Resilience Library

Eleven Grab Taxi Drivers Equipped with Basic First Aid | 27 December | Bangkok, Thailand
2017-12-27 08:00 - 17:00 (Asia/Krasnoyarsk)
The ninth first aid training was offered to the Grab taxi drivers on 27 December 2017 at the Thanapoom Tower on Petchaburi Road, Bangkok. The six-hour standard basic first aid training was conducted to provide technical support from the facilitation team of the First Aid Training Center, Thai Red Cross Head Quarter.
Eleven Grab taxi drivers (all males) participated in the training. There were six key topics focusing on both technical and practical aspects of the standard basic first aid, including: basic first aid procedures; bandaging of hands, feet, and head; use of arm sling; treatments of wounds, choking, stroke, and heart diseases; cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR); and referral and transportation to hospitals. The training was facilitated by four first aid instructors/specialists from the First Aid Training Center, Thai Red Cross Head Quarter. All the participants received certificates after completion of the training course.
In 2017, there were ten training courses organized by Grab Thailand. In total, there were 216 Grab drivers participating in the training courses.
Additionally, in 2018, Grab Thailand is planning to organize about 4 basic first aid training courses (one training per quarter) with the technical support from the Thai Red Cross (Training Centre for First Aid and Health Care) and the IFRC CCST Bangkok. For further information, please contact Mr. Worawat Thiensuwan, Grab Thailand Coordinator at worawat.th@grabtaxi.com and Dr. Pornsak Khortwong, IFRC Health Officer at pornsak.khortwong@ifrc.org.

Understanding the Legitimacy & Mandate of Malaysian Red Crescent Society | 16-17 December 2017 | Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
2017-12-16 08:00 - 2017-12-17 17:00
Malaysian Red Crescent Society (MRCS) had undergone the Organizational Capacity Assessment & Certification (OCAC) in 2015 and it had positively identified gaps on matters pertaining to policies, the absence of review on regulatory mechanisms, enhance understanding of the legality and the mechanic of administration of the Society at various levels.
MRCS had also completed the organization-wide Branch Organizational Capacity Assessment (BOCA) in 2016 and the trend indicated that there are still some room of improvements on matters pertaining to Emblems, State (Branch) Planning and policies.
Arising from the two assessment, MRCS had organized a Policy Development workshop to formulate policies that were considered as necessary and pertinent to the Society. Since then, the policies had been endorsed by the National Council of the MRCS. Along with this, another bold step was taken to review the MRCS Corporation Rules.
The output of the Policy Development and Review of the MRCS Corporation Rules had been put into effect. Nonetheless, it is unclear how well the contents are understood at state and district level for effective implementation.
On this basis, MRCS is proposing to organize a workshop to provide a better understanding of the legal base and current policies so that officials at all level understand their obligation, roles and responsibilities to function efficiently and effectively as how a humanitarian organization is expected. This is also followed by understanding some of the basic principles of law which would assist the MRCS at state and district level to administer in accordance to the general principles of law, thus ensuring that the principle of humanity is safeguarded.
Workshop Objectives:

To provide officials at governance and senior management at State and District level with a greater understanding of the domestic legal foundation, regulatory mechanism on operational context and other Movement Statutes & Guidance.
To give greater insight on the Red Cross Red Crescent Emblem, including the Third Additional Protocol vis-à-vis the consequences for National Society.
To strongly emphasize and caution on some areas of Conduct in MRCS context.

Workshop Structure & Content:
1. Understanding the Legitimacy and Mandate of MRCS
a. Domestic Legal Foundation
i. Geneva Convention Act – Issues affecting National Society
ii. MRCS Incorporation Act – Corporation Objects & Purposes
iii. MRCS Change of Name Act
b. Regulatory Mechanism on Operational Context
i. MRCS Incorporation Rules (with latest amendment)
ii. MRCS Policies
iii. MRCS Handbooks – Overview
1. Administration & Management
2. Financial Regulations
c. Other Statutes & Guidance
i. Statutes of the International Red Cross & Red Crescent Movement (particular reference to Art 3 & Art 4)
ii. Resolution of International RCRC Conference & General Assembly – implementation in MRCS
iii. RC Fundamental Principles – Principles in Action
iv. NS Auxiliary Status – what does it mean vis-à-vis Objects & Purposes of Corporation

Supporting documents: Tentative programme | Concept note
Powerpoint presentations:

Sources of Legal Mandate and Auxiliary
MRCS Summarized Policies and Natural Justice
Anti-Harassment Guidelines and Offenses against Property
Mistake and Misrepresentation

Resources:
1.Red Cross Red Crescent Movement

55(1) UNGA 1946 Creation of the National Societies
Geneva Conventions 1949
Handbook Red Cross Red Crescent Movement
ICRC Mission & Work
Policy on ICRC Cooperation with National Societies
Seville Agreement
Statutes of the International Red Cross & Red Crescent Movement
Strategy 2020
Malaysian Red Crescent Society Pledges 2015
Statutes of the International Committee of the Red Cross 2018
Internal Regulations of the International Committee of the Red Cross 2018
Federation Policy Review – Status of existing Federation policies and recommended next steps

2. Malaysian Red Crescent Society

Geneva Conventions Act 1962
Malaysian Red Crescent (Incorporation) Act 1965
Malaysian Red Crescent Society (Change of Name) Act 1975
Malaysian Red Crescent Society Constitution 2016
Strategy 2020 [English] [Malay]
Strategy 2020 Plan of Action 2011-2015

2A. Malaysian Red Crescent Society’s Policies
Legal, Gender and Diversity, Planning Monitoring Evaluation and Reporting (PMER), Human Resources, Finance Planning and Budgeting, Communication, Resource Mobilization, Membership Guidelines, Branch Development, Child Protection, Volunteer, and Youth
Handbooks in Malay: Panduan Pentadbiran, Panduan Kewangan, Panduan Pasukan Subsidiari, Panduan Perkhidmatan, Peraturan Pakaian Seragam PBSMM, Regulation of the use of the emblem [in English]
2B. Malaysian Red Crescent Society’s Emblem
3. Conduct and Integrity

Action against sexual harassment at work in Asia and the Pacific
Anti Harassment Guidelines
Child Protection Policy
Contracts Act 1950
Misrepresentation Act 1967
Natural Justice – De Smith & Brazier
Penal Code [Act 574]
Theft Act 1968 and Theft Act 1978

4. Fundamental Principles

The Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
The Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement – Ethics and Tools for Humanitarian Action
Puzzle Exercise

5. Auxiliary Status

Auxiliaries to Public Authorities: Conclusion from the study undertaken by the IFRC
National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies as auxiliaries to the public authorities in the humanitarian field

6. Emblem

Emblem Protection System
Use of the emblem by British Red Cross
ILD Internal Emblem Misuse Process
Emblem Misuse Referral Form
Emblems (Presentation) and (brochure)
Emblems questions and answers
Emblems and logos in communication, marketing and fundraising
Emblem survey sample questions
Emblems – safeguarding their power to protect and preventing misuse
Model law concerning the use and protection of the emblem of the red cross or red crescent
Regulations on the use of the Emblem of the Red Cross or the Red Crescent by the National Societies
Study on the use of emblems

Special thanks to the British Red Cross for sharing some of the references pertaining to the protection of the red cross and red crescent emblems.
Contact information: Saiful Izan bin Nordin, Manager, International Humanitarian Law, Legal and International Relations, Malaysia Red Crescent at ihlmrcs@gmail.com

Violence Prevention Integration into CBHFA Training | 12-14 December 2017 | Kampot, Cambodia
2017-12-12 - 2017-12-14
Gender Based Violence (GBV) is a pressing problem not only because it violates human rights, but also because it poses a challenge to public health and economic and social development.
GBV in Cambodia remains a significant issue and is a result of gender inequality and traditional gender norms existing within Cambodia’s societal structure. Gender inequalities are also reflected in sexual relationship where females are not given equal opportunities in decision making.
Following the research study by the Ministry of Women Affair, the Cambodia Gender Assessment 2014 has shown that out of 417 men 22 percent of them had experience physical violence in the past year and 25 percent had experience physical or sexual violence in their life time. In 2013, out of 1,831 men and women’s violence, it was found that 35 percent of every male partner had use physical or sexual violence against an intimate partner.
Rape and sexual violence is perpetrated by family members, acquaintances and sometime strangers, and it often occurs in home, school, workplace, and in the community. There are limited studies in Cambodia with robust data reported by victims of rape and sexual violence. Rape is typically an under-reported crime.
The Cambodia violence against children survey showed that more than 50 percent of both men and women experience at least one incident of physical violence prior to age 18.
The Cambodian Constitution enshrines the right of all Cambodians to life, personal freedom, and security (article 42), and guarantees that there shall be no physical abuse of any individual (article 38).
Guided by 2011-2020 strategy, the Cambodian Red Cross (CRC) has conducted various initiatives with a focus on (community-based) women’s and children’s health, with an emphasis on giving supports to mother and newborns, and assisting orphans with HIV/AIDs. In addition, CRC has a long history of addressing gender and diversity concern through its vulnerable group assistance programs which provide support to people with disabilities, orphanages, the elderly, people living with HIV/AIDs, and widows.
In order to further promote this gender and diversity initiative, CRC currently builds on existing gender policy, which was enacted since 2003, to be the comprehensive gender and diversity policy through consultative review with technical expert from IFRC, Ministry of Women Affair, and CRC leadership including department directors/deputy directors/managers as well as directors and deputy directors from all 25 CRC branches. The policy was finally endorsed and disseminated to all 25 Red Cross branches during the training of trainer on gender and diversity held in December 2016 last year.
To bring up this initiative forward, and as an auxiliary to the Royal Government of Cambodia, CRC conducted the training on violence prevention integration into CBHFA to selected CRC program staff and branches during 13-14 December 2017 in Kampot Province. The training provided a broader picture of violence root cause, impact, and prevention mechanism to all participants that can be used to mainstream or integrate in their program, branch development work, and in other disseminating activities.
Objective

Build the knowledge/capacity/skill of selected CRC-NHQ/branch/program staff in the field on violence prevention and response module, and ensure participant can train their RC volunteers on how to answer tricky questions and deliver related key message persuasively
Introduce tools/guideline/framework and learn experience/lesson learnt/mechanism related from relevance ministries/organization.
Understand how to effectively mainstream violence prevention and respond into CRC’s programming/activities and identify the opportunities it brings.

Role-playing activity
Supporting documents:

Concept note
Agenda
Training report
Dignity, Access, Participation, and Safety (DAPS) Framework [Khmer version]

Regional Lessons Learned Workshop on DIPECHO Actions in Southeast Asia | 7-8 December 2017 | Bangkok, Thailand
2017-12-07 08:00 - 2017-12-08 17:00
The European Commission’s department for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) has been contributing and investing in DRR and preparedness projects over the last decades both in terms of funding and activities. DG ECHO initiated DIPECHO (Disaster Preparedness ECHO) programme in 1996 with the key goal to increase communities’ resilience and reduce their vulnerability. In turn, communities at risk could be better prepared for and protect themselves against various shocks and stresses, including disasters triggered by natural hazards, conflict, economic crisis etc.
Over the past 20 years, support given by DIPECHO has generated significant impacts in disaster risk reduction and in community-based disaster risk reduction (CBDRR) which resulted in the protection of lives and livelihoods by helping communities and institutions to be better prepared to face disaster risks while promoting disaster preparedness in national and regional frameworks and agendas.
The impact of disasters has changed in Southeast Asia in the past few decades. DIPECHO partners, local community, civil society organizations (CSOs), and national and sub-national governments, including regional institutions have developed various coping capacities. As a result of DIPECHO’s support, significant achievements have been made in disaster risk reduction (DRR) in Southeast Asia in the past 20 years. In this backdrop, a study has been developed to capture the extent of DIPECHO contributions in the evolution of DRR in the region which draws out good practices and achievements as well as challenges and key lessons learned. The study seeks to provide concrete recommendations for future DRR on how various players can continue to improve coping capacity in the government, CSOs, and at the local level, in-line with regional and global frameworks such as the new AADMER Work Plan and in support for the implementation of the Sendai Framework. The study will be presented during this proposed Regional Lessons Learned Workshop of ECHO Partners to be held on 7 to 8 December 2017 in Bangkok, Thailand.

The workshop is expected to generate 2 key outcomes:

Outcome 1: Final list of good practices and achievements as well as related challenges, lessons and gaps in Southeast Asia confirmed and verified by partners.
Outcome 2: Documentation of the recommendations to build on DRR in Southeast Asia, which includes priority actions, advocacy messages and strategies to enhance the investment in DRR in the region.

View and download the supporting documents:

Concept note
Registration form
Agenda
Participant list
Practical information for the participants
Study on two decades of DIPECHO contributions to DRR in Southeast Asia report [pre-final version]
Annex of the Study on the two decades of DIPECHO contributions to DRR in Southeast Asia report [[pre-final version]

For a more interactive page, click here

Trainings of Trainers on Disaster Law | 4-8 December 2017 | Viet Nam
2017-12-04 - 2017-12-08
Disaster Law disseminations continue in Viet Nam
Disaster Law Training of Trainers in Can Tho city, Can Tho Province. Photo by: VNRC HQs
Training of Trainers on Disaster Law in Quy Nhon, Binh Dinh Province. Photo by VNRC HQs
In December 2017, the Viet Nam Red Cross continued to disseminate disaster law to local-level stakeholders and communities through two trainings of trainers held in Can Tho Province in the Mekong Delta on 4-5 December and in Binh Dinh Province (Central Viet Nam) on 7-8 December. The objective of the trainings was to train a pool of Disaster Law facilitators, based on a “fun and participatory” methodology to make disaster law topics accessible to communities.
The training included sessions on disaster law and Vietnam Red Cross law under the tagline of “Know Your Rights, Roles and Responsibilities in Disaster Management.” Participants joined in role-playing exercises and games, including a walk-through scenario developed for the Vietnam context and a jeopardy-style quiz. Lively discussions, laughter and acting talents broke out in the room.
These trainings are part of a wider initiative of the IFRC to support Disaster Law disseminations in Southeast Asia, with funding support from Canadian Government and the Canadian Red Cross. It is expected that the trained participants will roll-out the training modules in their communities, thus contributing to an increase in the general knowledge of the population related to disasters and risk reduction.

Gender and Diversity Approaches to Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment Training | 4-8 December 2017 | Kampong Chhnang | Cambodia
2017-12-04 - 2017-12-08
Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (VCA) is a key assessment process used by the Cambodian Red Cross (CRC) and some of its branches for participatory community assessments. The VCA process allows the CRC to understand people’s exposure to and the needed capacity to be resilient to natural hazards. The VCA also enables local priorities to be identified and appropriate action taken to reduce communities’ risk to disasters. It eventually assists in the design and development of programs, drawing on sustainable solutions from within the community.

Objectives

To assess risks and hazards facing communities and the capacities they have for dealing with them; involve communities, local authorities, and humanitarian and development organizations in the assessment from the outset.
To draw up action plans to prepare for and respond to the identified risks
To identify risk-reduction activities to prevent or lessen the effects of expected hazards, risks and vulnerabilities.

There were 19 participants (10 males and 9 females) from 18 Cambodian Red Cross Provincial Branches. Participants in the training came from a variety of professional background, including from disaster management, health first-aider, and youth adviser.
Supporting documents:

Concept note
Agenda
Report

Gender and Diversity Sensitization in Thai Red Cross's Supervisor Skill Development Training | 4 December 2017 | Thailand
2017-12-04
On 4 December 2017, a two-hour introductory session on Gender and Diversity was conducted at Thai Red Cross’ Supervisor Skill Development (SSD) training by Thai Red Cross Gender Focal Point together with IFRC. The total of 109 staff (five men and 104 women) from different departments in Bangkok and other provinces learned about the key concepts of Gender and Diversity as well as the importance of its programming. The SSD (50-hour) is one of the three management development courses internally organized on a yearly basis by the Human Resources Bureau, with objectives to teach the newly appointed supervisors on the management principles, to build capacity on management method and how to be a supervisor, as well as to create a network to exchange knowledge and experience among them. Initiated by Thai Red Cross endorsed Gender Focal Point, this was the first time that Gender and Diversity was integrated in such fundamental course.

Supporting documents:

Pre/post training tests
Handout 1
Handout 2

Youth in School Safety (YSS) Training of Facilitators | 2-5 December 2017 | Brunei Darussalam
2017-12-02 08:00 - 2017-12-05 17:00
Comprehensive School Safety has been a priority in DRR in Asia since 2006 with the launch of the ISDR global campaign on Safer Schools. It has been an important part of DRR in the education sector, addressing the risk of children in schools and community contexts. Global Comprehensive School Safety Framework requires children and youths to play a specific role in their school safety by guiding teachers and parents to join the school safety in an effective way.
“Youth in School Safety” (YSS) facilitators’ training was designed for youth empowerment at schools to strengthen the bonds between school children and Red Cross youths, teachers and parents in their specific roles in school safety by equipping them with basic knowledge and skills for School Based Disaster Risk Reduction.
The training methodology with a participant-centred, experiential learning approach relies on a non-cognitive methodology, meaning those feelings, experience, or the physical body, rather than intellectual analysis adopted from Youth as Agents of Behavioural Change (YABC) toolkits. It supports youth to analyse the School based Risk which is not only about the disaster but all comprehensive risks such as school bulling, violence, school hygiene and road accident and gain a knowledge and put them in practice by addressing/identifying specific gaps/issues and their root causes in their existing knowledge and practice, giving all possible solutions to such issues by their own, through scenario based games, role-plays, simulation and visualization exercises. In a second phase, Children and youths share experiences with their peers and reflect together and make a ‘from their heart to their mind’ learning journey to become ethical leaders for School Safety.
The training was organized by Brunei Darussalam Red Crescent (BDRC) in a close coordination with the Ministry of Education in an aim to expand this programme to all schools over the country. It was conducted on 2-5 December 2017 in Brunei Darussalam, with the participation of 16 persons (13 female and 3 male).
The event was covered on the Brunei newspaper (Spectrum)
Another coverage on the training by a Brunei newspaper

For more information, see the following documents:

training report
annex 1 (action plan of facilitators)
annex 2 A (group 1)
annex 2 B (group 2)

Cambodian Red Cross Discusses Safe Migration With IFRC | 28 November – 1 December 2017 | Cambodia
2017-11-28 - 2017-12-01
The CRC representatives met with Helen Brunt, IFRC Senior Migration Officer, from 28 November to 1 December 2017 to discuss on migration issues. The meeting was aimed to i) discuss AoF7: Migration with leadership, staff, and volunteers of CRC, including scope for potential IFRC support and National Society peer-to-peer exchanges, ii) meet with key local authorities in Preah Vihear Province and support CRC in their auxiliary role and relationship with the Cambodian Government, and iii) learn more about CRC’s Restoring Family Links (RFL) and ‘safe migration’ awareness-raising activities.
The visit provided IFRC a unique opportunity to experience first-hand activities conducted by CRC related to migration. Since the start of 2017, ‘Safe migration’ messaging has been included in awareness-raising activities primarily focused on RFL and ‘safer rural communities’ in Preah Vihear Province which borders Sisaket Province in Thailand – an initiative supported by ICRC.
This mission to Cambodia also provided the opportunity to meet with leadership of CRC and share updates on IFRC’s Global and Regional Migration Strategies and plans, as well a meet with local government officials and introduce the RCRC Movement’s humanitarian mandate in relation to migration and cross-border movements of people in the Mekong region.

Philippine Red Cross rolls out training on disaster law for Chapters | 27-29 November 2017 | Tacloban, Philippines
2017-11-27 08:00 - 2017-11-29 17:00
Two months after the successful roll-out of the first batch of training of facilitators on Disaster Law in the Philippines in September, 21 Philippine Red Cross volunteers and officers from three local chapters received training on disaster law and advocacy to strengthen PRC’s internal capacity and use these skills for the benefit of the communities that they serve.
The local level Disaster Law Programme orientation and training is part of the Philippine Red Cross Disaster Law Programme’s thrust to capacitate local chapters and communities on disaster law, and serves as an important highlight of PRC’s role as a leading actor of community-based driven advocacy and action in the region.
The strength of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement lies in its people. This is true for Philippine Red Cross, whose strength lies in its vast network of volunteers and chapters around the country, all gearing to bring community voices to the decision-making table.
The training was held from 27-29 November, in Tacloban, Leyte Province. The 21 participants, volunteers and officers coming from Leyte, Cebu and Ormoc Chapters, were selected due to their experience in serving communities severely affected by Typhoon Haiyan and, in the process, relationships that they have built with local government and non-government stakeholders. Some of the trainees were also newly recruited volunteers who have just started
The training used the module developed for the Training of Chapter Facilitators but with more focus on knowledge transfer rather than facilitation skills. Trainees were highly interested in understanding the legal mandate of PRC in the Philippine disaster risk management system, local planning processes, and basic advocacy skills that they can apply at the community level.
The training was supported by the Regional Resilience Initiative, and is the first among a series of Disaster Law trainings that PRC will offer to its Chapters. Lessons learned from this pilot roll-out will feed into the continuous improvement of the disaster law training module in the Philippines.
See the activity report.

Philippine Red Cross steps up service to Filipino migrants through new info system
2017-11-27 08:00 - 17:00
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) has leveled up its services to overseas-based Filipinos through a digital platform that streamlines necessary information before, during, and after their stay abroad.
The PRC, in partnership with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), recently unveiled the Virtual Volunteer (www.virtualvolunteer.org), a web platform that aims to link migrants to the organization’s services, as well as to other institutions that can assist them with their concerns on 27 November 2017.
The Virtual Volunteer serves as the PRC’s response to the need to establish an accessible platform that the 12 million-strong Filipinos, including overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), can access to avoid common difficulties, such as abuse and human trafficking.
“What we want is an immediate relief for people who are in emergency situations and right information can help them avoid falling in situations of abuse, exploitation, or trafficking,” PRC Secretary General Atty. Oscar Palabyab said. “Virtual Volunteer serves as light way to assist individuals before going to a new country and access information once at destination.”
The IBM-powered platform geo-locates users to generate tailored vital information such as existing legislations in their host countries, pre-departure documents and requirements, and contact information of embassies and bodies that provide medical services and legal assistance.
Moreover, the website also makes it easier for migrants to access PRC’s services that tackle migration, such as psychosocial support program, home and school visits, crisis intervention, restoration of family links, and ambulance services.
“Information empowers people and we believe in the power of every person. This approach gives every individual more information and more power to make sound decision, help them avoid difficulties, and ensure that they know their rights wherever they are,” said Christopher Staines, head of IFRC Country Office said.
As the name suggests, anyone connected to the internet can access the Virtual Volunteer via computer or mobile device through any browser.
“Through this web-based platform, migrants will no longer have to download an application to access the Virtual Volunteer, especially in times of emergency,” said Albert Marqueses, Digital Service Line Lead of Philippine Innovation Center, IBM Solutions Delivery. “Working with the IFRC aligns with IBM’s goal of being essential in shaping sustainable and humanitarian agenda.”
The PRC is the first Asian National Society to launch the platform, which has already been beneficial to over 30,000 people in Greece, Sweden, and Italy.

CCST Thailand’s Final Evaluation of School Based Disaster Risk Reduction Program | 27 November – 2 December 2017 | Myanmar
2017-11-27 - 2017-12-02
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Country Cluster Support Team in Thailand conducted a final evaluation on the School Based Disaster Risk Reduction (SBDRR) program in Myanmar during 27 November – 2 December 2017.
Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS) started to implement the SBDRR program in 2012. MRCS received the funding from the Chinese Red Cross (Hong Kong Branch) through the IFRC to implement the SBDRR project in eight schools as a pilot project in three townships — Kyauktan, Thakeda, and Hlaing Tharyar — from 2015 to December 2017. The project objective is to integrate and apply the multi-spectral approach to school safety by addressing issues related to multi-hazards and their impacts through ensuring that both disaster management and health concerns are equally addressed while implementing the SBDRR initiatives to raise the resilience levels among school-going children, teachers, parents, and communities, in order for them to prepare for known threats, act preventively, and respond effectively in times of need.
The purpose of the evaluation is to draw lessons that will be useful for the improvement of the existing and future program implementation. Additionally, the National Societies (NSs) in the region will benefit from the knowledge sharing, and mainstreaming of similar components into their long-term initiatives.
As a result of the evaluation, the project has fulfilled the requirement of all stakeholders and beneficiaries. The facility improvement activity has opened the door for good cooperation on other components. The training content is relevant to the local context and disaster encountered. The improvement on health promotion particularly the personal hygiene and first aid is clearly seen. The good cooperation among stakeholder is also observed. Moreover, this project has strengthened better cooperation among schools and other organisation which could promote sustainability of the project and may lead to interventions in other schools.
In this connection, the IFRC and Myanmar Red Cross Society convey our appreciation to the Chinese Red Cross (Hong Kong Branch) for giving a great opportunity through its funding to IFRC and MRCS in implementing this project.
A first aid competition among schools. Photo by MRCS
Students are washing their hands using renovated water and sanitation facility. Photo by MRCS
A school walk way was elevated to connect two buildings Photo by MRCS

16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence | 25 November – 9 December 2017 | Cambodia
2017-11-25 - 2017-12-09
Several reports show that Cambodian has seen a gradual decrease of domestic violence against women and girls since 2000. However, according to Cambodia Gender Assessment in 2014, there are still number of challenges facing the country in its effort to end gender-based violence (GDV), including but not limited to:

Growing number of reports on rape and sexual violence in the family;
Sexual harassment at workplaces and in communities;
Limited access to social and legal support services to survivors.

Between 25 November to 9 December 2017, CRC conducted activities under the campaign “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” on the topic “Leave No One Behind – End Violence Against Women and Girls.” The expected results and measurements for success include:

At least 30 Red Cross Youths attending the half-day workshop on GBV.
At least 750 youth from four universities attending GBV awareness
At least 200 youth, Red Cross staff, and volunteers attending the 16 Days Campaign for the elimination of violence against women at the Cambodian Red Cross National Head Quarter
Number or people around country to receive GBV information through this media National TV, Newspapers

Number of activities were conducted at four universities, with 872 students participated, from 25 November to 7 December. The activities included a mix of brainstorming, plenary discussion, presentation, and Q&A facilitated by the resource persons from the Ministry of Women Affairs.
On 9 December, CRC conducted a special event at the CRC National Head Quarter with 200 participants including representatives from the Ministry of Women Affairs, CRC leaders, staff, Red Cross youth and Red Cross youth advisors, deans and directors of universities, students, Red Cross partners, and other stakeholders).
Total number of participants attending in the 16 Days Activism was 1,072 participants, of which about 40% are female.

CRC Vice President handed certificate to a participant.
CRC Deputy Secretary General gave a speech.
CRC Vice President gave a speech.
Students from the Royal University of Phnom Penh attending the event.
Students from Cambodian Mekong University
Youth actors participating in the role-playing activity.
Youth actors participating in the role-playing activity.
Supporting Documents:

Report

Gender and Diversity Technical Review Workshop | 21-22 Nov 2017 | Bangkok, Thailand
2017-11-21 08:00 - 2017-11-22 17:00
In April 2014 the IFRC launched the Regional Resilience Initiative (RRI). The Initiative supports eleven Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies (NS) in Southeast Asia and has the goal of reducing the impact of natural disasters on vulnerable communities.
Specifically, the Initiative sought to enhance skills and capacities within NS so they can advocate more strongly at national and regional levels for the needs of men, women, boys, girls and diverse groups in disaster risk reduction. This approach was complemented by the strengthening of regional partnerships, both within Red Cross Red Crescent networks and with key partners such as the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretariat and other bodies.
The Country Cluster Support Team (CCST) in Bangkok is in the process of developing an evidence base to illustrate the RRI Gender and Diversity achievements of your National Society and as part of your participation in the regional gender and diversity (G&D) Network. The Gender and Diversity Technical Review Workshop to which you have been invited is a key part of that process.
The purpose of the workshop is to gather evidence and examples of how the RRI has supported the incorporation of gender and diversity equality/inclusivity into regional DRR policies and/or programmes through the support it has provided to NS and other relevant regional organisations.
The workshop has the following objectives:

To create a baseline and endline that illustrates RRI achievements and progress in relation to Immediate Outcome 1120 – ‘Increased integration of gender equality into national and regional DRR policies and programs’.
To provide G&D Focal Points with the opportunity to create their own personal stories of change related to gender and diversity.

The workshop method will combine storytelling techniques with a Theory of Change approach.
For more information, see the following documents:

Concept note
Agenda
Participant list
Practical information for participants
Presentation on objectives, methods and expected outputs of the workshop
Workshop process notes for participants

Basic First Aid training for Grab taxi drivers | 21 November 2017 | Bangkok
2017-11-21 08:00 - 17:00
A total of 31 (male 30, female 1) Grab taxi drivers were equipped with Basic First Aid in Bangkok on 21 November 2017. This was the ninth Grab taxi drivers training on 6 hours standard basic first aid in Thailand conducted in Thanapoom Tower, Bangkok, with the technical support from the facilitation team of First Aid Training Center of the Thai Red Cross Society National Headquarters.
There were 6 key topics focusing on both technical and practical sessions related to standard basic first aid for 6 hours including basic first aid procedures, bandaging hands, feet, head and arms sling, the wounds, choking, stroke, heart diseases, CPR-cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and referral and transportation to hospitals which were facilitated by four first aid instructors/ specialists from First Aid Training Center. All participants received the certificates after attended the training course.
In 2017, Grab Thailand organized about 10-11 basic first aid training courses in the series with the technical support from Thai Red Cross (Training Centre for First Aid and Health Care) and IFRC CCST Bangkok. For further information, please contact Mr. Chaiwat Chersakul, email: chaiwat.ch@grabtaxi.com and Dr. Pornsak Khortwong, IFRC Health Officer, email: pornsak.khortwong@ifrc.org

Gender and Diversity Refresher Training National Level | 21-22 November 2017 | Cambodia
2017-11-21 - 2017-11-22
The Cambodia Red Cross (CRC) conducted the gender and diversity refresher training during 21-22 November 2017.
Guided by the 2011-2020 Strategy, CRC has conducted various initiatives with a focus on (community-based) women’s and children’s health, with an emphasis on giving support to mothers and newborns, and assisting orphans with HIV/AIDS. In addition to the gender and diversity components of its health portfolio, CRC has a long history of addressing gender and diversity concerns through its Vulnerable Group Assistance program, which provides support to people with disabilities, orphanages, the elderly, people living with HIV/AIDS, and widows. The Vulnerable Group Assistance program is a mechanism for disaster preparedness.
CRC currently has a Gender and Diversity Policy, which was enacted in 2003 and is in the process of review and update. The review process is being conducted by a team consisting of: Head of Organizational Development, Head of Human Resources and the Head of Communications.
During a scoping mission in December 2014, after discussing the needs of a strategic gender and diversity approach to guide all policies, programs and tools with CRC senior management, it was agreed that such an approach is needed by CRC. The Disaster Management department of CRC also agreed that a gender and diversity perspective and an approach to promote gender and diversity equality is needed within CRC. The following recommendations were made: CRC needs to advocate for gender concepts more broadly in society; a standard Gender and Diversity regulation and policy should be integrated across CRC; as auxiliary to the government CRC should encourage the endorsement and implementation of the Gender Policy – CRC should promote awareness of gender within government and help them to promote their policy more widely.

Objectives

To promote gender and diversity Policy among Red Cross Staff, volunteers, and youth in CRC national head quarter (NHQ) and 25 Red Cross provincial branches.
To improve the knowledge and capacity of CRC NHQ/ branch staff in their work to reduce gender and diversity inequality.
To promote the gender and diversity work, engage with other actors as well as establish linkages with other networks.

Supporting documents:

Concept note
Agenda
Report

143 on 143; 20 Days of Advocacy | 14 Nov - 3 Dec 2017 | Philippines
2017-11-14 08:00 - 2017-12-03 17:00
The 143 on 143; 20 Days Advocacy started last November 14 up to December 3, 2017 under HIV and Substance Abuse Prevention (HASAP) Project through support of IFRC. The four implementing chapters (Manila, Pasay, Quezon City and Rizal Chapter) initiate the implementation of the 143 on 143; 20 Days Advocacy in their area of concentration (Selected Site). The Chapters conducted a series of activities in community and school in by disseminating information focusing on HIV and Substance Abuse.
Drug Abuse Prevention Week is celebrated every third week of November pursuant to presidential Proclamation No. 124, dated November 26, 2001, and together with the World AIDS Day taking place on the 1st of December each year, this week provides an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, to show support for the people living with HIV, and to commemorate those who have died from AIDS – related illness.
The Red Cross 143 – CHV and Youth Volunteers will be the frontlines in implementing to school and communities. It provides capacity building activities that will enable implementers strongly advocate on HIV and Substance Abuse, as well as conduct referrals on appropriate agencies and manage coordination activities including establishing linkages on different related sectors.
Through the mobilization of RC 143 volunteers, it aims to reach the community and engage the Philippine Red Cross on its advocacy in spreading awareness and eliminate the social stigma, as well as discrimination among people living with HIV. Furthermore, part of this event that needs to be addressed are cases of substance abuse through the use of injecting drugs and consider as contributing factors in terms of mode of transmission of HIV.

Disaster law training of trainers for Northern Red Cross Chapters of Vietnam | 14-15 November 2017 | Hanoi, Vietnam
2017-11-14 08:00 - 2017-11-15 17:00
On 14-15 November 2017, the second training of trainers (TOT) on disaster law dissemination took place in Hanoi. Thirty-one participants from provincial Red Cross, Women’s Union and Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control (CNDPC) in Northern provinces attended the training. This is the second amongst the four TOTs that will be organized throughout Vietnam in 2017. At the end of the training, participants developed plans on disaster law dissemination in their communities, with some including interactive activities with community members and in collaboration with other agencies such as Women’s Union or CNDPC.

Related links:

First of the series of the training: Disaster law community dissemination training of trainers, 13-14 October, Vinh, Vietnam
Disaster law

PASSA Youth Training of Trainers (ToT) | 6 - 10 November 2017 | Manila, Philippines
2017-11-06 08:00 - 2017-11-10 17:00
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity (HfH), is empowering young people as change agents in the 21st century to build resilient communities through a Participatory Approach for Safe Shelter and Settlements Awareness (PASSA) that aims to develop local capacity to reduce shelter-and settlements-related risk. The IFRC seeks to capitalize on the power of youth collectives and support them to develop skills in joint analysis, learning, and decision-making that will help them to take action in their communities, contributing to the prevention of violence and high social risk in their neighbourhoods. To reach 10,000 young people in 70 cities in 10 countries over the next 3 years a core global team will train regional trainers that will in turn train facilitators who will then run PASSA Youth activities with young participants.
Learning objectives
The general objective of this Training of Trainers (ToT) is to prepare facilitators to disseminate the PASSA Youth methodology so it can be applied in communities in need around the world. This includes project management, technical information about shelter safety, and facilitator’s skills for working with youth while fostering participation, leadership and empowerment.
Trainers will:
✴ Have a thorough understanding of the PASSA Youth methodology.
✴ Experience participatory methodologies and tools.
✴ Participate in the planning of a training.
Supporting documents: PASSA youth flyer | Agenda | Participant list

Training on emergency WASH response and preparedness for Red Cross volunteers | 25-26 Oct 2017 | Champasak Province, Lao PDR
2017-10-25 08:00 - 2017-10-26 17:00
(Photo caption: Handover of AP 700 CL Manpack water treatment equipment to Champasak provincial Red Cross branch, photo by Lao Red Cross)
Muang Pakse District in Champasak Province is located in the southern part of Lao PDR which is disaster-prone, with 112,000 people living in the area. The district is bordered by Salavan Province to the north, Sekong Province to the northeast, Attapeu Province to the east, Cambodia to the south, and Thailand to the west.
This water, sanitation and hygiene promotion in emergencies (E-WASH) training for Red Cross Volunteers (RCV) was organized in two days in Muang Pakse District, Champasak Province, in preparedness of disaster management and risk reduction and health & hygiene promotion in this disaster affected area, from 25 to 26 October 2017.
The objectives of this training are:

To improve the knowledge and skills about water and sanitation related disease in emergency and hygiene promotion of Red Cross Volunteers in four disaster -prone districts and 8 community leaders from the villages located in Muang Pakse District.
To demonstrate water treatment and sanitation, hygiene promotion in emergencies.
To familiarize with technical and practical aspects of the processes of water treatment and ensuring water quality by using AP700 CL Man-Packs and on temporary latrine / permanent latrine constructions during emergencies.
To develop and discuss about E-WASH planning at district and community levels in preparedness and response in emergencies.
To construct one latrine for Pak Klang Primary School with 123 students and 6 teachers.

The training was conducted in two days in Champasak Provincial Red Cross Branch, Muang Pakse, Champasak Province. There were 17 WASH focal persons from 7 districts under the Champasak branch, and 1 WASH focal person of the Ministry of Health were invited to participate in this RCV E-WASH training (Male 6, Female 11).
Lao RC has been receiving funding support from the Japanese Red Cross Society (JRCS) in strengthening emergency WASH capacity since 2016, focusing mainly on Khammuane province including the procurement and prepositioning of two water purification units (one at that province and one at the national headquarters in Vientiane).
In 2017, JRCS continues to support LRC in the same capacity, where LRC has expanded its geographical scope to also include Oudomxay and Champasak Provinces. These targeted provinces are known to be affected by floods on a yearly basis due to its close vicinity to the Mekong river and various tributaries that run along these provinces.
Both training days started with theoretical sessions and table-top exercises, and the second half of both days were mainly focused on practical sessions i.e. installation of the water purification unit Aquaplus AP 700 CL (first day) and construction of a pour-flush toilet (second day).

A variety of training methods were utilised such as use of IEC materials, PowerPoint presentations, videos, group exercises and demonstrations. Pre- and post-tests, as well as evaluations were carried out. (Picture caption: The Red Cross Volunteers checking the turbidity and PH of water after water treatment during the training).
The five key topics of Emergency WASH are: water treatment demonstration by using AP700 CL Man-Packs, hygiene promotion, group work discussion, “Chlorine Water Treatment, Filtration, Chemical Water treatment”, temporary / permanent latrine construction, health education practices using community tool focusing on three diseases and 7 steps of hand washing were highlighted and demonstrated to participants.
The results of True & False pre- test and post- test with 13 questions shown that the participants’ knowledge and skills were significantly increased from 78% to 97% respectively.
Dr Sing Menorath, the Vice President of Lao Red Cross, mentioned that the continuous support for implementing WASH program from IFRC to Laos is really needed because current WASH implementation only reached four provinces. The AP700 CL Man-Packs is very useful in helping the vulnerable people in disaster effected areas.
Suodsakhon Sripandhon, one of the participants, stated that both the practical and theory sessions were very important for all of participants. “These training sessions were totally new for us, water treatment, turbidity measurement, filtration process and health hygiene promotion are very interesting for the trainees, and are very helpful for their communication with villagers and communities.”

Supporting documents:

Agenda [English] [Lao]
Powerpoint presentation: 7 steps of proper handwashing [Lao]
Training summary report

For more information please contact: Dr Bounma Xayasouk, Head of Health Promotion Department, Lao Red Cross Headquarter: bounma_xayasouk@hotmail.com and Dr Pornsak Khortwong, IFRC Bangkok: pornsak.khortwong@ifrc.org

Disaster Law Community Dissemination Training of Trainers | 13-14 Oct 2017 | Vinh, Vietnam
2017-10-13 08:00 - 2017-10-14 17:00
Vietnam: making disaster law accessible and fun for community-level dissemination
Despite flooding across several provinces, and a soaked International Disaster Risk Reduction Day ceremony, Vietnam Red Cross, the Women’s Union and IFRC gathered in Vinh, Nghe An province to participate in the ‘Know Your Rights, Roles and Responsibilities in Disaster Management’ (Know Your 3Rs) 13-14 October 2017. This was the first Training of Trainers (ToT) on Disaster Law Community Dissemination to be held in Vietnam.
The training included sessions on disaster law and Vietnam Red Cross law, it also drew attention to key community messages drawn from Vietnam’s Natural Disaster Prevention and Control Law, which had been developed through a process that included a national and provincial roundtables held in September 2017.
Participants joined in role-playing exercises and games, including a walk-through scenario developed for the Vietnam context and a jeopardy-style quiz. Lively discussions, laughter and acting talents broke out in the room. The various activities are will be modified as appropriate and integrated into existing Red Cross community-level programs.

On day two of the training, the roles were reversed. Participants were invited to design and implement sessions plans on how they would run community programming for rights, roles and responsibilities in disaster management. Facilitators and other participants took on the roles of community members.
At the conclusion of the training, all participants were asked to develop a Plan of Action to incorporate these key messages and activities in existing programmes. Recognising that this training was the first of its kind in Vietnam, the facilitators welcomed feedback on the modules, which will inform the revision and preparation for the three remaining ToT’s to be rolled out by the end of this year. All participants were in strong agreement that increasing community level awareness of 3Rs is crucial to increase resilience to disasters, and must be accompanied with practical information on how community members can exercise their rights and fulfill their responsibilities in disaster management.
To read more about disaster law, click here. For more information, contact Gabrielle Emery at gabrielle.emery@ifrc.org

Technical working group on internal housing, land and property (HLP) strategy draft | 11 October 2017 | the Philippines
2017-10-11 08:00 - 17:00
Housing Land and Property Rights in Disasters: Red Cross Strategy Development in Philippines
Sustainable and meaningful shelter assistance in the humanitarian context is not only about providing a roof over one’s head. It is also about making sure that the assistance places displaced people in a much-improved housing situation than they were originally in or, at the very least, in a position that is not worse off than before they were hit by a disaster. Beyond ensuring safe structural shelter design, a humanitarian organization aiming to achieve this goal will have to consider and be responsive to the basic housing, land and property rights of disaster affected persons.
On 11 October 2017, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) held a technical working group meeting to seek feedback on its draft internal housing, land and property (HLP) strategy. This strategy seeks to guide PRC in its humanitarian shelter and settlement assistance. The contents of the draft strategy are based on inputs received from shelter practitioners’ last year, which identified the need for greater preparedness and advocacy to ensure that disaster affected populations will enjoy similar or increased land tenure security after a disaster, fulfilling their human right to adequate housing.

HLP Partners
The Philippine Red Cross invited its partners, American Red Cross (AmCross) and Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services, Inc. (IDEALS), and listened to their sharing of good practices and lessons learned in the implementation of a legal assistance project for its shelter beneficiaries in Tacloban. This is part of PRC’s Typhoon Haiyan humanitarian assistance initiative in partnership with AmCross. Other partners in the consultation included the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Netherlands Red Cross.

Overview of the PRC HLP Strategy
The draft housing land and property strategy for PRC proposes the following: (1) improving internal PRC processes that will ensure its shelter and settlements programming satisfies the beneficiaries’ right to adequate housing, and is aligned with the Movement’s shelter and settlement aims—i.e. rapid tenure assessment (based on these Guidelines), due diligence, stakeholder mapping, HLP legal referral pathways, and more flexible shelter beneficiary and assistance options; and (2) advocacy for the improvement of external shelter and settlement public policies and ensuring better implementation of these. Once finalized and approved after a feedback process, the internal HLP strategy should be operational at the preparedness, response, and recovery stages of shelter programming. It mostly applies to a natural disaster setting but the working group will look into how this can be integrated in a conflict context.

Lessons Learned from the Legal Assistance Project
The HLP situation in the Philippines, like in many other countries, is complex. This impacts on PRC’s shelter assistance programming. IDEALS presented an informative “national housing snapshot”, and an overview of the land administration and management in the country. These focused on overlapping mandates and conflicting laws, as well as protracted procedural requirements, including the impact of the No Build Zone Policy implemented during the Typhoon Haiyan recovery phase. Given this background, it was inherently difficult to implement the legal assistance for Tacloban shelter beneficiaries. However, after interviewing 1,195 shelter beneficiaries and 261 landowners, the team was able to secure 432 land tenure documents (e.g. lease documents, usufruct agreements, agricultural leasehold contract), which was above the targeted number.
The IDEALS team shared that HLP legal assistance, particularly due diligence and land security interventions, would be best done prior to any humanitarian shelter intervention. They also stressed the importance of engaging with landowners in this type of legal assistance project early on, given that their cooperation will make or break the success of procuring land tenure documents for shelter beneficiaries.
In addition, IDEALS shared its ongoing legal assistance support for the displaced in Marawi City. The armed conflict which had just formally ended has resulted in a high number of internally displaced persons. As part of its humanitarian and development interventions in Marawi, PRC is expected to provide shelter assistance, and the HLP strategy will be able to provide crucial guidance in this.
The lessons learned from the legal assistance project in Tacloban will form part of the legal assistance / referral pathways component of the proposed PRC HLP strategy. The second draft of the strategy will be further reviewed by the Philippines Red Cross technical working group later in the year.

For more information, contact: Gabrielle Emery at gabrielle.emery@ifrc.org

AHA Centre Executive (ACE) Programme 2017 Red Cross Red Crescent Induction | 09-13 October 2017 | Semarang, Indonesia
2017-10-09 08:00 - 2017-10-13 17:00
The AHA Centre Executive (ACE) Programme aims to provide capacity building for professionals from National Disaster Management Offices (NDMOs) of ASEAN Member States who wish to pursue a career in disaster management. It offers select group of NMDO staff the opportunity to further develop their professional knowledge, skills and experience in regional cooperation on disaster management by exposing them to various settings in which they work with and learn from key partners including the United Nations and other international organizations such as the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
The programme also serves as a platform to develop strong inter-governmental network to strengthen regional cooperation. Funded by the Japanese Government and other partners, the programme seeks to generate a pool of disaster management champions across ASEAN. ACE Programme was carried out successfully in 2014, 2015 and 2016, with different sessions held in Indonesia, New Zealand and Japan including a substantial period based within the AHA Centre in Jakarta. The fourth cohort is due to start its training in March 2016.
IFRC has been identified by the AHA Centre as one of the key resource organizations for some modules of the course, given its expertise in international disaster management, emergency shelter, disaster law and logistics.
Supporting documents: Concept note, Agenda, List of resources
Go to this link for more interactive information

Vietnam Red Cross Post-OCAC Prioritization Workshop | 4-5 October 2017 | Hanoi, Vietnam
2017-10-04 08:00 - 2017-10-05 17:00
A strong National Society is the one that is able to deliver country-wide, through a network of volunteer-based units, a relevant service to vulnerable people sustained for as long as needed. To understand their own strengths, weaknesses, and potential within its own context, the National Societies conduct Organizational Capacity Assessment and Certification (OCAC).
Organizational Capacity Assessment and Certification (OCAC) enables National Societies to assess their own capacity and performance so as to determine the best approaches for their self- development, and also to acknowledge those National Societies that have reached a high level of proficiency. Every capacity deficit that is discovered represents an opportunity for further development and growth.
Vietnam Red Cross (VNRC) has carried the Organizational Capacity Assessment and Certification (OCAC) in 2014.
During the VNRC OCAC process, four key priority recommendations were identified:
1. Strengthening organisational planning and monitoring systems
2. Sustainability strategy
3. Community level presence and participation
4. Local chapter and branch government enhancement
Through this second process, VNRC will identify tailor-made organizational development and capacity enhancement approaches and develop their national society development road map 2018-2020 which can contribute the VNRC Strategy 2020 and their future strategies.

Objective and expected outcome of the Workshop
1. To identify the key indicators on the above recommended actions and review their progress and key challenges
2. To develop the road map for the National Society Development 2018-2020 and introduce the BOCA and Resource Mobilization System (RMS).
3. To develop the monitoring and evaluation, and reporting mechanism and its sustainability for the National Society effective work and OCAC follow up.

Supporting documents:

Concept note
Agenda
Report: Post OCAC prioritisation workshop Report 2017 (includes annex 1: Agenda)
Annex 2 of the Report: Key indicators
Annex 3 of the Report: National Society Development roadmap 2018-2020
Annex 4 of the Report: Action plan of 2018
Reference 1: Recommendations from OCAC 2014
Reference 2: OCAC Findings Report 2014

7 Moves to Gender and Diversity Training | 26-28 September 2017 | Yangon, Myanmar
2017-09-26 - 2017-09-28
Twenty four participants in total (nine men and 15 women) participated in the training. The participants came from Myanmar Red Cross (MRCS) First Aid and Safety Services, Human Resources, Health, Organisational Development, Restoring Family Links, and Disaster Management departments respectively. Logistics Officer from MRCS UNHCR funded project participated as well. UNHCR Gender Based Violence Officer took part as an observer.
Background and rationale
National Societies and IFRC have been working to ensure gender and diversity is mainstreamed and fully integrated within their programming, plans, policies, tools, branch and volunteering development and is approached in a more systematic and strategic way. A number of significant developments have taken place in the region with National Societies being actively engaged in the development of gender and diversity policies, organizational self-assessments, training, the development of tools based on the Minimum Standard Commitments to gender and diversity in emergency programming, as well as integrating gender and diversity into longer term planning.
Training objectives

Increase knowledge on gender and diversity concepts and how the approach is linked with the 7 Fundamental Principles of the Movement.
Build confidence in articulating the reasons for implementing gender-and diversity-sensitive programming and some practical ways to achieve it
Increase capacity of participants to understand the importance of the practical application of gender and diversity (e.g. gender and diversity analysis and mainstreaming in our emergency work)
Build confidence in the making practical use of tools (Minimum Standard Commitments to gender and diversity in emergency programming – MSCs)
Develop a plan of action based on the draft gender and diversity policy and strategic plan 2016-2020 of the Myanmar Red Cross, and understand the roles and responsibilities of participants in the next steps of its implementation.

Supporting documents

Training report

14th Annual South-East Asia Red Cross Red Crescent Leadership Meeting 2017 | 21-22 September 2017 | Hanoi, Vietnam
2017-09-21 08:00 - 2017-09-22 17:00
The 14th Annual Southeast Asia Red Cross Red Crescent Leadership Meeting will be hosted in Hanoi, Viet Nam, from 21 to 22 September 2016, under the hospitality of Viet Nam Red Cross Society.
The leadership meeting is an important opportunity for presidents, secretaries, general and senior management in the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement to evaluate challenges, successes and future direction, as a way of further strengthening the world’s largest humanitarian network.
For more information and documents, refer to this page.

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion in Emergencies (E-WASH) Training | 20-22 and 25-26 Sep 2017 | Oudomxay Province, Laos
2017-09-20 08:00 - 2017-09-26 17:00
Oudomxay Province is located in the northern part and borders with China, with the population of 307,600 populations. In August 2016, the torrential heavy rain has triggered flood and flash flood in this area and affected at least 5,000 people. The flood has submerged several villages in Muang Xay, Pak Bang, Muang La, and Muang Houn Districts.
A Training of trainers (TOT) on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Promotion in Emergencies (E-WASH) was organized in Oudomxay Province on 20-22 Sep 2017 for Lao Red Cross WASH focal staff in preparedness of disaster management and risk reduction, health and hygiene promotion in this disaster affected area. This training is followed by the training on Emergency WASH response and preparedness for Lao Red Cross Volunteers, 25-26 Sep 2017 in Houn District, Oudomxay Province.
The objectives of the trainings:

To improve the knowledge and skills about water and hygiene related diseases of Red Cross Health personnel in 9 red cross provinces in the northern Lao PDR.
To demonstrate the drinking water quality, water treatment and sanitation, hygiene promotion in emergencies.
To be familiar with technical and practical on the processes of water treatment and water quality by using AP700 Man-Packs and practical on temporary emergency latrine / permanent latrine constructions during emergencies.
To develop and discuss about E-WASH Planning at provincial and district levels in preparedness and response in emergencies.

These two trainings were the second batch after Khammoune Province in March 2017 for the Emergency WASH activities conducted by Health Promotion Department, Lao Red Cross and IFRC Bangkok office. The trainings focused on the key technical and practical sessions. The AP700 Man-Packs will be placed in Oudomxay Provincial Red Cross Branch to support for emergency responses for 9 provinces located in the northern part of Lao PDR.
View the training documents:

Training objectives
Water, sanitation and hygiene promotion (WASH) in emergencies
Household water treatment and safe storage in emergencies
Sphere standards and indicators on WASH

Final report of the activities:

Report of the Training of trainers (TOT) on Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Promotion in Emergencies (E-WASH)
Report of the Emergency WASH response and preparedness for Lao Red Cross Volunteers

For more information please contact: Dr Bounma Xayasouk, Head of Health Promotion Department, Lao Red Cross Headquarter: bounma_xayasouk@hotmail.com and Dr Pornsak Khortwong, IFRC Bangkok: pornsak.khortwong@ifrc.org

Philippines Disaster Law Training for Philippine Red Cross Chapters | 20-22 September 2017 | Philippines
2017-09-20 08:00 - 2017-09-22 17:00
The Philippine Red Cross, in partnership with the IFRC, recently concluded a training of Chapter facilitators on disaster law in the Philippines. This was made possible through the Regional Resilience Initiative (RRI) funded by Global Affairs Canada through Canadian Red Cross.
Philippine Red Cross Chapter Administrators and technical staff coming from 20 Chapters across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao were provided an orientation on disaster law basics and facilitation tools and skills to carry out the orientation.
Training participants were selected based on their knowledge of basic disaster risk management (DRM) concepts and principles, relevant experience in community-level work, and regular interaction with local government stakeholders and DRM institutions such as Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (LDRRMC). The trainees are expected to be the first pool of local Chapter officers who will have the skills to facilitate local level disaster law trainings to communities in the future, so they are better equipped to exercise their rights, roles and responsibilities prior and during disasters.
Keeping communities at the center
The training not only touched on the basics of advocacy and humanitarian diplomacy, but also cross-cutting disaster law themes, and other successful advocacy strategies implemented at the local level. During the training, information was shared by resource persons from IFRC as well as key departments of Philippines Red Cross, including Health Services, Welfare Services, and Disaster Management Services. The Office of Civil Defense, Department of Interior and Local Government, CARE Philippines (Partners for Resilience), and Ateneo de Manila University Development Studies Programme also shared insights with participants.
This approach forms part of a new approach to ensure disaster law is more accessible, known and understood at community level. It focuses on 3Rs — rights, roles and responsibilities — in disaster risk management law. With their wide network of staff and community volunteers, Red Cross Chapters have the opportunity to carry out this work at the community level and, vice versa, to bring community voices in the decision-making table.
The first day focused on basic domestic legal and policy documents covering the four pillars of DRM — disaster prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. It also included a discussion of cross-cutting themes in disaster law, such as the Dignity, Access, Participation and Safety (DAPS) Framework, gender and diversity, disability inclusion, special laws on the protection of women and children and disasters, and integrated risk management. From these concept-based lectures, the training progressed towards local level DRM planning guidelines and basic advocacy skills, tools that will enable training participants to apply their knowledge in disaster law in influencing community-level DRM programmes and advocacies.
One of the highlights of the training was the interactive simulation of the “3Rs Lego Game”, where participants used Lego picture cards to identify the respective rights, roles and responsibilities of stakeholders in a disaster response setting like Typhoon Haiyan. Another highlight was the “advocacy elevator pitch” exercise, an interactive session that allowed participants to role play as advocates and practice their skills at quick but effective advocacy messaging.
The dissemination of rights, roles and responsibilities under disaster law frameworks serves as an important highlight of Philippines Red Cross role as a leading actor of community-based driven advocacy and action nationally and in Southeast Asia.
The local level disaster law course is scheduled to be rolled out by the trained facilitators with assistance from PRC NHQ this October in their respective chapters. The recently published IEC (Information, Education, and Communication) brochure on Disaster Law Key Messages for Inclusive Community Participation, will also be used and distributed during the training.
See Report of the training, annex 1, annex 2 and annex 3.

Grab taxi drivers training on basic first aid | 19 September 2017 | Bangkok, Thailand
2017-09-19 08:00 - 17:00
This was the seventh Grab taxi drivers training on 6 hours standard basic first aid in Thailand conducted on 19 September 2017 in The Palazzo Hotel, Ratchadapisek Road, Huay Kwang, Bangkok. The training was held with the technical support from the First Aid Training Center, Thai Red Cross Headquarter.
A total of 18 Grab taxi drivers participated in the basic first aid training. There were 6 key topics focusing on both technical and practical sessions related to standard basic first aid for 6 hours including basic first aid procedures, bandaging hands, feet, head and arms sling, the wounds, choking, stroke, heart diseases, CPR-cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and referral and transportation to hospitals which were facilitated by four first aid instructors/ specialists from First Aid Training Center, Thai Red Cross Headquarter. All participants received the certificates after completing the training course.
In 2017, Grab Thailand will organize about 11-12 basic first aid training courses in the series with the technical support from Thai Red Cross (Training Centre for First Aid and Health Care) and IFRC CCST Bangkok. For more information, please contact Mr. Niwattana Assawarakse, email: niwattana.as@grabtaxi.com and Dr. Pornsak Khortwong, IFRC Health Officer, email: pornsak.khortwong@ifrc.org

Gender and Diversity Mainstreaming in Vulnerability and Community-based Capacity Assessment (VCA) Guidance of the Vietnam Red Cross
2017-09-19 08:00 - 17:00
The Vietnam Red Cross (VNRC) held the workshop “Gender and Diversity Mainstreaming in Vulnerability and Community-based Capacity Assessment (VCA) Guidance of the Vietnam Red Cross” on 19 September 2017, with the technical and financial support from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the French Red Cross (FRC), the American Red Cross and the French Development Agency (AFD). This activity was a part of the “Gender-sensitive community-based disaster risk management project in ethnic minority areas of North-West Vietnam” implemented in Son La and Lai Chau between April 2014 and September 2017.
The VCA guidelines list and describe the different steps that are to be followed to assess a community’s vulnerability and capacity towards disasters, in order to engage the community and related organizations into disaster prevention and preparedness activities. This document was developed and applied by the VNRC in 1997 and updated in 2016. In 2014, the government of Vietnam adapted the VCA methodology to develop the Community-Based Disaster Risk Assessment methodology (CBDRA) and issued Decree 1002 on awareness raising and community-based disaster risk management (CBDRM).
While these VCA guidelines have been highly appreciated and widely used it has clearly lacked consideration for Gender and Diversity (G&D). It is well-established that women, men, boys, girls, people with disability and people belonging to diverse ethnic, social, cultural, economic and religious groups may have different level of vulnerability and capacity towards disasters. A Gender-and-Diversity-sensitive and inclusive VCA will help us understand and address the specific needs, capacities and priorities of each group in a comprehensive way and ensure that no one is neglected. Gender and Diversity play a vital role in achieving VCA’s goals, improving disaster response capacities of all specific groups and all the community.
“When I conducted assessments in remote areas, I realized that women’s roles had been overlooked. The integration of Gender and Diversity in VCA will help us recognize women’s roles and understand the diversity of our target groups. We will know how women, men and people from diverse groups are affected differently by a disaster. Then we will have more suitable solutions and we won’t miss anyone.” – Mrs. Nguyen Phuong Mai, Son La Red Cross, VCA facilitator.
The workshop was attended by many Gender and Diversity, and DRR experts
Contributing to the workshop were VCA facilitators, and Gender and Diversity and Disaster Risk Reduction experts from government and non-government organizations such as the Red Cross Branches of Lao Cai, Son La, Lai Chau, Thanh Hoa, Quang Tri; General Department of Disaster Management; Vietnam Women’s Union, Vietnam Red Cross, French Red Cross, American Red Cross, and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
Based on the IFRC “Gender-and-diversity-sensitive Vulnerability Capacity Assessment Guidance Note” and “Minimum Standard Commitments to Gender and Diversity”, the workshop collected ideas to integrate Gender and Diversity into VNRC’s VCA process.
“These tools introduced by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are very interesting. However, it should be adapted to suit Vietnamese context and culture and support VCA facilitators – those who will use it – in collecting data. Moreover, it should make local people feel comfortable to demonstrate their skills and knowledge and encourage their participation in the assessment.” – Mr. Do Quoc Anh, Officer, Vietnam Women’s Union.
Mr. Tran Si Pha, Deputy Director, Disaster Management Department, Vietnam Red Cross (VNRC) considered the experience of local VCA facilitators as a vital factor in maximizing the guidance’s effectiveness and achieving its’ goals for community.
“This guidance is an important tool, but it also depends on the facilitator’s skills and those skills do not simply come from training. Those skills are your own.” – Mr. Tran Si Pha, Deputy Direct, Disaster Management Department, Vietnam Red Cross.
Mr. Pha also stated after this workshop that the VNRC will finalize the guidelines based on the ideas presented and discussed at the workshop, and will organize (tentatively in November 2017) a training of the VCA facilitators based on the updated (G&D-inclusive) VCA guidelines.

Written by Hoang Huyen, Communications Officer, the French Red Cross in Vietnam
