Changing perspective on gender and security in the humanitarian sector is crucial because traditional approaches often overlook or inadequately address the complex, intersectional risks aid workers face. Initiating this shift allows us to: Recognize Diverse Experiences and Risks; Improve Risk Assessment and Prevention; Support Organizational Duty of Care; Encourage Safer, More Inclusive Work Environments; and Challenge Power Imbalances. A change in perspective is not just about being politically correct—it’s about making humanitarian work safer, more inclusive, and more effective by acknowledging and planning for the real-world risks that different people face based on their gender and identity.

The main course objective is to provide a basic understanding of the significance of gender in security management and the negative consequences for everyone’s safety and security when gender is not considered.

Through interactive learning methods and practical case studies, humanitarian professionals and security managers will examine essential gender concepts, and how gender impacts different aspects of security management, from risk analyses and security policies to incident reporting mechanisms. The course will further delve into how gender and other intersectional considerations are integral to security management, for both individual and organisational security, particularly in fragile deployment environments. Then it will explore how gender can (and should) be mainstreamed into organisations’ security planning. Further, the course will look at how inclusive organisational cultures promote safety and security for all, incl. through safe incident reporting mechanisms and stress and trauma-informed team dynamics.

You are invited to bring your questions and previous experience to the course and exchange ideas with other participants to reflect together on the content taught and use it to assess the gender sensitivity of your organisation’s security policies and practices.

The course is also a recommended complementary module for basic security training, which we offer at aha regularly.

The course would be conducted online on two half days (with a break in between as reflection time).

+++Acknowledging the ongoing global humanitarian funding constraints as well as the fact, that funding for work on gender in humanitarian action has always been limited, the academy for humanitarian action wants to address this issue by reducing the price of this training (from 290 EUR to 200 EUR)+++

+++Staffs and local partners of ADH member organizations are eligible to get reimbursement of the training fee. Please check the respective internal procedure.+++

This course will prepare you for potentially dangerous situations in foreign deployments. By using interactive case studies, you will learn to develop a feeling for dangerous situations and to use preventive measures. You will learn how to react to aggression and violence in a de-escalating way and how to protect yourself in the long term. The basic idea of ​​the training is de-escalation. Furthermore, processing options after stressful events and how to deal with stress in foreign assignments are discussed and reflected, both in terms of personal perception and with regard to the team members concerned.

The course will cover following topics:

Preparation for travelling abroad: arrival at the airport, travelling in the country of assignment, selection of accommodation (e.g. hotels) from a safety perspective.

Behaviour and handling using de-escalation strategies: with criminals, in situations with a latent threat from a weapon, in the event of an acute threat from a stabbing weapon, with people who are highly stressed and prone to violent behaviour, at legal and illegal checkpoints, in the event of an ambush with an assault in a vehicle, against authorities/official representatives of state power

Handling of your own and others' stress in extraordinary situations and of colleagues who are experiencing an acute stressful event.

Knowledge about the types and effects of firearms, mines and hand grenades and about hazard-minimising behaviour in crowds, traffic accidents and pursuits abroad.

In the 3-day course "WASH in Emergencies" you will receive a comprehensive overview on the field of WASH in humanitarian and transitional assistance, technical and non-technical options of intervention as well as specifics and challenges in the WASH sector. The course covers the basics of humanitarian assistance in the WASH sector, including the related humanitarian principles and WASH standards. Approaches and technologies for water, sanitation and hygiene provision in humanitarian crisis settings will be presented and you will discuss WASH-specific project planning approaches and cooperation structures in humanitarian aid. Experienced speakers from the German WASH network and external experts will give technical inputs and contribute up-to-date practical examples to the course.

The training is part of aha's certification scheme and can be credited towards a Certificate of Advanced Studies in "Foundations of Humanitarian Action". Staff of Aktion Deutschland Hilft member organizations can apply for reimbursement of the course fee. Please note: The course language is English or German depending on the participants. Materials will be provided in English. Individual sessions by international speakers may be only feasible in English.