Who are the Humanitarian Professionals?

1

• Who are the Humanitarian Professionals?
• What is certification? Why bother?
• Core Competences. What are they?
• Improving the fit with universities
• Why is the creation of an IHPA the priority
  starting point?
• Summary of the recommendations included in the
  report

2
Demographics
All Workers 595,000. Relief Workers
210,800. 6 pa growth
P 11
3
Oxfam GB Employees
P15
4
595,000 aid workers
P 15
5
Where are they from?
P 5
6
Slide to be uploaded
7
Definitions

• Certificate
• Official document recording a particular fact,
  event or level of achievement different in US
  from UK.
• Certification
• A declaration of an individuals professional
  competence, based on passing a voluntary
  assessment created by the professional group in
  which the person works.
• Accreditation
• A process of external quality review used by
  those bodies that approve the orgs that provide
  certification

P 62
8
Certification Routes

• Curriculum-based
• Completion of subject-based professional
  education
• Competency-based
• Demonstrate mastery of a common body of knowledge
  through examinations, education and experience
• Portfolio-based (Accreditation of Prior
  Learning)
• Extensive documentation. Show competencies are
  covered through education and/or experience

P 41
9
Certificates
Accredited by whom?
Core curriculum developed by whom?
Certified by whom
Training groups, accredited trainers
Recognised Certificate
Training
Curriculum Competency Portfolio
Certified Professional
P 47
10
Certified Training

• Level 1 Basic need to know (Entry)
• Level 2 Project management (1-2 years)
• Level 3 Country Manager (5 years)
• Masters level degree

11
Existing initiatives

• Humanitarian Competencies Project (HCP), WVI
• IFRC Field School Training module
• CARE
• BIOFORCE
• SCF
• HLA/CILT/LLA/Fritz
• HPCR/PHAP
• InterAction/INSSA
• LINGOS/PM4NGOs
• RedR
• UNDP

P 22
12
History
13
Core Competencies Skills and Behaviours
Managing Yourself
Working with Others
Achieving Results
Using Resources
P 34
14
Core Competencies Skills and Behaviours

• Managing Yourself
• Resilience

15
Core Competencies Skills and Behaviours

• Working with Others
• Cultural Sensitivity

16
Core Competencies Skills and Behaviours

• Achieving Results
• Assessing Needs

17
Core Competencies Skills and Behaviours

• Using Resources
• Managing technology

18
Core Competencies Knowledge

• Livelihoods, gender, protection and other
  cross-cutting issues.
• The structure of the humanitarian sector
• International humanitarian law
• Quality assurance mechanisms
• Safety and security issues
• Humanitarian mandates and principles

19
University Masters degrees

• Liverpool/Bioforce
• Oxford Brookes
• The University of Leicester
• University of East Anglia
• University of Hertfordshire UK
• University of Salford
• London University
• University of Glamorgan

• Vilnius University
• Noha Universities across Europe
• Australian National University
• University of New South Wales
• Deakin University
• Royal Roads University
• Tufts University

20
Age of degree programmes
21
Average annual enrolment
22
First choice course

Managing people and organisations
Theories of Risk Crisis
Contemporary World Development
Integrated Emergency Management and Resilience
Principles of Disaster Mitigation and Reconstruction (30 credits)
Social Impact Studies in the Project Cycle (12 Units)
The Economic Development Record
Personal Preparedness for Disasters
Foundations of Human Security and Peace-building
Disaster and Emergency Management in Theory
Complex Emergencies
P 27
23
Humanitarian standard for masters degrees
Public Health
IHL
Project Management
Human Rights
24
An Academic Study Association

• Forum for core competencies
• Push the research
• Internationalize the field
• http//www.ihsa.info

25
Which type of associations below do you think are
the most important to establish?
26
A Humanitarian Professionals Association

• Of, for and by the people
• Sets standards
• Certifies members
• Can expel members
• Is independent

27
Employer Recognition

• Sponsoring employers
• Encourage certification
• Require certification?
• Ensures transferability of skills between
  organisations

28
What might the system look like?
National Spin off
3
2
5
6
1
Professional Association
Accredited training groups
Trainer accreditation
4
7
Certified training
Criteria for membership
8
Employers
P 55
29
Proposal Summary

• Professional Association
• Certified Training
• Certification Routes
• Core Competencies
• Accredited Trainers
• Academic Association
• Core Curriculum
• Employer Recognition