IOM Mozambique: Training of Trainers in Emergency Response Management

Due to its location, Mozambique is frequently affected by hazards such as floods, droughts, cyclones and earthquakes. In 2016 over 1.2 million people are at risk of food insecurity due to the droughts and floods of which 600,000 people in crisis and need immediate food assistance and another 600,000 are considered stressed.

Prevention, mitigation and response to these events require the country to plan to ensure a decentralized emergency response process at all levels. The engagement of all government sectors as well as community participation is the key strategy endorsed by the government of Mozambique.

Ensuring the decentralization of the government emergency response process requires all actors to be aware of their roles and responsibilities. Thus, after a joint work process between the National Disaster Management Institute (INGC) and IOM, with funds from OFDA, the two institutions began on 21 March the first Training of Trainers (ToT) in Emergencies Response Management to 25 officials of INGC in Tete, Manica, Gaza, Maputo and Inhambane provinces and Vilankulo and Maputo cities, with more than 8 million of population.

This first ToT is being conducted with an interactive methodology developed by IOM through the updated INGC training manual. The ToT will allow future trainers to have one Tool Kit that includes a technical manual with the following contents: National Emergency Response Mechanisms, Contingency Planning, Rapid Evaluation and Needs Assessment in Emergency and Information Management as well as pedagogical and orientation tools to develop training sessions at different levels of the national emergency response structures.

According to Nelma de Oliveira, one of the first INGC trainers in Emergency Response Management trained by IOM, “This training facilitates the decentralization process because it uses practical tools that teaches the Emergency Operation Centres (COE) how to handle emergencies. With this ToT, the trainers can easily identify and improve the training beneficiaries' gaps.”