Intensive Programme 2200-9HA-0

The programme is divided in seven components:
1. Presentation of NOHA educational activities
2. Presentation of the disciplines at hand
3. Humanitarian activities and techniques
4. The ways for improving humanitarian action, namely through innovation and Disaster Risk Reduction
5. People in conflict
6. Open questions about situations, challenging rules and access
7. Security awareness, including simulation exercise

I. Introduction to NOHA educational activities: The NOHA Joint Master’s

The Network on Humanitarian Action (NOHA) is an international association of Universities to enhance professionalism in the Humanitarian sector, by promoting Humanitarian values and providing certificated high level courses (Joint Master’s in International Humanitarian Action), as well as refreshment courses (seasonal NOHA Schools and yearly NOHA Awareness Raising Seminars) and promoting research and policy papers on key humanitarian issues.

The NOHA Joint Master's in International Humanitarian Action is an interuniversity, multidisciplinary postgraduate programme that provides high quality academic education and professional competencies for personnel working or intending to work in the area of humanitarian action. In addition to collaboration and support from the European Union, the NOHA Programme enjoys the backing of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), inter-governmental organisations (IGOs), and other actors of the humanitarian action community with whom the Network has strong collaborative links.

II. Presentation of the different disciplines at hand

The NOHA Master’s first semester encompasses five main pillars. Four of them will be dealt with directly on the first day: International Humanitarian Law (IHL), Project Management, Public Health and Anthropology. Only Geopolitics will not be on the agenda on the first day because it is the most popular among NOHA students and they already hold some knowledge in it. However, even without a lecture or a workshop dedicated to geopolitics, the topic will be addressed indirectly from the onset with a large survey of ongoing displacements and migrations.

Nevertheless, none of these topics can be thoroughly explored during such short sessions which are only the quick start of the year.

III. Humanitarian activities and techniques

This is the main part of the Intensive Programme since students will learn how it all works: from the needs assessment up to the final evaluation of a project. Throughout, they will learn what assistance consists of, which standards are to be followed and how humanitarian actors coordinate in order to avoid gaps and duplications.

IV. The ways for improving humanitarian action, namely through innovation and Disaster Risk Reduction

In order to improve effectiveness, the international community calls upon new technologies. Moreover, an important idea is that reducing the risk of disaster is better than response. However, not all emergencies fit that criterion.

V. People in conflict

The situation of civilians in conflict is usually very harsh even though IHL is due to protect them. Students will learn about IHL rules and principles and their implementation. They will hear about different and new types of conflict which makes implementation more difficult. The film projection will give them a direct impression of the dire situation of women in a protracted never-ending conflict.

VI. Open questions about situations, challenging rules and access

After four days, students will already have some knowledge of the main fields of humanitarian action and its main activities. They will know about trends of the World Humanitarian Summit. However, there are moments where humanitarian actors are faced with such types of violence or distress that humanitarian action cannot solve. There will be a survey of some examples of robust operations aimed at freeing people from fear. CAR, Middle East events and the migration crisis will be on the agenda.

VII. Security awareness and simulation exercise

Security is a major concern for IGOs and NGOs and Donors and no good teaching or training can avoid such a topic. The security awareness session will run over three days, beginning with a lecture in a plenary session by a NGO specialized In the security of humanitarian workers. The second day will be devoted to a security simulation in the open air. And the session will end with a debriefing on the 13th in the morning.