Learning from disaster Andy Featherstone 27 March, IFRC, Geneva - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Learning from disaster

Andy Featherstone 27 March, IFRC, Geneva

Purpose of the study

To explore the ways NDMAs and other state actors learn about and improve their humanitarian response activities with a view to identifying:

• Current practices
• Challenges that exist
• How collaboration has helped overcome these

challenges

Approach

• The research builds
• n ALNAP’s ongoing

engagement with NDMAs

• Participation of 5 NDMAs and input from

representatives of international organisations and regional institutions

• Extensive web-based literature review with a

focus on NDMA websites

Context

• Engagement of international organisations is

dependent on the states willingness and capacity to respond

• The international humanitarian system has a

poor track record of engaging with the state but efforts are being taken to address this

• The state has responsibility

to respond to humanitarian crises

Cycle of Learning

Generating knowledge

NDMA approaches

• After action reviews and evaluations ,

formal and informal reflections and simulations Areas of collaboration  After action reviews, simulations  Evaluation

NDMA approaches

• Capacity assessments and online knowledge

repositories Areas of collaboration  Capacity assessment, knowledge repositories

Organising knowledge

Sharing knowledge

NDMA approaches

• Staff capacity development,

peer learning, Disaster Management Institutes, guidelines, codes of conduct and minimum standards Areas of collaboration  Staff capacity development, peer learning

Enablers & inhibitors

• f learning

Inhibitors

• Lack of resources
• Competition for influence
• Prioritisation of short-term planning horizons

Enablers

• Continuity of support
• Shared agendas and trust
• ‘windows of opportunity’ and profile

Recommendations for NDMAs

• Strengthen capacity for and

uptake of after action reviews and evaluation

• Use the post-disaster window
• f opportunity to for legislative

change

• Use learning outputs to

increase NDMA profile within government

• Engage in peer support with
• ther NDMAs

Recommendations for others

• Strengthen links between NDMAs and the

international humanitarian system

• Promote joint humanitarian evaluation
• Establish long-term strategic partnerships that

develop capacity and enhance visibility

• Learn from holistic, multi-stakeholder

approaches to institutional strengthening of NDMAs

Q& A session

• Political difficulty of learning process for governments.

We need to find a way to learn without political risk (from OXFAM)

• Role of regional organisations, in particular ASEAN in

learning and training? (Swiss mission)

• Any study to understand difficult relationship between

governments and international actors? (Intersos)

• New obligation to conduct 9 to 12 months evaluation

for any disaster above level 3 (from IASC Secretariat)

• Let’s learn together rather than point out each other to

learn (SCHR)

• Any tool to quantify results of evaluation? (Libya

mission)

Thank you