaders identified that a key, if not the major resource in responses, is the workforce itself, who needed more attention than was commonly given. The recent State of Surge report seemed to reinforce this but also emphasised that it is not only people, but processes and systems i.e. the operating environment, that allow financing and supplies to be processed quickly and efficiently during surge responses. A number of opening comments from the State of Surge report also seem to suggest that surge is not a matter of either international or national engagement but rather both and more.
The aim of the training programme is to deliver improved coordination and collaboration on surge, as well as better harnessing complementarities in a climate where increasing disasters and decreasing funding add to the urgency of responses.