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IIRR Joins Training of Trainers on Sphere Disaster Response
The International Institute of Rural Reconstruction-DRR Program of the Regional Center for Asia recently joined the Training of Trainers (TOT) on Sphere, held last August 23-28, 2010, at the YC James Yen Center, IIRR, Silang, Cavite. The TOT was part of the Sphere project and was organized by the Lutheran World Relief and the Church World Service.
Sphere Project was an initiative that was launched in 1997 by a group of humanitarian NGOs and the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement, which framed a Humanitarian Charter and identified Minimum Standards to be attained in disaster assistance in each of five key sectors (water supply and sanitation, nutrition, food aid, shelter and health services). Sphere is also a handbook, a broad process of collaboration and an expression of commitment to quality and accountability.
Fifteen participants coming from 12 organizations in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao including a participant from Pakistan took part of the training.
Aside from IIRR, other organizations that took part in the training were Lutheran World Relief, Plan International, Heifer International, Department of Education, International Organization for Migration, Regional Disaster Coordinating Council-Region XI, Center for Empowerment and Resource Development, Lanao Aquatic and Marine Fisheries Center for Community Development, Inc., Oblates of Notre Dame-Hesed and Church World Service.
The 6 day TOT provided the participants various training methodologies that are focused on the technical chapters of the Sphere Handbook like minimum standards on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion (WASH); Food Security, Nutrition and Food Aid; Shelter, Settlement and Non-Food Items; Health Services and Disaster Preparedness.
The participants also gave mini sessions on the history of the Sphere Project, Humanitarian Charter, Code of Conduct on humanitarian work and disaster response and Cross Cutting Issues.
A full 45 minute group session was assigned to the participants that focused on the 4 technical chapters of the Sphere Handbook including disaster preparedness.
A Round Table Discussion was also organized during the 3rd day of the TOT with visitors coming from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and representatives from the US Headquarters of Lutheran World Relief. The RTD discussed some current initiatives of the different participating organizations working on disaster response. Issues and gaps in implementation of the disaster response were also discussed.
IIRR sits in the Technical Working Group on Sphere together with Lutheran World Relief, Heifer Philippines and Department of Education.
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