Brown University’s Role in Professionalizing Humanitarian Response Adam C. Levine, MD, MPH Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Director, Global Emergency Medicine Fellowship, The Alpert Medical School of Brown University

Growing Need Natural Disaster Trends. The Center for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED). Accessed Feb 27, 2013 at

Emergency? 3 Source: Development Initiatives 2011

Demographics All Workers = 595,000. Relief Workers = 210,800. 6% pa growth

“The international response to the earthquake in Haiti…highlighted unacceptable practices in the delivery of emergency medical humanitarian assistance…” “The international response to the earthquake in Haiti…highlighted unacceptable practices in the delivery of emergency medical humanitarian assistance…” “…serious questions have been raised about the clinical competencies and practices of some of the foreign medical teams (FMTs)…” “…serious questions have been raised about the clinical competencies and practices of some of the foreign medical teams (FMTs)…” “It is now recognized that there needs to be greater accountability, more stringent oversight and better coordination of their work…” “It is now recognized that there needs to be greater accountability, more stringent oversight and better coordination of their work…” Global Health Cluster (GHC). Coordination and Registration of Providers of Foreign Medical Teams in the Humanitarian Response to Sudden-onset Disasters. Inter-Agency Standing Committee GHC Policy and Strategy Team Position Paper. Geneva, We Can Do Better

Previous Efforts Agency Specific Training Agency Specific Training Self Appointed NGO Standards Self Appointed NGO Standards Red Cross Code of Conduct Red Cross Code of Conduct SPHERE Standards SPHERE Standards Humanitarian Accountability Project Humanitarian Accountability Project Focused Professional Associations Focused Professional Associations World Association of Disaster and Emergency Medicine World Association of Disaster and Emergency Medicine Humanitarian Logistics Association Humanitarian Logistics Association Professionals in Humanitarian Assistance and Protection Professionals in Humanitarian Assistance and Protection

Enhancing Learning & Research for Humanitarian Assistance A collaborative umbrella network dedicated to supporting partnerships between higher education institutions and humanitarian organizations and partners around the world A collaborative umbrella network dedicated to supporting partnerships between higher education institutions and humanitarian organizations and partners around the world Seeks to move the professionalization of the humanitarian aid workforce from discussion to action, both at the global and regional level Seeks to move the professionalization of the humanitarian aid workforce from discussion to action, both at the global and regional level Recently commissioned scoping study lays the groundwork for professionalization of the field Recently commissioned scoping study lays the groundwork for professionalization of the field

Which continent are you from?

Which of the categories below best describes your relationship with humanitarian work?

Professionalization – Yes or No?

Key Values for All Humanitarian Aid Workers

Key Knowledge for All Humanitarian Aid Workers

Key Skills for All Humanitarian Aid Workers

ELRHA REGIONAL HUBS

Recognized as the North American regional hub of ELRHA Recognized as the North American regional hub of ELRHA Goals of the consortium are to develop common competencies, core curricula, and accreditation standards for humanitarian education and training Goals of the consortium are to develop common competencies, core curricula, and accreditation standards for humanitarian education and training Additionally, share best practices and create research laboratories for humanitarian response Additionally, share best practices and create research laboratories for humanitarian response Professional Association of Academic Training Centers in Humanitarian Health

Professionalizing the Sector 1. Common Competencies 2. Core Curricula/Training 3. System of Certification

1: Common Competencies

2: Core Curricula/Training Mentored Structured Assessed

3: System of certification? Entry levelMid levelHigh level Globally Available Accredited Trainers

Academia Knowledge repository Formal qualifications Research The profession Field practice Testing knowledge Self regulation Primary Clients Receive services Feedback on services

Acknowledgements: Dr. Peter Walker, PhD Director, Feinstein International Center, Tufts University Dr. Frederick M. Burkle, Jr., MD, MPH, DTM Senior Fellow, Harvard Humanitarian Initiative