Perspectives on Civil-Military Cooperation in International Disaster Management and

Humanitarian Assistance

TIEMS Conference

Orlando, Florida

May 17, 2000

Panel Participants

• Nancy Mock, Dr. P.H.

• William Lyerly, Jr.

• Colonel Michael Hess

• Lt. Col. Mike Smith

• Melinda Hofstetter

Issues

• Escalating bi-lateralism in international response

• Cultural differences among organizational actors

• Humanitarian principles and neutrality• Limits to military participation?• Multiple agendas

Centers of Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian

Assistance for Civil-Military Collaboration

COEs foster….

Education and training leading to recognized certification

Scholarly research to support operational readiness

Coordinated information sharing

Background

• Increased involvement of US military in peace keeping, disaster management and humanitarian assistance

• Concept of Center of Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance to promote civil-military collaboration was developed by Dr. Frederick Burkle, University of Hawaii

• Congress funded the COE in support of the US Pacific Command (PACOM)

Background (cont’d)

• Organizational structure: multi-organizational

• Director was university-based

• Physical location is Tripler AMC

Traditional Vertical Organizations

Centers of ExcellenceFacilitate collaboration through:•Integrated education and training

•Integrated operational-level research

•Optimizes information-sharing and technologies

•Protects autonomy of operational-level agencies

Center of Excellence(COE)

Pacific Command(PACOM)

Pacific RegionalMedical Command

(PRMC)

Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention

(CDC)

University of Hawaii(UH)

Research InstitutionsGovernmental

Agencies

InternationalOrganizations

Non-GovernmentalOrganizations

US MilitaryLearning

Institutions

Host CountryArmed Forces

NavalPost

Graduate School

ArmyWar

College

UnitedNations

Agencies

LesterPearson

PeacekeepingInstitute

ICRC

InternationalRescue

Committee

DefenseMedical

ReadinessTrainingInstitute

IndonesiaArmedForces

StateDepartment

EnergyDepartment

Ministriesof

Health

JohnsHopkins

Harvard

MacFarlaneBurnetCentre

UniformedServices

Universityof HealthSciences

RedCross

Movement

Background

• In 1999, the Center for Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance was congressionally funded to support the US Southern Command

• Joint program between the University of South Florida’s School of Public Health and Tulane University

• University based• Managed by Co-Directors • Policy set by Board of Governors

The Centers’ Mission

To facilitate civil-military operations and cooperation through:

Integrated education & training

Collaborative research

Information management

Operational readiness

Core Competencies

Fostering civil-military collaboration:

Building trusting partnerships

Education and training

Information technology

Operations research

Technology Tools

Libraries• Human Sustainable Development Library

– This full text, searchable and distributable development library is available on CD-ROM.

– The HSDL CD-ROM is a quality prototype of a superb and readily accessible knowledge tool available for all.

– This project is executed in coordination with Global Help Projects (www.oneworld.org/globalprojects/humcdrom) and continues to distribute low cost bibliographic material on CD-ROM, and via the web. http://www.humanitylibrarires.net

Other Libraries

• Food and Nutrition Library• Medical and Health Library• World Environmental Library

CDMHA Humanitarian Assistance Database

Country Search

By clicking on any country on this map, you can get a listing of contacts and documents related to that country.

Document Editor

Technology Assisted Learning Modules (TALM)

– TALM toolkit for developing online courses, includes freeware software:

• E-Class (our in house software) and tutorials

• Image editors

• Video editors

• Sound Editors

– Has been used successfully by professors and leaders with no previous technical background

– Examples in many different domainsand settings

View E-ClassExamples

Value-added to traditional tools

• Interactive CD/ROM based on PAHO training manuals in health aspects of disaster management

• Integration of information management user interfaces and training: SUMA

Education and Training

Skills Base

Intervention Phases

PreventionPreparednessMitigationResponseRecovery

Disasters

Disaster Cycle

Underdevelopment

X

Knowledge Base

Framework

Curriculum Framework

• Knowledge Base– hazards, population characteristics, population effects, intervention

components, policy and organizational environment

• Skills Base– Program management, information management, personal health and

safety management

• Intervention phases and the disaster life cycle– prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery

Review of Current Major Course Content

Software development for rapid courseware creation: E-Class trainer

Joint Masters and PhD potential for active duty personnel

Disaster University Project

Training And Curriculum Development & Distance Learning

• INTERHANDS– Is similar to the Center of Excellence CHART

course. It is an introductory five-day program designed to provide military and civilian members with basic information about disaster management and related issues with case studies focusing on Latin American and Caribbean area of operations. Developed by CDMHA with direct input by USSOUTHCOM staff.

The Integrated Regional Humanitarian Assistance and

Natural Disasters Program

Other training

• Support to PAHO for the development of CDROM courseware on health management of disasters in LAC

• Provision of training support to regional institutions in the area of GIS

Applied Research

• As part of the small grants competitive research program a research management process is being set up and modeled after National Science Foundation process

Research Management Process for Intramural and Extramural

Research Activities

Illustrative Research

• Epidemic forecasting for the development of early warning systems in the LAC region

• The role of the for-profit private sector in prevention, mitigation, response and recovery

• Composite materials development for wind resistant structures

• Evaluation of determinants and consequences of stress among military personnel involved in disaster management work

• Risk of helminth infections in military and civilian relief workers

• Role of women in determining household health in post-disaster environments

• Risk of STD’s in shelters and camps

• Revival of OFDA Private Sector Committee (Oliver Davidson)– Post-Mitch private company survey in Nicaragua

– Endorsement of private sector companies

– Products expected include:• Database

• Inventory and disaster readiness format

• Working group formulated (Private sector advisory committee)

• Joint training materials development

• American Chambers of Commerce training seminars

Private Sector Initiative

Issues, Challenges and Observations

Structural issues and challenges

• Commonalities and differences in needs of the CINCdoms

• Sustainability of COE’s and financing

• Perceived incompatibility of missions and corporate cultures between the civilian and military organizations

Observations

• Bi-lateralism and the increased competition among organizational actors has had some positive effects on DR/HA

• Nature of military involvement in DR/HA is highly dependent on the personality and agenda of the CINC

• COE’s can enhance civil-military cooperation and collaboration, especially in light of high personnel turnover and the need for numerous bridges to the civilian world

In summary, the Centers of Excellence...

“Link to and from the CINC”

Fulfills both civilian and military disaster management needs

Breaks down barriers to communication

Clearing house for information sharing

Window into difficult relationships

Responder, educator, assessor, researcher