United Nations Humanitarian Civil-Military Coordination (UN-CMCoord) Course

Course Aim: To improve the effectiveness of international relief operations and promote effectivehumanitarian-military relationships by raising mutual awareness and understanding of theroles of military and humanitarian actors in emergencies.

CourseObjectives:

The main objective of this course is to create awareness and understanding amongparticipants on the basic concepts and principles of Humanitarian Civil-Military Coordination(UN-CMCoord). The following are the specific objectives of the course: To understand the roles and responsibilities of states, humanitarian and military

organizations in international relief response; To understand humanitarian response and coordination mechanisms including the

particular role of OCHA; To analyze and apply the guidelines for the use of military and civil defence assets in

humanitarian emergencies, including underlying concepts and principles; To define the roles and responsibilities of the UN humanitarian civil-military coordination

officer; To join a global humanitarian civil-military coordination network and to encourage

professional development in the area; and, To be aware of regional humanitarian civil-military coordination issues

CourseContent(overview):

Introduction to Coordination OCHA, Humanitarian Coordination and UN Humanitarian Civil-Military Coordination

(UN-CMCoord) Humanitarian Actors in Emergencies Military Actors in Emergencies Natural Disasters Complex Emergencies Cross-cutting and Emerging Issues

Learningoutcomes:

To update participants’ understanding of humanitarian coordination, OCHA’s role in it,OCHA tools and mechanisms in facilitating humanitarian coordination, the coordinationstructures and challenges in the context of sudden onset natural disasters and complexemergencies,

To update participants’ knowledge and understanding of the concepts, principles andstrategies of humanitarian civil-military coordination, including the techniques andprocedures to use military and civil defence assets in support of humanitarian activitiesin sudden onset natural disasters and complex emergencies, including the “grey areas”

To raise the awareness of participants on the increasing role of the military inhumanitarian emergencies

To raise the awareness of participants on the role of humanitarian actors inhumanitarian emergencies

To increase participants’ understanding on different approaches to security betweenmilitary and humanitarian actors, including procedures for the use of military or armedescorts for humanitarian convoys

To raise the awareness of participants on cross-cutting and emerging issues onhumanitarian civil-military coordination

TargetAudience andMethodology:

The course is designed for both military and civilian organizations with experience inemergency response. Representatives of governments, United Nations agencies, inter-governmental organizations, the Red Cross/Crescent Movement, non-governmentalorganizations and the military will be able to share experiences and openly discussoperational issues in an academic environment conducive to learning. The course takes50% humanitarians and 50% military participants to ensure balance and diversity in thecourse where participants are the primary resource persons. Women and men from militaryand civilian organizations are equally encouraged to apply. All presentations anddiscussions will be in English. Participants should be prepared to give a presentation ondifferent subjects based on their experiences, providing either humanitarian or militaryperspectives. The one-week training course will be residential, with no more than 28participants.

Duration: 5 days