Earlier this month, our Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Regional Centre team delivered two trainings in Gaziantep, Türkiye.

The Introduction to Crisis Management training, which has been piloted in Jordan in January this year, was organised in partnership with Save the Children Syria Response Office. This training targeted staff less experienced in the humanitarian sector aiming to develop their skills in the basics of dealing with unexpected crises. It was delivered in Arabic to 20 participants from local Syrian NGOs.

The Education in Emergencies (EiE) Fundamentals training was mostly focused on the response in Türkiye and was coordinated with SCI Türkiye Country Office and the UNICEF cluster coordinator. It was delivered in Turkish to 20 Participants, both Turkish and Syrian, representing local and international organisations from Educational Working Group (EWG) in Gaziantep. Rafka Daoud, HLA’s EiE PDP Regional Manager, highlights that the training not only provided the essential knowledge but also fostered positive interactions between Turkish and Syrian participants:

The training covered a wide range of fundamental education in emergencies topics such as concepts, frameworks, cross-cutting issues and approaches. The participants learnt how to assess, analyse and design learning processes and improve the outcomes. The training also covered physical and psychological protection and wellbeing. Moreover, the participants explored how to engage and support parents and improve coordination within the education system.

The training’s emphasis on interactive activities contributed to creating a conducive learning environment and fruitful learning experiences. The participants eagerly engaged in activities and communication, highlighting the newfound energy to apply the new knowledge and insights to their work.

Our commitment to localisation was not only reflected in the delivery of the EiE training in Turkish but also in having local facilitators conduct the sessions, all of whom were graduates of the HLA’s EiE Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) programme.

The HLA is reflecting on the successful delivery of its second education in emergencies (EiE) training programme in Yemen this year, thanks to its strong partnership with the Yemen Education Cluster.

In August, colleagues from the HLA’s Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe (MENAEE) Regional Centre based in Jordan worked closely with the Yemen Education Cluster to successfully deliver a five-day face-to-face Education in Emergencies (EiE) Fundamentals programme in the city of Sana’a.

This achievement builds on the strong foundations laid by the HLA’s EiE Fundamentals training in Aden, Yemen earlier in the same month.

Collaboration with Yemen Education Cluster

The Yemen Education Cluster works towards a well-coordinated and timely response to meet the need of crisis affected children and youth. 

The EiE Fundamentals training in Sana’a was made possible thanks to the HLA’s continued fruitful collaboration with the Education Cluster who successfully engaged the Ministry of Education and secured their support and involvement in the training from the early stages of preparation.

Participant Diversity

36 participants benefited from the training, including 15 women: 21 of the participants were personnel from the Ministry of Education Sana’a and governorate Education Office who are specialised in EIE response, while 15 participants represented national NGO partners.

Impactful Education in Emergencies Training

Education in emergencies (EiE) focuses on ensuring access to safe, quality education during emergencies and crises.

Over the five days of training, the expert EiE training team guided the through course content which included crucial areas such as ensuring access to education and maintaining a learning environment during emergencies; adapting curricula and educational materials for crisis contexts; psychosocial support; and teacher training and support.

These fundamental objectives and topics aim to guarantee that education remains a priority during crises, enabling children and communities to recover, rebuild, and prosper despite challenging circumstances.

Over five days, the expert EiE training team guided 36 participants through initiating, designing and implementing a quality EiE response.

Rafka Daoud, Regional EiE Manager for the HLA said:
“Training in education in emergencies (EiE) is vital in Sana’a to help address the urgent need for education access, the impact on children and youth, psychosocial wellbeing, child protection, and inclusive education – which are all critical to rebuilding a stable future.

EiE empowers communities and equips educators to navigate the challenges posed by the crisis, enabling the continuation of learning and ensuring a better future for the youth in Yemen.”

Dr Mahdi Alsebaeai, Yemen Education Cluster Coordinator, agreed on the positive impacts of the training, with partners and participants expressing their continued commitment to this work as well as their interest in receiving further EiE updates and training, particularly at advanced levels.

Additionally, Dr Alsebaeai observed how representatives from national NGOs demonstrated their strengthening understanding and improved knowledge in EIE response which will in turn support them in Yemen Humanitarian Education Fund interventions.

This training initiative highlights the importance of education in emergencies and the collaborative efforts of local and regional actors to address the educational needs of crisis-affected children and youth in Yemen.

The HLA MENAEE Regional Centre extends its congratulations to all participants and thanks to the Yemen Education Cluster and Save the Children International.

The team is currently preparing for the new cycle of its regional Education in Emergencies Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) Programme – a sector-facing programme accredited by the University of Geneva – which will welcome a new cohort this November.

The humanitarian response to the earthquake in Türkiye and Syria had passed the six-month mark. To review the ongoing activities in the region and optimise the next phase of response, the HLA leadership team travelled to Gaziantep. Samantha Davis, Deputy Director for Learning and Programmes, and Pawel Mania, Deputy Director for Transformational Response, met with the HLA regional team, local partners, and colleagues from Save the Children’s Syria Response Office to follow up on the work done so far and discuss priorities and needs of the local actors to provide impactful and cohesive support.

From the observation of our team, both local and international NGOs are well-prepared to handle protracted crises; however, they encountered challenges in swiftly adapting to respond to new emerging needs following the earthquake.

Samantha Davis, Deputy Director for Learning and Programmes, shares:

“Distress emerged as a pressing priority during our visit, as the people in the region are grappling with the enduring impact of continuous shocks. Coping with this situation has been extremely challenging. While we were there, a smaller earthquake struck, triggering further distress. Heart-wrenching stories were shared, recounting the loss of colleagues, family, and friends who tragically lost their lives in the earthquake. These deeply personal accounts highlighted the immense impact of such disasters on the lives of people in the area. It underscored the critical need for immediate and effective support and resources to help them cope with the adverse experiences they have endured.”

During the meetings the importance of enhancing the capacity of local partners was emphasised consistently, and several priorities where our assistance is needed the most were identified. Some organisations expressed the need for specific expertise, such as short-term support in shaping their organisational strategy and advisory assistance in developing new programmes. The consensus among these organisations was that targeted and specialised support in upskilling critical aspects of their work would be exceedingly valuable and beneficial in amplifying their ability to tackle the challenges they face.

Bdour Ghousheh, HLA Regional Lead for the MENAEE region, highlights: 

“As getting funds remains one of the main challenges of local organisations, access issues in Syria create gaps in coordination between activities of Türkiye and Syria-based actors. Smaller organisations also sometimes find themselves left out from capacity strengthening activities. That is why the HLA’s work, and our Engine 2 approach are important for this response. Our plans are based on the needs of local organisations and are tailored to the context. For example, our team is now delivering Education in Emergencies (EiE) training for Syrian organisations in Arabic, to make sure the language is not a barrier to gain essential knowledge and skills.”  

Read about the EiE training in Gaziantep here  https://www.humanitarianleadershipacademy.org/news/to-give-hope-and-foster-stability-education-in-emergencies-fundamentals-training-in-turkiye-and-syria/

Some of the individuals we spoke expressed a deep concern regarding the UN Security Council’s decision not to renew the UN’s mandate to operate cross-border into Northwest Syria through the Bab Al-Hawa border crossing. As this crossing is crucial in securing aid for Syrians in opposition-held areas of NW Syria, its non-renewal raised uncertainties about the accessibility of humanitarian support to the area. [It was later reported that deal had been reached with the Government of Syria to allow the UN’s access through Bab al-Hawa for a period of three months. We observed a strong striving for innovative solutions to overcome the obstacles in delivering humanitarian support to the region. Our interlocutors indicated the need for more robust coordination mechanisms to be introduced for organisations to convene and advocate and to work together more effectively.

Pawel Mania, Deputy Director for Transformational Response reflects:

“The earthquake has been a traumatic experience for the whole region, and everyone was impacted in one way or another. However, in the case of Syrian-led organisations, this is another trauma added to their complex and difficult reality. It feels like this reassures the role of the HLA in the region as a team that advocates for a more holistic and systemic approach that strengthens the overall capacity of the organisations and influences dialogue between different stakeholders. Reflecting on the visit and communication with our regional team and local responders, we also see that HLA should identify and reinforce potential collaboration between different communities and networks. We are going to continue our engagement efforts on both sides and be more opportunistic with some of the priorities that are being shared. For the HLA, it is particularly important to engage directly with networks like Syrian Network League and Turkish Humanitarian Forum to ensure we are led by local experts and can reach a wider audience.

One of the goals of the visit was to strengthen our relations with Save the Children International Syria Response Office. After having a meeting, both teams expressed an interest in close collaboration. The focus of this synergy would be to develop internal staff capacity and address critical challenges that we have encountered in our work. This presents an exciting opportunity to enhance our collective impact in the region.

During the visit our team also had a number of meetings to reconnoiter new potential partnerships with local and international organisations to expand our impact in the region. Exploring and solidifying these connections, we are going to map out potential collaboration models and identify opportunities to pilot new initiatives and expand on our existing projects to be more impactful.

Learn more about our work in the region:

Middle East & North Africa – Humanitarian Leadership Academy

The HLA’s Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe (MENAEE) Regional Centre is reflecting on the successful delivery of the Education in Emergencies (EiE) Fundamentals training programme in Yemen – with thanks to the collaboration and support of partners and graduates of our EiE Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) programme.

EiE Fundamentals is a flagship in-person training programme from the HLA which aims to equip country office education and EiE staff with the fundamental competencies to be part of initiating, designing and implementing a quality EiE response in their context.

Staff from the HLA’s Jordan-based MENAEE Regional Centre and Yemen Education Cluster formed the team behind the organisation of the EiE Fundamentals training in Yemen, which was delivered in the city of Aden between 6-10 August. This training builds on the success of the Organisational Development training delivered by the team in Yemen in June.

Thanks to the fruitful collaboration between organising parties together with the team of local trainers in Yemen, the five-day EiE Fundamentals training programme enabled NGOs and cluster partners to strengthen their understanding of an EiE response within the Yemen humanitarian context.

25 participants – including 12 women – benefited from the training. The participants were education personnel drawn from local and national organisations as well as from the Ministry of Education.

The training was successfully contextualised by the five-strong team of local trainers: two Save the Children International colleagues together with three EiE managers and coordinators who are recent graduates of the HLA/Save the Children’s Education in Emergencies Certificate of Advanced Studies programme (EiE CAS).

Participants were taken through key topics including cross-cutting issues such as child participation, child safeguarding versus child protection, inclusion, gender equality, and conflict sensitivity. The trainers guided the participants to reflect on real experiences in the field and how to improve the implementation of EiE projects.

“The training included critical topics which we always take for granted. I never thought about the importance of cross-cutting issues; it was always for me either about the ways of project implementation or donor demands.” – Training participant

A participant from the Ministry of Education reported that, prior to attending the training, it was her belief that organisations work in isolation from authorities. However, by undertaking the training she realised that through the process of developing humanitarian response plans, governments are in fact consulted – and the plans take into account the needs raised by governments, as well as the results of assessments carried out by many organisations.  

One of the trainers – a graduate of the EiE CAS programme – said:

“The training was a great way to learn new skills, network with other professionals, and get inspired by adjusting my perspective. During the training sessions, thoughts about EiE and its practitioners kept running through our minds, giving us new ideas such as early childhood inclusion in EiE, and the key role of the INGO and Ministry of Education.”

Rafka Daoud is the recently appointed MENAEE Regional EiE Manager at the HLA – and a graduate of the EiE CAS programme herself. She is highly positive about the EiE Fundamentals training delivery experience in Yemen. She reflects:

“Education in Emergencies holds significant importance in Yemen due to its vital role in ensuring educational continuity during crisis situations. The primary objective of EiE training is to guarantee the provision of education even during emergencies such as conflicts.

This emphasis on EiE is crucial because education is an inherent right for children and adolescents. Unfortunately, in times of emergencies, access to education tends to be severely disrupted, resulting in a substantial number of children being deprived of learning opportunities. EiE strives to counteract this by creating mechanisms that enable children to access education regardless of the challenges posed by emergencies.”

The HLA MENAEE Regional Centre extends its congratulations to the 25 training participants and expresses its gratitude and appreciation to Save the Children International and Yemen Country Office, the Education Cluster and the training team. This training was made possible thanks to the financial support of the People’s Postcode Lottery Education Trust.

“The training was excellent. I have been in the humanitarian field since 2015 but I learned a lot of new things during this training which will add great value to my experience.” – Training participant

Apply for the Education in Emergencies Certificate of Advanced Studies (EiE CAS) – Middle East and Eastern Europe 2023-24

The EiE CAS Programme: Middle East and Eastern Europe 2023 is now open for applications. It is a sector-facing programme accredited by the University of Geneva and will run from November 2023 to October 2024.

The deadline for applications is 10 September 2023.

Our team in the Middle East, North Africa, and Eastern Europe (MENAEE) region delivered the Education in Emergencies (EiE) Fundamentals training in Gaziantep, Türkiye at the end of July. This course aims to rapidly improve the participants’ knowledge of the fundamental competencies and provide the necessary skills and tools to be part of initiating, designing and implementing a quality EiE response.

The training targeted the Northwest Syria Education Cluster responding to education needs, including after the earthquakes of 6th February 2023. The course was tailored to address numerous intertwined factors, such as cultural nuances, unique challenges faced by the region, and the diverse needs of the affected population. To be more accessible to the local responders, the training was delivered in Arabic.

Bdour Ghousheh, HLA Regional Lead for the MENAEE region, highlights:
“During emergencies, such as the Syria crisis, educational systems are often disrupted or completely halted. EiE training is essential to ensure that education can continue even in challenging circumstances. It equips educators and responders with the necessary skills and knowledge to set up temporary learning spaces, develop appropriate curricula, and provide education to displaced and affected children and youth.”

Education in Emergencies training is crucial for an effective and comprehensive response to the Syria crisis, as it recognises the importance of education in fostering stability, protection, and development amid the effects of conflict and displacement. In crisis situations, children are especially vulnerable to exploitation, violence, and abuse. EiE programmes provide guidelines on how to create safe and protective environments where children can learn and grow, reducing their exposure to risks and offering them a sense of stability.

Rafka Daoud, HLA Regional EiE PDP manager, emphasises:
“The Syria crisis has resulted in severe emotional distress and trauma for millions of children and adolescents who have experienced violence, displacement, and loss. EiE training includes elements of psychosocial support, which enables educators and responders to recognize signs of distress and provide appropriate care and counselling to help children cope with their experiences. The EiE programme also provides strategies to develop critical life skills and resilience in children affected by crises, helping them adapt to the challenges they face and recover from adversity.”

EiE training also focuses on ensuring the active participation of children and their communities in the education process. This empowers them to have a say in their learning, making education more relevant and effective in addressing their unique needs and circumstances. At the same time, the EiE training focuses on strengthening the capacity of educators, responders, and local organisations to effectively respond to educational needs during emergencies. This includes equipping them with the necessary skills, knowledge, and resources to set up temporary learning spaces, design appropriate curricula, and provide psychosocial support. Following these objectives, the EiE is carefully tailored to the context.

Sajeda Arslan, HLA MENAEE Regional Coordinator, explains:
“The training was designed with a deep understanding of the cultural, social, and political context of both Syria and Türkiye. This includes being sensitive to the unique experiences and needs of Syrian refugees and the host communities in Türkiye. Integration with the national education system is also something we keep in mind. Thus, the training focuses on strategies for integrating Syrian refugee children into the Turkish education system, promoting inclusion and ensuring that they can access quality education opportunities. The training is gender-sensitive, addressing the specific needs and challenges faced by both girls and boys in accessing education and dealing with the effects of the crisis.”

The participants named information on child protection and safeguarding, integrating new students into the existing educational programmes, and Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergency (INEE) Standards amongst the most valuable parts of the training.

Nada: “The discussion about cross-cutting issues and how to incorporate them in our Education Programmes was specifically valuable. I will advise my colleagues to attend the online training”.

Ikram: “I appreciate that the training was delivered in Arabic. I am going to suggest to my organisation to let me organise a session to share the received knowledge, especially about child protection, with my colleagues”.

Soubhi: “The training gave me a lot of ideas to apply in my work, as my organisation just started a livelihood project that covers issues of encouraging students to join or return to vocational schools and to open education after the earthquake.”

Maher: “I work on report writing and use INEE standards. I believe that the group discussion on this during the training was useful for all the participants”.

Esraa: “This was the first EiE training I attended. The topics of localisation and response sustainability for the host country were especially interesting, as I haven’t seen it being discussed before.”

The training not only equipped participants with valuable knowledge but also provided them with insights into the real-world complexities of implementing EiE programmes in a region affected by humanitarian crises. It highlighted the importance of adaptability, cultural sensitivity, and the need for a collective effort to ensure that education remains accessible and transformative for children and youth affected by emergencies. The participants also shared the struggles they face in their work. The challenges highlighted during the training included the need for greater engagement with the host community.

Rafka Daoud, HLA Regional EiE PDP manager, shares:
“The training experience allowed participants to comprehend the complexities involved in implementing EiE initiatives in crisis-affected areas. They were able to grasp the importance of education in emergency contexts and how it can provide stability, protection, and hope for children and youth who have been exposed to violence, displacement, and loss. In its way, gaining a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by education staff working in the region was a highlight of this training experience for me.”

The training was co-facilitated by the Education in Emergencies Certificate of Advanced Studies (EiE CAS) graduates. This is a comprehensive 450-hour blended learning experience accredited by the University of Geneva.

Learn more about our Education in Emergencies Learning Programme:
https://www.humanitarianleadershipacademy.org/learning-programmes/education-in-emergencies-eie/

Since May 2016, Kaya – the free digital learning platform operated by the Humanitarian Leadership Academy has upskilled thousands of humanitarians globally to directly respond to crises in their localities. Kaya is providing high quality, expert led and industry recognised learning at times and places where access can be challenging.

A Kaya learner from Syria said: “As someone who faced challenges due to the Syrian crisis, such as limited access and remote management, I found Kaya’s designed courses to be invaluable in enhancing my skills and knowledge.

The platform not only helped me keep learning but also enabled me to share this knowledge with colleagues, team members, and partner staff, ultimately making a positive impact on those affected by the crisis, especially since many courses are available in different languages including Arabic.”

A Kaya learner from Cote D’Ivoire said: “The learning has changed my outlook, it’s opened my eyes to some of the challenges faced by our colleagues on the ground.”

Kaya content is contextually relevant and is often updated by experts across the globe with new information as new processes are introduced to humanitarian action.

How can I access Kaya and what will I find?

Kaya is free and accessible on a phone, tablet or laptop. You will need access to the internet to sign up and find content. However, your coursework can be done offline, and progress uploaded when you have access to internet again.

Resources range from games, quizzes, and assessments to online self-directed courses and pathways, webinars, videos, MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses), and blended courses. Kaya users can also find registration for face-to-face workshops and events and so much more available and accessible at the learner’s time/flexibility.

A Kaya learner from South Africa said: “I believe that Kaya fosters creativity and critical thinking and for me that is an essential skill that every humanitarian needs.”

Kaya is not only helping humanitarians grow, but also supporting international, national and local non-governmental organisations (who we partner with) to share their knowledge on an accessible platform.

Another Kaya learner from Ukraine said: I’ve used the Kaya platform during my work with International Rescue Committee till October 2022. And nowadays I was really surprised to see this hub available in Ukrainian. I don’t remember any other humanitarian platform with trainings available in our language.”

Kaya resources are accessible; the platform includes a screen reader helper, a dyslexia friendly view and much more. As a learner on Kaya, you can earn certificates and showcase the certificates you receive from completing courses. Some courses award HPass digital badges, which you can add to your LinkedIn profile. These certificates and badges validate gained knowledge and encourage and motivate humanitarians to accelerate their learning and professional development.

What should I do now?

If you’re looking to learn something new as a humanitarian – from project management to proposal writing, understanding big concepts like cash and voucher assistance or the Grand Bargain. If you’re looking to join valuable networks such as the Women in Leadership network hosted on Kaya – sign up now.

If you’re already a Kaya learner, tell a friend about Kaya. Share one of the #KayaAppreciation posts on our social media channels or create your own.

The Humanitarian Leadership Academy remains poised to support professional growth and Kaya learners’ impact and invaluable contributions to individual communities.

The HLA is celebrating the success of the inaugural Humanitarian Operations Programme (HOP) Core training in Jordan – the first time that this training programme on the fundamental principles of humanitarian action has been delivered in the Middle East and North Africa region.

HOP Core is a flagship entry-level training programme which aims to strengthen humanitarians’ knowledge, skills and behaviours to respond effectively to emergencies.

7 countries represented

22 participants convened in Amman between 3-7 July for this regional training, representing Save the Children country offices in Iraq, Turkey, Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, Yemen and Jordan.

The participants – which included 12 women – hold roles such as field managers, project managers, officers and coordinators from a range of functions including supply chain management; operations; monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL), partnerships, programme development and quality.

The HOP Core training comprises teaching sessions and a desk-based scenario including mentoring and debriefing.

Theoretical sessions led by experts

During the theoretical sessions, participants had the opportunity to enhance their understanding of basic technical knowledge and skills in humanitarian operations.

Immersive learning

The desk-based scenario was a hands-on exercise, allowing participants to apply their newly acquired knowledge in a simulated real-life context.

The HOP Core training was fully-funded by the HLA MENAEE Regional Centre, emphasising its commitment to strengthening capacity and fostering excellence in the humanitarian sector. A team of expert trainers from the Regional Centre led the training together with the Head of the Regional Centre from the recently-formed HLA Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) Regional Centre.

Bdour Ghousheh, Head of the HLA MENAEE Regional Centre said:

“We’re so proud to implement and contextualise the HOP Core programme in Amman, enabling 22 Save the Children staff from seven countries in the region to benefit from this in-person training. There were many significant learning moments during this training! We extend our warmest congratulations to all participants!”

Through the HOP Core programme, the HLA has already trained INGO staff and national partners in nine countries: Uganda, South Sudan, Zambia, Mali, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Bangladesh, Poland and Ukraine. With the latest cohort having completed the programme in MENA, the impact of this training is being realised in a total of 16 countries.

Looking ahead, the HLA MENAEE Regional Centre plans to provide ongoing support and follow-up with the training cohort. Participants were provided with additional resources including the self-paced Humanitarian Operations Fundamentals Programme on the HLA’s open-access digital learning platform Kaya, allowing them to further deepen their knowledge and skills.

I’m really grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of this rich learning experience that has not only contributed to improving my professional knowledge and skills but has also allowed me to meet a group of amazing Save the Children International team members from the whole MENAEE Region and the dedicated trainers of the HLA.

In June, the Organisational Capacity Assessment – Training of Facilitators programme was delivered to representatives of 20 partner organisations in Yemen.

The HLA’s Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe (MENAEE) Regional Centre recently collaborated with Save the Children Yemen to help deliver four days of training to boost facilitation skills.

This training was part of a holistic Organisational Capacity Assessment (OCA) programme for partner organisations in Yemen. It was led by Save the Children Yemen’s Partnership Unit, and supported by the HLA’s MENAEE team based in Jordan who provided expertise through the remote facilitation of sessions.

The bespoke training programme was delivered to 36 participants – including 13 women – who hold a variety of positions in partner organisations including monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) specialists; managers; coordinators and officers representing 20 partner organisations.

Through the training, participants learned how to facilitate and lead the OCA process in their organisations, including the phases and tools used in the Organisational Capacity Development process, and put these skills to the test through a simulation and practice of the OCA tool facilitation.

Through the training, participants learned how to facilitate and lead the OCA process in their organisations, including the phases and tools used in the Organisational Capacity Development process.

This training programme builds on the successes of introductory OCA training sessions held in Yemen, and its objective is to enhance partners’ capacity in organisational development by strengthening their capacity to assess, plan and implement their own organisational capacity development internally – making the process a locally-owned one.

The HLA’s MENAEE Regional Centre and Save the Children Yemen will continue to collaborate to provide guidance and support to partner organisations such as through training provision, coaching and technical support.

Organisational Capacity Development is part of the HLA’s Civil Society Strengthening (CSS) Pillar work – part of the HLA’s commitment to shifting the power.

We support civil society organisations to adapt, own and sustain their capacity development at an individual and organisational level to achieve sustained impact in the humanitarian sector.

Fatima Zureigat, Regional Capacity Building Programme Manager who is leading the HLA Civil Society Strengthening pillar work in the MENAEE region remarked:

“I was very happy and proud to see this training come to fruition as a result of collaborative efforts of the HLA’s MENAEE Regional Centre and Save the Children Yemen Partnerships Unit, as well as fantastic engagement by our partners.

The remote facilitation bolstered the training, bringing expertise into the training room without the need for the time and expense of travel. This enabled us to expedite this essential training which is the foundation stone of the whole Organisational Capacity Development Process. We’re looking forward to progressing this work with partners over the next few months.”

Colleagues from the HLA Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe (MENAEE) Regional Centre were delighted to recently welcome facilitators and participants to Jordan for a one-week Education in Emergencies residential training programme.

Congratulations to the 24 participants who travelled from Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Turkey, Libya, Ukraine and Greece to attend the Education in Emergencies (EiE) training which took place in Amman between 11-17 June 2023.

Participants were from national and international organisations – this year was notable for having a participant from a local NGO in the training cohort.

The cohort was involved in a range of interactive sessions, group work, individual tasks as well as scenario-based training.

The training is part of the EiE Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) – a comprehensive 450-hour blended learning experience accredited by the University of Geneva. It is a sector-facing course targeting mid-senior level EiE and education practitioners working and based in emergency-affected or prone regions. The course aims to help them further develop their EiE design, implementation and leadership skills, as well as their ability to share these with others.

Through the residential, the cohort had the unique opportunity to apply their learning gained across the six course modules to an in-person EiE simulation.

There is one more module to go before this training cohort’s graduation – good luck to everyone in the final stages of the course!

The Advanced course is delivered by the EiE Professional Development Programme teams in HLA’s Regional Centres, in collaboration with EiE technical experts from Save the Children, other supporting organisations, and previous cycle graduates.

Upcoming EiE training opportunity – apply by 5 July

The MENAEE Regional Centre invites applications for the EiE Arabic Fundamentals course in Gaziantep, Syria.

This is a sector-facing Arabic course for education/education in emergencies (EiE) practitioners based in Gaziantep. The facilitated in-person training will take place between 24 – 28 July 2023. The deadline for applications is 5 July 2023.

Learn more about EiE training at the HLA

Our EiE Professional Development Programme (PDP) aims to develop staff with the right skills to deliver timely, high quality Education in Emergencies (EiE).

The HLA Middle East and North Africa Regional Centre has been actively engaging with staff from Syrian organisations through remote-facilitated training sessions including safeguarding and wellbeing.

As part of the HLA’s regional response work following the devastating earthquakes, the Middle East and North Africa Regional Centre has been actively engaging with staff from Syrian organisations through remote-facilitated training sessions.

So far, the training sessions, which have run throughout May 2023, have already reached 69 participants based in the city of Gaziantep.

The participants – among them 29 women and 40 men – are staff from Syrian local organisations from a range of departments and roles including programme managers and officers, safeguarding focal people, and human resources personnel.

Identifying training priorities

The training was planned and established with the support of the Save the Children’s Syria Response Office Partnerships Manager. After consulting with local organisations in Syria, three major topics were identified as top priorities for training: staff wellbeing, mentoring and coaching, and child safeguarding.

Staff wellbeing has been given special attention to provide support to those working hard on the earthquake response efforts. Given the urgency and time-sensitive nature of the crisis response work, mentoring and coaching were identified as crucial training needs to enhance the skills of the staff involved.

Safeguarding is of paramount importance, and this training component helps to assist organisations in effectively integrating new volunteers with limited experience in the humanitarian sector.

By utilising remote training methods, the subject-matter experts from the Regional Centre have been able to establish direct connections with individuals and organisations in Syria. This approach enables them to deliver focused and expert training in an agile and responsive manner.

Remote facilitated sessions provide fantastic flexibility to address a quick on-the-go need for improving the staff capacity, especially in case of an emergency where everything is moving quickly. Our participants from local Syrian organisations were highly engaged in these on-demand initiatives.

Building on the success of these training sessions, the HLA MENA Regional Centre plans to organise follow-up sessions that delve deeper into the identified topics. These sessions will further enhance the capacity and knowledge of participants to contribute to the ongoing recovery efforts.

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Programmes like Tadamon help organisations like Sakeena in their journey towards becoming fully equipped to make lasting change.

In Jordan, lack of ethnic affiliation and clear family lineages can mean isolation from society and living life on the margins, especially for youth and women who have recently graduated from foster homes. When we helped create Tadamon’s learning resource by request of the Islamic Development Bank, we knew that creating resources specifically for the Middle East would deliver localised learning and directly impact lives.

Sakeena is one of 24 civil society organisations (CSO) selected for the Tadamon Interactive Crowdfunding Program – an online training program, hosted on Kaya, aimed to enable civil society organizations to raise funds through crowdfunding.

The resource made of twelve mandatory online modules and one additional module with five instructional videos; will help the selected 24 organisations gain a shared understanding of campaigning for social good within the local ecosystem. The program is not only empowering users with new knowledge but is also driving collaboration and awareness between all 24 organisations who are doing remarkable work in Jordan.

Through Tadamon, we are hoping to expand our impact and influence on a regional level. We want to educate others about the cause of youth and women at risk after foster home graduation, and end the stigma attached to people who were abandoned by their families upon birth, and change the stereotypes and name-calling associated with this human condition. We want to be a youth-led agent of change”

Few of Tadamon’s CSO selection are new to Kaya, the Humanitarian Leadership Academy (HLA)’s platform which hosts the course; however Diana Ishaqat, Communications and Fundraising Manager at Sakeena, has used Kaya before. She reflects, “I have previously used Kaya when I was studying for my Project Management for Development (PMD Pro) so I told my colleagues that if the platform is involved, it will be a user-friendly, easy-to-learn process, since many platforms presented in such opportunities tend to be slow, have unnecessary features, and offer a weak experience for users.”

Using the skills, mentorship and guidance obtained from Tadamon’s program, Sakeena’s goal after completing the Tadamon Learning Program is to raise funds for securing a safe accommodation for recent foster home graduates who find themselves in the streets after graduation, and vulnerable youth and children born to women as a result of sexual violence.

Sakeena is a Jordanian youth-centered, non-profit and non-partisan organization registered formally in Jordan since 2010. The organisation works to ensure that every orphan leaving care homes is an equal member of society who has access to continued care, community, and advocacy for human and civil rights.

Sakeena works to provide basic aid, psychosocial support, skills development, and education focusing on ostracization, homelessness, and proneness to exploitation and abuse towards foster home graduates with severed family ties, generally due to being born outside traditional marriage, and especially to women who have experienced sexual violence and exploitation themselves.

Orphans who leave care homes after graduation and do not find a place to go due to lack of previous real-life preparation, fear, or inability to find a safe location. During this time and afterwards, Sakeena offers them empowerment services and programs.

Diana said, “At Sakeena, we believe that everyone should live free from shaming, and enjoy civil and human rights.”  The team’s efforts to help make this belief a reality in Jordan is well underway, thanks to HLA.

The Humanitarian Leadership Academy through Kaya and HPass supports organisations involved in humanitarian preparedness and response or located in crisis-affected countries with a wide range of platforms, products and services.

In addition to free wide-ranging training content available on Kaya, HLA can also support organisations to curate, create and share high quality learning opportunities that meet the organisation’s or country’s specific requirements.

“I have previously used Kaya when I was studying for my Project Management for Development (PMD Pro) so I told my colleagues that if the platform is involved, it will be a user-friendly, easy-to-learn process, since many platforms presented in such opportunities tend to be slow, have unnecessary features, and offer a weak experience for users.”

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