The WEM is to prepare you for deployment to emergency and/or repatriation operations, so as to enhance the effectiveness of UNHCRs response. The priority is preparation of emergency staff to work in emergency response teams (ERTs).
Emergency management is looked at from three perspectives:
- Managing your operational role (protection, programming, etc…)
- Managing relations (both internal to UNHCR, and external with partners)
- Managing yourself (personal-, mental- and physical welfare and security)
The workshop prepares you for three phases:
- Pre-departure and arrival to the emergency
- Performance during the emergency deployment
- Handover to colleagues in the emergency and return to your Duty Station and home
Activities
The workshop is dynamic, practical and participatory. It will be varied and hands-on, relying heavily on your involvement and contribution, and that of your workshop colleagues. Activities will be both indoor and outdoor.
Participants and resource persons
Participants are form UNHCR and partner agencies (with make staff available for emergency deployment with UNHCR). Emphasis is placed on working together in teams. Please make an effort to mix, including, for instance sitting with different people throughout the course.
In addition to the external facilitator, resource persons will participate from UNHCR functional sections and services. Participants are also expected to contribute to learning from each other, based on their experience and expertise (e.g. during the various exercises).
Please note that the WEM is designed to immerse participants in the atmosphere of an actual deployment. You are expected to consider yourself as being deployed (once you leave your duty station) and to react to eventualities accordingly.
Participants at UNHCR's WEM at Starum in 2009.
