RED ALERT YOUR SUPPORT, OUR WORK, REAL DIFFERENCE

page 4 Mission Ready page 6 page 8

Autumn/Winter 2016 LATEST NEWS THANK YOU REDR AT THE HUMANITARIAN SUMMIT In May, RedR CEO Martin McCann panel discussion on the protection of attended the first-ever World health workers, facilities and patients, Humanitarian Summit, convened by and Nika Farnworth represented Dear Friends, Thanks to our Patrons Why we print Red Alert UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in KnowledgePoint (see page 16) at the Not for the first time in our AECOM Red Alert is produced twice Istanbul, Turkey. 9,000 people from 173 Innovation Marketplace. charity’s history, the world Arup yearly to keep our supporters countries came together to discuss the we are working in is proving Association for Consultancy and Engineering informed about RedR’s activities turbulent and challenging. In Atkins and achievements, and to pressing challenges the humanitarian ‘It was a very interesting couple of Black and Veatch Ltd recent months, we have watched encourage others to support sector is facing. days, with important discussions BP conflicts and crises across the BT our work. All RedR publications, opened if not resolved, and some globe develop and deepen, from Elliott Wood LLP including Red Alert, are printed Martin was joined by two members of meaningful commitments made. It Syria, to Yemen, to . Griffiths & Armour Group on FSC accredited stock. Laing O’Rourke RedR’s Europe and Global Initiatives will be a few years before we can truly The forthcoming exit of the UK Mace Foundation Tell us what you think! We’re always keen to team. Kate Denman spoke about measure the impact of the summit,’ from the European Union is a Mott MacDonald Group Ltd hear your thoughts about issues raised in Mission Ready (see page 4) during a said Martin McCann. ■ cause for concern, as we wait to MWH Red Alert. Letters to the editor should be sent to: [email protected] see the effect this will have on New Civil Engineer our partnerships. But throughout Sandberg LLP The Institution of Chemical Engineers our history, RedR has proved The Institution of Civil Engineers RedR UK extremely resilient. I am proud The Institution of Engineering and Technology ‘MANAGING PEOPLE’ IN THE MIDDLE EAST of our continued ability to adapt, The Institution of Mechanical Engineers 250a Kennington Lane evolve, and rise to whatever The Institution of Structural Engineers London SE11 5RD In April, RedR ran two Managing People in Emergencies courses in The Royal Academy of Engineering challenges we encounter. t +44 (0)20 7840 6000 Gaziantep, Turkey. Supported by the Mace Foundation, the training The Worshipful Company of Engineers e [email protected] This update illustrates the Tony Gee and Partners LLP www.redr.org.uk was aimed at aid workers responding to the Syrian crisis. wide range of ways RedR is WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff supporting those on the front Charity Number: 1079752 Registered in England and Wales Over five days, 36 humanitarians lines of humanitarian response. Gold Corporate Partners as Company Number 3929653 from Turkey and Syria were trained Whether we’re strengthening Lloyd’s Charities Trust Limited by guarantee in the theory and practice of good WASH capacity in Sudan, training staff managing management, communication teams in Syria, or developing techniques, coaching, negotiation, online security training that’s team-building and conflict management, accessible from anywhere in and remote management: all essential the world, RedR is doing what skills for managers whose teams are we have always done: providing life-saving skills and knowledge working in difficult and sometimes where they’re needed most. dangerous conditions. Thank you for your support. ‘I instantly felt I had acquired the skills and tools to be a better leader Martin McCann as well as gaining a better understanding of being a humanitarian.’ Chief Executive Training in Myanmar - page 6

2 Red Alert Autumn/Winter 2016 Red Alert Autumn/Winter 2016 3 Mission Ready was developed with support from UK Aid (DFID) and USAID/OFDA. LATEST NEWS

KEEPING AID WORKERS SAFE

Last October, RedR launched Mission being launched on Monday 3 October at Ready, an interactive online training London’s Salesforce Tower. platform for aid workers in the field. ‘Remote Security Management is set in a fictional Middle Eastern country and ‘Often, the aid workers who are most in addresses the challenges aid agencies need of security training are also those working in the region might be facing,’ who struggle to access it,’ explains says Kate Denman. ‘But the same RedR’s Project Manager Kate Denman. principles apply in any situation where a ‘For logistical or financial reasons, staff project is being managed remotely. The operating in remote or isolated locations course is designed to help humanitarian - particularly those working for smaller staff manage security remotely through national NGOs - aren’t always able to the project life cycle, from design to attend face-to-face security training. implementation - right up to project Mission Ready is made for them.’ suspension or closure, should the security situation make this necessary. Through a series of video scenarios The training throws up real-life that unfold in real time, Mission Ready Mission Ready exemplifies RedR’s challenges such as dealing with challenges the user to make the kind commitment to addressing the learning poor internet connection whilst of decisions he or she will face when needs of the sector - wherever those managing situations remotely. working with projects and teams in needs may be,’ says Kate Denman. ‘To insecure environments. As in real life, ensure this vital training reaches as the choices they make will determine many people as possible, Mission Ready what happens next. Developed in is available in Arabic, English, French partnership with Manchester-based and Spanish, with licences costing as ‘Mission Ready is an effective, engaging and immersive start-up Digital Training Solutions little as 8 USD. It’s also available as learning platform. Local staff are the backbone of any (DTS), the platform currently hosts two an offline desktop application, which courses: Field Security Management, and means users don’t need a reliable International NGO, and Mission Ready is one way to Remote Security Management, which is internet connection to do the course.’ ■ support them on the front lines.’ If you would like to attend the launch of Remote Security Management, Mission Ready user please contact Remi Bumstead on [email protected] or 020 7840 6057

4 Red Alert Autumn/Winter 2016 5 © Pierre Prakash EU ECHO Myanmar flooding in Northern Rakhine State © Pierre Prakash EU ECHO Myanmar flooding in Northern

© Ehab Othman IMPACT

‘I was impressed by the depth of discussion and the engagement of participants with the subject’

RedR Member and trainer Samir Maleh Maternal, Neonate and Child Health has worked extensively in Myanmar, and Nutrition. Although she has most recently as Country Director for years of professional experience as a Action Contre La Faim. ‘One of the health worker, she is fairly new to the main challenges we faced was the humanitarian sector. She attended recruitment of qualified staff from within two RedR courses: Essentials of the crisis-affected parts of the country,’ Humanitarian Practice and Managing he remembers. ‘We send field teams Teams in Emergencies, hoping to into some very complex and dynamic adapt her existing skills to this environments, but we often fail to unfamiliar context. provide them with the training they need. ‘I learnt about the different roles of A learning needs assessment conducted humanitarian agencies, the cluster by RedR earlier this year confirmed the system, and the different elements that need for training in the essentials of need to be in place if a humanitarian humanitarian principles and practices, response is to be comprehensive,’ she MYANMAR along with soft skills like project and says. ‘I also discovered the skills and people management. In March and April, attitudes required to manage a team TACKLING A COMPLEX CRISIS Samir trained on four RedR courses, all under pressure, and practical techniques seeking to address these needs. for leading a team. The training ‘The humanitarian context in Myanmar is extremely complicated,’ says RedR ‘I was impressed by the depth of brought together people from different Programme Manager Katie Robertson. discussion and the engagement of organisations with different professional participants with the subject,’ he says. and geographical backgrounds. This ‘The country is highly vulnerable to natural disasters like floods, landslides, ‘Trainees had a real desire to dive into meant that we were able to draw on and cyclones. In Rakhine, Kachin, and Northern Shan States, inter-communal the issues, particularly as we were able a wide range of viewpoints during the conflict has left some 240,000 people internally displaced. This is compounded to relate them directly to the work they group work on problem-solving.’ by restrictions on access to basic services for certain population groups, are doing in Rakhine, Kachin, or Northern Building on the success of this series, a which means that despite the many positive changes taking place in Myanmar, Shan States.’ further five courses are due to run this humanitarian needs in parts of the country are extremely acute. On top of this, month: Managing Projects, Managing there are very few opportunities for newly-recruited local staff to acquire the skills Dr Wai Mon Maung works for Plan Teams, Needs Assessment, Remote they need to confront these challenges.’ International as a Project Manager for Management, and Protection. ■

6 RedRRed Alert Red Autumn/WinterAlert Spring/SummerAutumn/Winter 2016 20152016 RedR RedRed AlertAlert Spring/SummerAutumn/Winter 2016 7 IMPACT SUDAN WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE ‘In recent years, Sudan has made RedR is also equipping local progress in the area of sanitation and communities and humanitarian hygiene - but the country still faces organisations to respond to WASH some significant challenges,’ says needs in four states which are at RedR WASH expert Sarah House*. the epicentre of the crisis: White ‘For example, 29% of the Sudanese Nile, Kassala, and North and South population currently practice open Darfur. ‘We’re training local trainers defecation. Only 68% have access to in facilitation skills,’ explains Project an improved water source. Schools Coordinator El Miqdam Ali Ahmed. are underequipped in terms of latrines ‘The aim is to ensure that local and hand-washing facilities, and humanitarians can continue building the unsafe disposal of sewage and WASH capacity in Sudan beyond the hazardous wastes is a major risk to lifespan of the project.’ health.’ Refugees and host communities A sustainable approach Sudan hosts hundreds of thousands ‘In 2014, RedR responded to a request of refugees from neighbouring South from UNICEF to conduct a country- Sudan. The majority - almost 750,000 wide assessment of humanitarian people - have crossed the border since WASH capacity,’ explains Project civil war broke out in December 2013. Coordinator Abdel-Rahim Gamaleldin. Most have settled in refugee camps in ‘We then drew up a three-year capacity- White Nile State. building framework, which we’re now in the process of implementing. We Zahraa Ibrahim Adam Abdalla is are delivering training and mentoring a WASH Officer with Plan Sudan. to WASH actors across the country She works with refugees and host Although needs are acute, the amount of funding (including national and international communities in two localities in NGOs and government representatives), White Nile State. ‘Along with building available for in Sudan is ever smaller, and working to improve coordination infrastructure like latrines and water and this chronic crisis receives little attention from between these actors through points, we work with both populations the international media. Since 2010, RedR has been workshops, technical working groups, to improve hygiene practices,’ she and the dissemination of guidelines on explains. ‘Through a community- building the capacity of people across Sudan to WASH in Emergencies.’ led approach, we are working to respond to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) needs in some of the worst-affected parts of the country.

8 RedR Red Alert Spring/Summer 2016 RedR RedRed AlertAlert Spring/SummerAutumn/Winter 2016 9 IMPACT IMPACT

professionals, conducting workshops and interviews with 84 sanitation and hygiene practitioners from across Sudan. The team drew up a draft, which then went through a review process and is now being revised. The FMoH will finalise the framework, WHY ARE approve it for use, and develop an action plan and budget for its SANITATION AND Left: Shazaa and Moh implementation. SNSHSF workshop attendees. Above: Sarah House leading ‘SNSHSF will enable the Government HYGIENE SO a Sanitation and of Sudan and its partners to speed Hygiene workshop at Bahari University. and scale up their efforts to improve sanitation and hygiene across the IMPORTANT? eradicate open defecation in camps and ‘The framework covers the key areas country,’ says Sarah. ‘The committed Access to adequate sanitation facilities, communities, and raise awareness of of household excreta disposal and and hard-working people involved in along with good sanitation and hygiene water-related diseases.’ hygiene promotion, institutional and the process make me hopeful that practices, are critical for: Zahraa attended RedR’s WASH public sanitation and hygiene, and Sudan will make significant progress ■ human health Fundamentals in Emergencies training in environmental health services,’ explains on this critical issue, which affects so August 2016. ‘This training has given me Sarah House. ‘It also looks at a number many rights and aspects of life.’ ■ ■ dignity more confidence in dealing with WASH of cross-cutting issues and the ‘building ■ economic development issues, particularly in an emergency,’ blocks’ of a successful sanitation *Sarah House is an independent water and sanitation she says. and hygiene strategy, including legal consultant and public health engineer with 25 years They also contribute to the attainment of and policy frameworks, institutional of experience in the global WASH sector. Sarah is a number of human rights, including: A Guiding Framework responsibilities, finance, planning, also a RedR Member and Associate Trainer. survival RedR’s WASH work in Sudan extends monitoring, review and learning, and ■ beyond capacity-building. Over the past capacity-building.’ ** The process involved representatives from the ■ well-being Government of Sudan, civil society, the private sector six months, WASH expert Sarah House and universities, the UN, development partners and ■ an adequate standard of living and the team have been involved in The framework was drawn up through humanitarian donors. It was funded by UNICEF the development of the Sudan National a consultative process led by the and the World Health Organisation, and supported ■ health Sanitation and Hygiene Strategic Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH)**. by a core group of representatives from the FMoH, ■ education Framework (SNSHSF) which, once RedR facilitated an analysis of UNICEF, WHO, Khartoum State and RedR in Sudan. RedR’s WASH activities in Sudan are funded by ■ gender equality finalised, will guide all sanitation and the current situation and obtained UNICEF, the Jersey Overseas Aid Commission, and hygiene efforts across the country. recommendations from sector the Vitol Foundation.

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SUPPORTER ROUND-UP WHY I NO SUN, SEA AND MUD SUPPORT

There’s been no shortage of exciting fundraising activities from our wonderful supporters this year! From individuals taking on physical REDR challenges to corporate teams organising inspired initiatives, they have all Hannah Edmond is a RedR Champion raised funds to support RedR’s disaster relief work around the world. and Civil Engineer at Mott MacDonald who, with colleagues Nick and Doug, Arup: Three Peaks Yacht Race WSP| Parsons Brinckerhoff: Beale & Company and Tony Gee and volunteers with RedR to coordinate On June 12, a team of five from Tough Mudder Challenge Partners LLP: Three Peaks Challenge their Hands-on Weekends in Sussex. engineering firm Arup set off on one Alan, Peter and Sarah took a Two of our corporate partners tackled of the UK’s most extreme endurance rather different approach to their the elements and climbed their way For me, RedR are a key player at the core challenges – the Three Peaks Yacht fundraising by (literally) jumping over to success this summer. Together of the humanitarian sector providing Race. They put their physical strength fire in support of RedR. The team they raised a collective £7,190.38 training and skills to aid workers, to the test as they covered over 400 successfully conquered the obstacle- for RedR’s projects. The group from volunteers, those thinking of moving into miles of sailing, 70 miles of running laden Tough Mudder challenge and Beale & Co tackled peaks Pen-y- the sector and most importantly first and 26 miles of cycling in just four have raised £435 for RedR through Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough responders across the globe through days. They faced a number of hurdles support from colleagues, friends in Yorkshire whilst the Tony Gee team programmes such as Ready to Respond. en route but successfully made it to and family. climbed Snowdon, Scafell Pike and the top of the last climb, raising £593 Ben Nevis; all in 24 hours we may add! Since first graduating I have been getting in the process. involved with RedR as much as I can from Wear Red, netball matches and the BT Tower evening to RedR’s refugee camp design session in our office. I attended the RedR WASH and Shelter Hands-on Weekends in 2014, to find out how best to apply my engineering experience within the humanitarian sector. I found these weekends motivated me to keep developing my experience and skills. I volunteered to join the team to hopefully provide the same for others.

This year’s Hands-on Weekend is WASH focused and on 17-18 September.

12 Red Alert Autumn/Winter 2016 Red Alert Autumn/Winter 2016 13 GET INVOLVED Q&A: CHARLIE DALRYMPLE WEAR RED FOR REDR Get the date in your diaries folks! Friday 10 February 2017 sees the return of RedR UK’s new our favourite fundraiser – Wear Red International Programmes Director for RedR – and we’ll be shaking things up this time around, but don’t fret as there will still be plenty of red involved! Tell us about your history with RedR. our regional teams is better, and our Individuals and companies from all over I first heard about RedR when studying fundraising capacity has diversified. the world are welcome to join in the for my Master’s degree in Engineering Of course, we still face some of the fun, so register your interest today to for Sustainable Development. Peter same challenges - but many of these receive further information. Guthrie, who co-founded RedR, was aren’t unique to RedR. my tutor. In late 2010, I was delighted Funding for chronic humanitarian LONDON MARATHON to be offered the post of Learning and emergencies - such as in Darfur, Development Programmes Director. , and some areas of East On 23 April 2017, thousands of runners I left RedR at the end of 2014 to realise a and Central Africa - is increasingly will flock to the capital to take part in dream of living and working in Colombia, limited. This forces international the world famous London Marathon. where my wife is from. While there, I actors to reduce their presence in RedR have five guaranteed charity worked for the Refugee Education Trust these countries. RedR’s strategic aim places on offer for the 26.2 mile and then for World Vision. to train as many national staff and challenge, and are looking for keen organisations as possible is therefore runners among you. If you’d like to What brought you back to RedR? extremely relevant. But the biggest join the RedR team and be part of this The International Programmes Director challenge we face, particularly in places legendary challenge, get in touch today. role is a huge challenge for me. like Pakistan and Sudan, is meeting our Overseeing five regional programmes, strategic objectives while balancing our SANTA RUN operating in challenging environments resources. If you’re looking for a running challenge with limited resources is a real test, and with a difference then the Santa Run one that excites me greatly. What are you most looking forward to is the one for you. Join thousands in the months to come? of running Santas of all ages on 4 What’s different about the RedR you’ve Working with the inspirational and December in London’s Victoria Park come back to? dedicated staff I meet every day. They for the annual 5km/10km route. You Since I’ve been away, RedR has made have a clear vision of the opportunities choose whether to run, jog or walk the significant progress in developing and the challenges ahead. I see my circuit and as an added bonus you get systems to improve the quality of what job as helping them to remove those to keep the Santa suit! we do and how we measure its impact. barriers and supporting them in the I think communication between HQ and great work they do. ■

14 Red Alert Autumn/Winter 2016 Red Alert Autumn/Winter 2016 15 EXPERT OPINION

At this point, our aim is to build on the progress made to date by raising awareness of KnowledgePoint worldwide, and increasing the number of people who both post and answer questions. We’d also like to further KnowledgePoint is a free, online increase the diversity of topics covered, technical support service for aid and develop a mobile app enabling workers in the field. Novi Sonko users to save data and pages so they has just taken on the role of Project can access them offline. Coordinator: a brand-new position Throughout my career, I’ve focused on that’s rich in possibility! IT for knowledge management, helping different stakeholders to easily access Sometimes, aid workers come across and share data, knowledge and best a technical problem that they just practices. Over the next few months, can’t solve alone. The concept behind I’ll be working to oversee the technical KnowledgePoint is very simple: wherever development of the platform, promote you are in the world, you can post a it to potential users and partners, and query in the forum, and you’ll receive ensure it continues to meet the needs an answer from one of our 150 experts of the humanitarian community. within 48 hours. Our ultimate aim is for KnowledgePoint Since its launch in 2012, to be the go-to knowledge management KnowledgePoint has registered more system in the sector! than 78,000 users in 183 countries. Their questions range from general to Register and post a question at super-specific. In the past few weeks www.knowledgepoint.org. alone, we’ve had queries on monitoring and evaluation tools for mobile devices, We’re always looking for volunteers to as well as water-friendly latrines, solar join our panel of experts. pumps in Syria, and where to buy ready- If you’re interested, please contact to-use therapeutic food in . [email protected].

KnowledgePoint is a joint initiative of RedR UK, Water Aid, Practical Action, IRC Wash, Engineer Aid and HIF.

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