VOICES OF THE AMERICAS AND THE CARIBBEAN DECEMBER 2019
CONTENT PRUDENCE AND FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES 3 STATUTORY MEETINGS 4 100 YEARS 100 IDEAS 5 BHUTAN AND MARSHALL ISLANDS ARE WELCOMED INTO THE FAMILY 6 STRATEGY 2030 7 LIVE #RCRCC2019 8 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 9 COP25 12 PHIE WORKSHOP 13 11TH COMPREHENSIVE DISASTER MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE 13 STORIES OF HURRICANE DORIAN 15 HELPING HERDERS PREVENT THEIR ALPACAS FROM DYING 15 THANKFUL TO BE ALIVE 16 PREPARATION EXERCISE IN CASE OF ASH FALL IN COTOPAXI (SPANISH) 17 YOUTH IN ACTION AWARD - COSTA RICA 18 A DAY AT LA HORMIGA - COLOMBIA 19 CUERDA FIRME: TRANSFORMING LIVES THROUGH ART 20 ACTIVITIES SUMMARY 2019 CREPD 22 REGIONAL INTERVENTION TEAMS TRAINING 24
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Americas Regional Office City of Knowledge, Clayton. Panama. Tel. +507 317 3050 Many thanks to all who have contributed to this issue of Voices of the Americas and the Caribbean.
PRUDENCE AND FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES I would like to invite you to a necessary reflection at a time when the Red Cross in America faces an increasingly common context from a social and political point of view. In moments of such confusion it is when we must adhere to our Fundamental Principles and Code of Ethics, which are the documents that shape our action and strengthen the access and trust that communities place in our organization. We must especially protect the principles of Humanity, Unity and Volunteering under the faithful fulfilment of Neutrality, Independence and Impartiality. In recent weeks we have noticed with concern the dissemination of messages whose content is not aligned with the fundamental principles, this can generate serious problems of security, access and question our impartiality, neutrality and independence. I would like to make a respectful call to all members of the Movement to redouble their efforts and avoid messages that can be seen as a participation in politics, ideological and / or religious position that affect our reputation, credibility, security and access. We have faced difficult situations given these practices by some volunteers, directors and officials who have not respected these principles. I would particularly like to emphasise the principle of neutrality, which obliges us not to participate in discussions or debates that are of political or religious interest. This principle protects us as individuals and protects our Movement. I invite you to take measures to remedy these situations by proceeding to indicate and alert, in private, to the person (s) who are spreading messages of this type to correct your procedure.
Walter Cotte W.
Americas Regional Director
STATUTORY MEETINGS From 4 to 12 December 2019, the Statutory Meetings of the Red Cross and Red Crescent will brought together National Societies leaders from virtually every country in the world, as well as the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Member States in Geneva, Switzerland to discuss and tackle today’s most pressing humanitarian issues, as well as set the future direction of our Movement. For more information visit: https://rcrcconference.org/
VOICES OF THE AMERICAS AND THE CARIBBEAN • dECEMBER 2019
100 YEARS 100 IDEAS: YOUNG WINNERS RECEIVE STRONG SUPPORT
Every one of the 100 Years 100 Ideas finalists was a winner after a staggering 140 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies stepped up to pledge their support for all six projects showcased during the General Assembly. A proposal developed by a young humanitarian from Kenya Red Cross attracted the largest percentage of votes, but all of the young innovators who pitched their ideas received strong support from General Assembly delegates. Mr Samuel Ouma Mijwanga of Kenya Red Cross pitched a proposal called “Training Refugee Health Workers”. This programme is designed to help refugees improve their self-reliance and the resilience of their community by giving them the skills they need to become health service providers. Ms Diana Lopez and Mr Esteban Pachon of Colombia Red Cross presented a proposal to use artistic approaches to reaching youth on issues of violence and inequality; Mr Ibrahim ElGehani of Libyan Red Crescent proposed a way to reach disengaged students and promote service-learning approaches linked to university curricula; Ms Jane Shapiro of American Red Cross had a proposal for a digital platform where youth volunteers can propose and outline projects they want to work on with their National Society; Mr Muazzam Shah of Pakistan Red
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Crescent had a social inclusion proposal where transgender people would be supported and empowered by helping them to become first aid trainers/project leaders, and the proposal of Ms Tatiana Campoverde and Mr Henry Caceres of Ecuador Red Cross involved a national youth innovation initiative to source ideas from young people and provide support to realise them. IFRC President Francesco Rocca applauded the young innovators and thanked them for their ideas, their work, and their determination. Addressing the General Assembly, he said: “Take care of these projects, and these volunteers, and support their ideas.”
BHUTAN AND MARSHALL ISLANDS ARE WELCOMED INTO THE FAMILY
The General Assembly formally welcomed the 191st and 192nd full members of the IFRC into the family yesterday, as the Bhutan Red Cross Society and the Marshall Islands Red Cross Society took their places in the Plenary. The Bhutan Red Cross Society’s staff and 2,400 volunteers in 20 district branches are helping communities prepare by focusing on health, including training bus and taxi drivers in first aid, disaster management and climate change adaptation. The Marshall Islands Red Cross Society works in health, disaster management, climate change adaptation and volunteer mobilisation, and its network of 50 volunteers includes 11 emergency response teams across the country of 75,000 people.
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STRATEGY 2030: DELEGATES APPROVE BOLD NEW VISION FOR A CHALLENGING DECADE
The world’s largest humanitarian network has a bold new vision for the coming decade, after the General Assembly formally approved Strategy 2030 on 5 December. Strategy 2030 has three goals: that people anticipate, respond to and quickly recover from crises; that people lead safe, healthy and dignified lives and have opportunities to thrive, and that people mobilise for inclusive and peaceful communities. It identifies five global challenges: climate and environmental crises; evolving crises and disasters; growing gaps in health and well-being; migration and identity; and values, power and inclusion. To achieve success, seven transformations will be needed in supporting and developing National Societies as strong and effective local actors; in inspiring and mobilising volunteerism; in ensuring trust and accountability; in working effectively as a distributed network; in influencing humanitarian action; in undergoing a digital transformation, and in financing the future.
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Many National Societies took the floor to underline the importance of working together to address the global challenges identified in the strategy, to speak of the suffering of the people affected by these challenges, and how their volunteers and staff are supporting them. Others welcomed the transformations that are recommended, and their potential to effect change across the network. Addressing the General Assembly, Secretary General Elhadj As Sy said that the network would need to adapt to continuous change if it is to remain relevant and effective, and would need to act decisively as one actor. “We must remember the value of serving those in need, and be ready to adapt to different contexts,” he said. “What Strategy 2030 offers us is a framework with all the necessary flexibility to adapt. Each individual actor does not have to do everything in the strategy. We should look to our own contexts and the local issues that matter to us.” Delegates also approved the Strategic Framework on Education, which envisions National Societies and the IFRC enhancing the access to and continuity of education; equity and inclusion in education; protection, safety and well-being in and around education, and the provision of quality education.
LIVE #RCRCC2019 Revisit our interviews with National Societies in the region: Cruz Roja Colombiana: 100 ideas de innovación Cruz Roja Ecuatoriana: 100 ideas de innovación Cruz Roja Panameña: Nuevas líneas de acción Cruz Roja Colombiana: Relaciones Cívico-militares Cruz Roja Hondureña: Preparación efectiva para responder a desastres Bahamas Red Cross: Hurricane Dorian Response Caribbean Disaster Risk Management Reference Center Cruz Roja Nicaragüense: Salud mental Cruz Roja Guatemalteca: Equidad de género Director Regional para América, Walter Cotte
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OVER 160 STATES GATHER TO ADDRESS WORLD’S MOST PRESSING HUMANITARIAN ISSUES
Representatives from 168 States joined 187 Red Cross Red Crescent Societies, at the International Conference in Geneva. The International Conference, held every four years since 1867, brings together States party to the Geneva Conventions and global Red Cross Red Crescent representatives. The International Conference is a unique opportunity for decision-makers to discuss the world’s most pressing humanitarian issues and adopt resolutions that guide future humanitarian action. Previous decisions have contributed to the strengthening of international humanitarian law (IHL) and legal frameworks for disasters whilst ensuring safe environments for volunteering. This year, key issues on the agenda included trust, mental health, climate change, pandemic preparedness, data protection and migration. “The International Conference is a unique place for the Red Cross and Red Crescent to discuss critical humanitarian challenges with governments,” said Peter Maurer, ICRC President. “The fact that we had 168 States actively participating shows that governments have a strategic interest in responding to humanitarian crises and engaging with the Movement.” In an era of increasing scrutiny of the humanitarian sector, in-depth discussions on trust, integrity, accountability were central to the 3-day Conference. “Being trusted by the people we serve is critical to being able to restore family links, to ensuring lifesaving access, to working with and alongside communities,” said Francesco Rocca, President of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). 9
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A summary of all the Resolutions approved can be found here but highlights included: • Bringing IHL home: A road map for better implementation of international humanitarian law. The Movement and States reaffirmed their commitment to IHL and its full application and implementation, especially at the national level. • Restoring Family Links (RFL) while respecting privacy: Protecting personal data is about protecting people. The growing insecurity linked to the digital age and the pervasive threat of unauthorized access to personal data require that the Movement devote ourselves even more diligently to the protection of RFL activities. • Addressing mental health and psychosocial needs of people affected by armed conflicts, natural disasters and other emergencies: States and the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement agree to include mental health and psychosocial support to be included in the first wave of humanitarian emergencies. • Climate-smart disaster laws and policies that leave no one behind: People living in vulnerable or fragile contexts feel the impact of climate change most severely. The Movement is working to reinforce the capacity of affected communities to absorb the combined impacts of conflict, violence and climate shocks. • Time to act: Tackling epidemics and pandemics together. In light of threat that epidemics and pandemics pose to global health, the economy and stability, particularly in the world’s most vulnerable areas, the Red Cross Red Crescent cooperate with the public authorities in the prevention of disease, the promotion of health and the mitigation of human suffering. • Women and leadership in the humanitarian action of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. A resolution affirming the importance of women being represented at the decision-making level. “I’m pleased that States together with the Movement have committed to tackle the new challenges emerging on the world’s frontlines,” said Maurer. “They reaffirmed the importance of the laws of war, at a time when technical innovation is raising questions about how much control humans have over weapons. And they agreed to protect the personal data of people searching for their loved ones. We also saw an encouraging groundswell of support to boost mental health responses.” “We are pleased to have reached agreement on the different resolutions,“ said Rocca. “We are now ready to ensure the follow up of all the decisions and we will continue to advocate strongly for the localization agenda and the support our National Societies which are local actors par excellence: Strong National Societies, strong local actors, mean strong local communities.”
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COP25 The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the supreme decision-making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). At this 25th edition organized and presided by Chile, thata was held December 2-13 in Madrid, Spain, the 197 Parties that make up the treaty - 196 nations plus the European Union - seek to move towards the implementation of the agreements that have been reached under the Convention that lays down specific obligations for all Parties to fight climate change. Red Cross from the Americas was represented by a delegate from the Regional Office and leaders from the National Societies from Ecuador, Colombian, Guatemala, Grenada, and Jamaica.
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2ND EDITION PHIE WORKSHOP IN THE AMERICAS The second edition of the Public Health in Emergencies (PHiE) workshop in the Americas for the Spanish speaking countries was held in Colombia. The workshop had 21 participants from Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Colombia, Venezuela, Uruguay, Chile, Paraguay , Haiti and Dominican Republic. With facilitators/mentors from the Spanish Red Cross, Guatemala RC, Colombia RC and the Americas Regional Office.
PARTICIPATION IN THE 11TH COMPREHENSIVE DISASTER MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE The IFRC Americas Delegation made their mark at this year’s 11th Comprehensive Disaster Management Conference. This year’s conference emphasized the qualitative and quantitative factors that accompany resilience strategies. The event hosted in Sint Maarten with over 200 participants showcased the work of IFRC Americas over the past year and its direct impact to the resilience framework of the IFRC and moreover the Roadmap to Resilience created by the IFRC. Additionally, the “Roadmap to Resilience” game was launched and showcased to partners and donors the interactive methodology to further educate and reinforce the steps and best practices that can be used on the pathway to resilience. The IFRC’s sponsorship of the CDM Conference Film Festival allowed organizations to showcase their work in areas such as Disaster preparedness and migration, it also gave some in depth knowledge into the application of comprehensive disaster management practices.
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EMERGENCY OPERATIONS
(DECEMBER.2019)
6
5 appeals emergency
Central America Bahamas Venezuela
Dengue Hurricane Health
Regional
Population Movement
Colombia
Population Movement
DREF
CHF
operations
Bolivia El Salvador
Civil Unrest Floods
Chile
Civil Unrest
Haiti
Civil Unrest
Dominican Republic Bolivia
Dengue Forest Fires
95.4 millions Swiss francs required
STORIES OF HURRICANE DORIAN BAHAMAS
Laurel Dean and her sister Emilyann Johnson evacuated to New Providence island, in the aftermath of the Hurricane Dorian. Both are working hard to get themselves and their families back on their feet. “When you have that mindset, there is nothing else you can do just push forward,” Emilyann said. “You work hand in hand with us,” she said of the Red Cross support the pair received. During a recent financial distribution, more than one family left in tears of joy. Over and over people said how grateful they were, how Christmas is coming and how they didn’t know how they could continue to make ends meet and have a Christmas celebration for their family. Read full story here.
HELPING HERDERS PREVENT THEIR ALPACAS FROM DYING
WATCH VIDEO
VOICES OF THE AMERICAS AND THE CARIBBEAN • dECEMBER 2019
THANKFUL TO BE ALIVE A long journey in search for new opportunities in America with all kinds of legal requirements and payments to groups outside the law is involved on the movement of thousands of migrants that go through Panama each year. This is the experience of Álvaro, who departed Cuba in October, 2018, and now awaits answer to his refugee status request in Panama. La Peñita, in the district of Pinogana, Darien, is a community on the countryside of Panama that receives migrants from around the world in search for new opportunities for their lives. Migrants face the feared Darien’s Gap in the jungle to try and make it to the community from different parts of the world, which makes pretty normal to run into someone from Cuba alongside people from India, Somalia or even Iran. This is where we find Alvaro, a Cuban man around 30 years old, who has been living there for the last two months after crossing through South America. Although he started his journey in October, 2018, taking a plane from his native city, La Havana, directly to Guyana, he kept moving due to the conditions in places he visited, which were not optimal for his personal development in this new stage, either because of social and economic issues. “I left Cuba in October, last year. I paid for the plane ticket to Guyana and then I kept moving for at least 20 days going through Brazil in order to reach Peru on bus”. For Alvaro, money turned out to be an additional problem while traveling; between Cuba, Guyana, Brazil and Peru he spent more than $1000 that helped to ensure your journey. He then found a job in Lima, but the process was difficult for him, which made him decide on departing for Arequipa. He lived there for six months, but the social issues, which he considers are cause by xenophobia, made him look for a new place where he could be accepted and have the possibility to work on a better life. He decided to move to Medellin, Colombia, but he left for Darien shortly after due to lack of money and a stable job. Alvaro says he investigated a lot about the road he was about to walk, but he still wasn’t prepared for what he would find. “I had calculated that I would spend four days in the jungle, but I found myself in a much worse situation”. “I walked with a childhood’s friend, his wife and his two children, we stocked up on what we needed, we prepared, but we weren’t ready to pay so much money”. Some roads in the Darien jungle are controlled by people that guide the migrants, usually linked to groups outside the law, which makes the walkers run out of money quickly. In Alvaro’s case, his resources ran out about four days into the jungle. In order to survive, Alvaro and his group decided to fish in the jungle. Now he’s made it to La Peñita, where they provide food and medical services for him. The road left a lot of teachings and changed his life, and so he hopes that the sacrifice allows him to get a better life that lets him support his family from outside of Cuba. 16
Alvaro wants people to know the boots he used to finish his journey; boots he treasures as a reminder of his growth during the trip. He assures they are a symbol of the dedication he has put into his search for a better future. Looking at the boots, he says: “We have to be thankful just for being alive”.
PREPARATION EXERCISE IN CASE OF ASH FALL IN COTOPAXI (SPANISH)
WATCH VIDEO
COSTA RICAN RED CROSS RECEIVED INTERNATIONAL AWARD: YOUTH IN ACTION COSTA RICA
The Costa Rican Red Cross celebrates obtaining the international award: Youth in Action, which is awarded to the National Societies of the Red Cross for their work and outreach to communities in the promotion of Social Inclusion. The award was given to the Costa Rican Red Cross during the International Red Cross Conference The winning and nominated project from the Red Cross was the First Costa Rican Red Cross Inclusive Festival that was carried out through the Youth Program in October 2018 and consisted of a space to sensitize people on inclusion issues. “This is an award that recognizes the contribution and initiative of the Costa Rican Red Cross youth internationally. This is an acknowledgment that bears the name and contribution of each volunteer and collaborator of our Institution. We believe in this type of initiative to continue working and generating an impact on youth.� said Jason Sanchez, Director of the Costa Rican Red Cross Youth Program. The recognition given to the Costa Rican Red Cross is given during the eighth edition of the Youth Award of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, which recognizes interesting and innovative initiatives undertaken by young people to meet the needs humanitarian at the national level. As agents of change, young people can contribute meaningfully in addressing humanitarian needs with new perspectives through collaboration with vulnerable people in their communities and for their benefit. During the First Costa Rican Red Cross Inclusive Festival, there were open spaces for participation in different areas and topics related to: Adapted Surfing, Communication with people with disabilities, Sexuality in people with disabilities, Job placement for people with disabilities, Inclusive Practices.
A DAY AT LA HORMIGA COLOMBIA
The urban case of La Hormiga is in the municipality of Valle del Guamez, located in the department of Putumayo, less than an hour from the border with Ecuador. Here, the Colombian Red Cross Society, through its National Strategy for Attending to the Humanitarian Needs of the Migrant Population 2018-2021, has a health care unit for the vulnerable population, both for those in transit to other countries and for those settled. This unit, provides primary health care, nursing and psychological care, delivery of medicines, promotion of health prevention issues, restoration of family contact, and delivery of hygiene kits and shelter, as needed. “If a population in transit comes, they are given the shelter kit and the hygiene kit plus a sheet. The population that is residing here is given a hygiene kit. When the kits are delivered, they are sensitized so that they understand the value and use of the kits as such, and that they understand the importance of preventing different diseases; and in this way health is also being promoted,” says Carolina, a Colombian Red Cross Society volunteer who is in charge of delivering the kits. The unit also has a Friendly Space,where recreational and pedagogical activities are carried out with children and pregnant mothers. In this space children play, paint, read and learn, and many of them leave drawings for the Red Cross as a thank you. Sally is in charge of this space, and comments with emotion “I think this Friendly Space is very important, because it is the space of protection where children and pregnant and lactating mothers make a little emotional discharge, have a space of tranquility, of calm, of feeling welcomed in a distant place. What gratifies me most is knowing that children will always have a happy smile”. Likewise, those who visit the Friendly Space can access talks on psychosocial support, prevention and health promotion, as well as access to psychological care, either individually or collectively. The Health Care Unit started its activities in April this year through the International Appeal: Population Movement, Colombia.
VOICES OF THE AMERICAS AND THE CARIBBEAN • dECEMBER 2019
CUERDA FIRME: TRANSFORMING LIVES THROUGH ART PERU
Since August, the Peruvian Red Cross and La Tarumba have been developing the Cuerda Firme program as a vehicle for social integration, which seeks to develop the social and emotional skills of 120 young people, including Peruvians and Venezuelans, through the circus, theater and music. Since the announcement phase, Cuerda Firme has been very well received. During the development of the workshop, it has been possible to generate and strengthen groups of support among young people in vulnerable situations, and also to contribute to the construction of a more integrated and inclusive society, uniting the local and migrant population. Thanks to the work with the teachers in active listening, communication, teamwork, among others, the participants have learned to enjoy the moment of learning and that each one is different, and the time of others must be respected. During these five months of development of the program, in addition to training in circus, theater and music, participants have received other services such as psychological care, basic health care, entrepreneurship workshop and group emotional discharge meetings. After the training, the young people made a final presentation at the La Tarumba Tent on December 1st. In this final show, the audience could feel all the joy, love and solidarity that has developed among the participants, and that they have created a family and a support network. 20
VOICES OF THE AMERICAS AND THE CARIBBEAN • dECEMBER 2019
After this exhibition, it is hoped that participants will be able to replicate what they have learned in their community support groups, as stated by Juan Carlos Melgar, National Coordinator of Disaster Risk Management of the Peruvian Red Cross. “Through the programme we have been able to develop and strengthen skills so that young people can collaborate and insert themselves into society in a positive way, influencing their social and personal environment. By their example, they have been able to talk about commitment, teamwork, respect, active listening, empathy, etc.”
WATCH VIDEO
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ACTIVITIES SUMMARY 2019 CREPD
CREPD The general objective of the Reference Center is to assist the members of the International Federation and the ICRC, by implementing the Movement strategy, in strengthening the capacities of National Societies in comprehensive disaster and crisis risk management, through the development of systematization of good practices identified in evidence, methodologies, tools, learning techniques, harmonization processes, considering the expertise and field learning of the National Societies themselves, and under the coordination of the Regional Office for America of the Federation in coordination with the Salvadoran Red Cross. Based on the four strategic axes, CREPD has supported 46 National, with a total of 560 people trained, 11 new products, and 44 field missions. The Center bases its action on the Quality Manual ISO 9001 2015. Quality politics: “We are committed to implement timely and reliable processes aimed at satisfying the needs of our customers. These processes, based on the 2020 strategy, the Inter-American Red Cross Framework of Action for 2019-23 and the Buenos Aires Commitment, translate into training, technical assistance, tool development and knowledge generation actions guaranteeing the effectiveness of a quality management and continuous improvement system in accordance with ISO 9001: 2015 �.
KEY FIGURES FOR 2019
46 National Societies National Societies receive methodological and technical support and share efforts in the exchange of experiences through the network of facilitators and officials of the Center.
5
harmonized methodologies and tools
harmonized methodologies and tools developed between the Reference Centers to guarantee high quality and standardize services: How to install safe covers, PPD resource box, FBFPER-PRC linkage, Health education portfolio, logistics training module update.
as 190 Certificates facilitators certifications granted to facilitators: SPAC, APS, MDC, Vector control, Community surveillance and monitoring, migration, RCF.
370 Course certificates certifications granted in the specialties: SPAC, response planning, health, PHC, Simulations, Response Plans, ODK, virtual ENI, Virtual RIT, logistics, migration, Water sanitation and hygiene promotion, IM, Epidemiological surveillance and community-based monitoring.
6
2 New regional tools
New educational products
new educational products or updated products and services. Face-to-face: Course of leaders and decision-making in emergencies, Basic course of information management, Regional course of migration; Online Data literacy, DREF, vector-borne diseases.
456
new tools are being promoted in the region and CREPD have participated in the design: PER approach support for virtualization and assembly on the web, NDRT standard.
People participated in online courses
69
network facilitators
have been trained through online courses on the red cross campus in bi-learning mode, with tutors and self-directed.
network facilitators have been activated to offer technical support, training in different activities with the NS, under the supervision of Center staff.
5
4
CERA countries completed evaluations
CERA countries completed evaluations (DRCE) of project closure (Honduras, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica).
DIPECHO countries started implementing
DIPECHO countries started implementing the PER approach (Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua).
Webinar 1602 attendees 2 languages 46 countries 10 sessions Webinars are a tool for the socialization of trends, good practices and knowledge exchange, coordinated with IFRC departments and other organizations. Online courses The Red Cross Campus has been strengthened with new courses development for volunteers in the region. The number of people reached during 2019 was 456; this highlights the progress that has been made in the area of distance education in the region. Knowledge management With the purpose of facilitating a solid knowledge management within the framework of a matrix model, different products have been developed based on the four strategic axes of the Center (knowledge management, tool development, technical assistance and training). All the processes of design and implementation have been coordinated with the departments of the Federation and with the participation of volunteers and National Societies’ officials. Main products of 2019: • Data literacy for volunteers • Zika Project educational portfolio • Basic Information Management Course • PER-FBF-PRC Bonding • Resource Box in PPD • Logistics training module update • Leadership course in emergency decision making • How to install safe covers • DREF online self-directed course • Online of Diseases Transmitted by Vectors Course (ETV) • Migration course
https://www.crepd.cruzroja.org/
Regional Intervention Teams Training
With the participation of 15 National Societies of the Region and a total of 32 participants, the Disaster and Crisis Department of the Americas Regional Office of the IFRC, together with the Reference Center for Institutional Disaster Preparedness (CREPD), carried out from December 1-7 the Regional Intervention Teams (RIT) training in Panama City. The main objective of this course is to strengthen the IFRC’s response system through the integral training of volunteers and staff of National Societies that allow us to provide a more effective, faster response to emergencies and disasters of all kinds in the region and at the global level. This year the course had a field visit to the community of Peñitas, in the province of Darién, a town located on the border between Panama and Colombia that is being impacted by the migration phenomenon that occurs in the region, this exercise seeks to provide experience-based learning and application of knowledge, technical skills and competences acquired in the classroom. This activity was carried out within the framework of the activities developed by the Population Movement project being implemented by the Panamanian Red Cross. During this visit the participants gave specialized technical support to the National Society and community members in different sectors such as Health; Psychosocial Support; Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion; Communication; Protection, Gender and Inclusion, among others.
Contact information
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Americas Regional Office Diana Medina, Regional Communication Manager | diana.medina@ifrc.org Diana Arroyo, Senior Communication Officer | diana.arroyo@ifrc.org
@ifrc_es
@ifrc_es
IFRC
IFRC
www.ifrc.org/americas