Quality and Accountability Training of Trainers for Improved Disaster Response in Japan
On February 7, 2012, a group of humanitarian workers completed a five day training of trainers (ToT) on quality and accountability making them the first recognized Q&A trainers in Japan for both the Sphere and Humanitarian Accountability Partnership (HAP) Standards. The Sphere Project with its Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response and HAP with its 2010 HAP Standard in Accountability and Quality Management guide aid workers’ response to humanitarian crisis to ensure that the dignity of disaster affected populations is upheld. This new group of trainers will share the knowledge and skills associated with these standards to fellow humanitarians throughout Japan and will join the ranks of trainers throughout the world who are helping improve disaster responses.
With an increasing number of regional disasters and Japan’s worst earthquake and tsunami disaster approaching its one-year anniversary, the timing was planned and essential. Church World Service-Asia/Pacific (CWS-A/P) in collaboration with the Sphere Project and the International Council of Voluntary Agency (ICVA) and with support from Church World Service-Pakistan/Afghanistan (CWS-P/A) brought the ToT to Japan. The ToT was co-organized by Japan NGO Center for International Cooperation (JANIC) and was made possible with support from Japan Association for Refugees, Oxfam Japan, Peace Boat, and Wesley Foundation.
For Japan, this group of twenty-one future trainers signifies a step towards positive change in the way disaster response is reviewed and implemented in the country. All participants have committed to conducting training or components on quality and accountability. Follow-up support and mainstreaming of these standards into their work with be provided by CWS-A/P which will continue to support future trainings .
The ToT has been well received by organizers and participants. Manisha Thomas of ICVA commented, “I am impressed with the level of engagement and interest from the participants. There is a real desire and hunger to learn and work collaboratively”. Some of the participants highlighted the direct impact that quality and accountability standards can have in Japan. Makoto Tajima of JANIC shared, “I think these trainings in Japan have provided not only the participants but the whole NPO community an advocacy tool for promoting Q&A [quality and accountability] in Japan. If the concepts had been mainstreamed in Japanese society before last year’s disaster, we would have been able to respond better; and now, we are going to do so to be better prepared for any future disasters.” While countries throughout Asia experience an increasing number of natural disasters, the quality and accountability standards can be applied during any emergency, as Mai Kawaharada of World Vision International highlighted that, “Sphere is not only for developing countries but it has a universal application. I highly recommend that anyone involved in relief work join a future Q&A training.”
CWS-P/A and CWS- A/P have been promoting the Sphere and HAP Standards and linking their importance and synergies over the past few years. These experiences and the current need in Japan led to the ToT for overall quality and accountability and CWS-P/A as the Sphere regional partner for Asia, the Sphere focal point for Pakistan, and the pilot organization for HAP’s accreditation scheme in Asia will continue to offer support throughout the Asia Pacific region.
For more information on The Sphere Project visit www.sphereproject.org
For more information on Humanitarian Accountability Partnership visit www.hapinternational.org
For more information on trainings and other services offered by CWS-P/A and CWS-A/P please contact: shaprograms@cwspa.org.pk
