Course Content:
This course is divided into two units.
Unit One examines the basic need for and constraints to the coordination of international humanitarian response. It provides an overview of many of the current key actors in the 'international humanitarian system' and explains their mandates and operational norms for interacting with other organizations. Several of the existing coordination arrangements established within the UN system and among other actors are also examined.
Chapter 1: International Humanitarian Coordination - Benefits and Barriers
illustrates the need for greater and more efficient coordination. It also describes some of the common barriers to achieving coordination and proposes some methods to overcome them.
Chapter 2: Who Is Involved?
provides an overview of the key players in the international humanitarian response system and highlights some of their recent roles in coordination.
Chapter 3: Existing Coordination Structures
reviews some of the "standard" coordination arrangements within the system.
Unit Two is a more personalized approach to coordination that is designed to help you, regardless of your job description or role in an emergency response, help to coordinate the overall response in a better and more efficient way. Advice is provided in practical analysis of existing coordination arrangements, personal listening and facilitation skills, meeting planning and management, and a look at some of the elesson learnedf from previous coordination experiences.
Chapter 4: A Framework for Analysis of Coordination
guides the reader through the systematic analysis of coordination initiatives using 5 key factors that affect their efficiency.
Chapter 5: Practices, Skills and Tools for Better Coordination
presents a motivational approach to improving coordination along with a concise primer on better listening and facilitation skills.
Chapter 6: Making the Most of Coordination Meetings
provides guidance and tools for running better coordination meetings that will have a more positive influence on the humanitarian operation.
Chapter 7: Ten Ideas That Work
reviews a compilation of 10 important elessons learnedf about coordination and the ideas behind them.
