Anticipatory action seeks to reduce the negative impacts of disasters by providing assistance to populations before predicted crises. It means acting prior to the onset of predictable hazards and, thus, aiming at reducing their impact and overall reducing human suffering and losses. It has only been a few years since humanitarian agencies started to develop systems to take action based on forecasts and risk analysis. Hence, you will be introduced to the overall concept of Anticipatory Action. However, the focus of this course will be on geoinformation.

The use of geodata in (anticipatory) humanitarian action has great potential. This course teaches the most important applications of geospatial data in humanitarian action. You will get an overview of existing data sources, including user-generated data such as OpenStreetMap. You will learn how to use this data systematically, with a particular focus on the use of geospatial data in the context of risk analysis in order to provide needs-based and anticipatory humanitarian assistance. Within this module, you will learn the basics of using the open-source software QGIS.

The training is part of aha's certification scheme and can be credited towards a Certificate of Advanced Studies in "Anticipatory Humanitarian Action". The course will take place online in January 2022 and includes regular breaks.

Complementary to the course "Basics of Humanitarian Action", this course focuses on the international humanitarian system and its actors. You will get a comprehensive overview of the most important actors, coordination mechanisms and financial structures in the humanitarian system. Together, we will look at the key developments of recent years and the challenges that shape the future of the humanitarian system. By dealing with concrete case studies and scenarios, you will be prepared in the best possible way for a commitment in the exciting field of humanitarian action.

Together with the course “Basics of Humanitarian Action”, this course forms a self-contained unit as a starter package into humanitarian action. Participation in both courses is therefore highly recommended. The training is part of aha's certification scheme and can be credited towards a Certificate of Advanced Studies in "Foundations of Humanitarian Action“. The course is planned as an online training on 1, 3, and 8 February and includes regular breaks. Further details on registration will follow shortly via the aha-Newsletter.

The protection of personal data contributes essentially to the safety and dignity of people affected by conflict or catastrophes. Humanitarian agencies working in those contexts have to ensure a safe collection, usage and transfer of sensitive data during their activities. This training will focus on humanitarian operations/program data. Data managed by NGOs for their fundraising, HR, finance activities will not be discussed.

In this training, you will develop a good understanding of key concepts of data protection, the General Data Protection Regulation and data protection principles applied to operations in the humanitarian sector. You will be able to evaluate your own organizations in terms of responsible data. The trainers will share tools and methods that can be used to improve data security. After the seminar individual coaching sessions are offered.

The training is planned as an online training and includes regular breaks. It consists of six online sessions and a follow-up session a few weeks after the main sessions (22 March).