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Positive & effective management for challenging time – reflections from the CiC autumn workshop

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Emmanuelle Lacroix | 13th October 2015

Braving the rain at 7am to attend a workshop using role-play to illustrate the skills and behaviours required to handle conflict in the workplace, I wondered if it was such a great idea: would I have to take an active part part in role-playing when all I was wanted at the time was a giant cup of coffee to warm me up! Once I got there, I soon remembered that our colleagues at CiC (http://www.cic-eap.co.uk/) know all about stress management and defusing fear and knew the workshop would be enjoyable as well as informative!

This workshop was facilitated by role-play actors: people who know what they are doing and actually enjoy acting (whilst also doing it very well!). Although we were not participating in role plays ourselves, the workshop was still very participatory and active. We embarked on a very dynamic and captivating journey to explore the skills and behaviours needed to build emotional resilience to help us to defuse conflict in the workplace. The use of role play really helped participants get into the scenario, connect with our own experiences and emotions to reflect on what we would and should when facing such situations.

Most – if not all – of us have had to deal with tricky situations at work, and might have let our emotions prevent a quick and effective resolution. Changes and uncertainty are a given features in our sector, and beyond, and often lead to stress and tension. When under pressure to respond to emergency situations or deliver under tight donor deadlines and requirements or moving goal posts, it is easy for managers to push their action plans forward, leaving collaboration and participatory approaches to a later time.

It is no breaking news to state that these are the perfect factors to create misunderstanding, tension and team fragmentation, which can ultimately lead to conflict. So what can you do to defuse the tension, manage conflict effectively and in the process empower your team and yourself in the process?

Some of the tips I took away from the workshop that I would like to share with the HOPE Master students of ASVI School of Management (http://www.socialchangeschool.org/) are:

*Know what motivates and engages your staff

By that, I also mean getting to understand the team dynamics and interdependencies, the individual work profiles (e.g. is there someone in your team who applied for your role that could be resentful?), the preferences and the no-go in terms of the managerial tools (e.g. suggesting a team Friday drink after work or a team building event over the weekend might not work for everybody or every context).

You have been put in charge of the team based on your expertise and competencies but if you don’t get your team engaged, you will not be able to apply these skills and competences.  Get the intelligence; identify the skills, expertise and interests in your team.

*Listen – really listen – and be there when you do

When you join or take over management responsibility for a team, start by listening and get to know people individually as much as possible. Create enough space for absorption as part of your on-boarding period. Then you can move to collaborative and informed planning and delivery.

Acute listening can be tiring, when done genuinely, so acknowledge this and carve the right amount of time in your days for it.

*Take your responsibilities as leader but remain humble

If facing resistance or conflict from members of your team, you have to make the difference between raw emotions and constructive feedback. Be confident and humble, show empathy (especially when trying to defuse tension or aggression, and your body language needs to reflect your spoken words) and acknowledge your fears. All this and more relate to emotional intelligence which we explored back in March with CiC: http://www.peopleinaid.org/resources/stress-of-leadership.

The workshop facilitator shared a great coaching question to help create some self-awareness: reverse the role and ask yourself how you would manage you in this situation?

*Good leadership is not about “know-it-all”

Some of your team members have more experience than you on some sides of your programmes? Good, this is why they were hired – you are here to set the scene, provide strategic vision and ensure the knowledge hold within your team serve the purpose and mission of the organisation. Don’t hesitate to tell your team you also want to learn from them and then be deliberate about creating opportunities to make that happen.

*Empowerment comes from taking control

If the situation is deteriorating, take control of the environment and allow the individual(s) to do so too so ownership of the resolution process is shared. Don’t avoid the issue hoping for it to pass, don’t let it spread within the team further and be intentional when communicating about it. Identify and agree on actions that provide quick wins to address the situation.

If the situation requires external mediation or support, then reach out for it, may it be via your line manager, your Human Resources team or other support mechanisms available within our organisation.

These are just a few tips to add to your personal tool kit as manager as you go on to build your career and profile.

 

The post Positive & effective management for challenging time – reflections from the CiC autumn workshop appeared first on ASVI Social Change.


Taking the field with Master HOPE: the first Field Simulation at the UNHRD base in Brindisi

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From 5 to 9 October 2015 students of the first edition of HOPE- Master In Humanitarian Operations in Emergencies Managing Projects, People, Administration & Logistic in the field’s  experienced a field simulation at the UNHRD base in Brindisi.

UNHRD is a United Nations Human Assistance Network with bases throughout the world. In Brindisi there are structures for humanitarian training in terms of “real life” simulation as well as the United Nations Logistics Base, supporting peacekeeping operations.

The first two days of the “Working in emergency” Workshop focused on classroom lessons held by Emmanuelle Lacroix, People Capacity & Development Manager at CHS Alliance (http://chsalliance.org). Over the following three days, students really played the simulation; they experienced the situation of arriving in a Country affected by humanitarian emergency and beginning to operate there, they also met donors and started activities on field. The eight students were led by four trainers: Lodovico Mariani- Intersos Operational Support and Training Coordinator in Italy and Master HOPE Co-Coordinator; Antonello Meloni- Intersos Desk Africa Assistant; Erica Berardi- Intersos Administration Officer and Dora Lisa Mercurio- Head of Career Coaching, Internship and Didactics in ASVI Social Change.

Students were given a Case Study so that they could act and work in group within a context of emergency. They were divided into two groups: two NGOs with a mission and an organogram each.

For everyone this represented an opportunity for dealing with group working in a specific role, trying to manage humanitarian emergency.

 

The post Taking the field with Master HOPE: the first Field Simulation at the UNHRD base in Brindisi appeared first on ASVI Social Change.

Three days on Disaster Management for HOPE students

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On October 23-25 2015 HOPE Master students – June 2015 – Edition participated to their second in-class meeting for an entire week-end.

During these three days, lectures were held by Silva Ferretti, Humanitarian Emergency freelance consultant, and Tanja Berretta, current coordination manager for Plan International humanitarian actions, which are financed by the European Commission in the world. Before this experience she worked for 15 years on field.

Students were involved in a project dealing with humanitarian emergency by using a logical framework as a project tool and touching need assessment by the hand through video-support materials as well.

The meeting started with a summary on fundamentals of Disaster Management, the topic of the first in-class meeting. Later, an analysis of the professional profiles of humanitarian emergency was made. Finally, more details on PCM were given (how and where it is used).

Case-studies played the leading role during these three days. Mainly Pakistan case-study, allowing students to develop a logical framework six months after a natural disaster. For the simulation, students were divided into two groups and two organisations: one for the Shelter and one for the Gender. There was also a showing of videos which had been recorded on field, in order to determine need assessment. Other practical tools were humanitarian intervention’s three actors (organisation’s mandate, donor and intervention context), accountability and disaster risk management cycle.

The post Three days on Disaster Management for HOPE students appeared first on ASVI Social Change.

HOPE students: ready for the field experience!

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Which are the minimum standards that have to be guaranteed in humanitarian emergency? How to get ready for a three-day simulation held at the UNHRD base in Brindisi?

The field experience “Working in Emergencies” is approaching and HOPE master’s students – Master in Humanitarian Operations in Emergencies Managing Projects, People, Administration & Logistic in the field (June 2015 Edition) have already started to “jump right into” it during the weekend of the 19th-21st February, by gaining the international standards which are adopted by the humanitarian emergency sector.

Pia Cantini, who is the Humanitarian Aid Expert for Save the Children Italia, gave  students the opportunity to work on The Sphere Project Handbook: what it is, how it was conceived, what is its importance today and how operators within the sector use it. It is indeed a project born from the bottom up. Following the Rwandan Genocide, emergency sector realized that it was necessary to establish and codify minimum standards of emergency. Therefore, Sphere was born in 1997: today considered as the relevant manual for anyone who works in the humanitarian emergency sector at a worldwide level.

During the 3 days in class, at Intersos headquarters in Rome, the 4 technical sectors of the standard Sphere were examined in depth:

-Food security and nutrition

-Health actions

-Shelter Settlement and non food items

-WASH

A specific focus was dedicated to “Education in Emergency” topic: what does it mean to provide education during a humanitarian emergency?

After three days of practice on the main principles, nothing to do but test yourselves on the field!                                        

UNHRD base in Brindisi and Working in Emergencies workshop, with CHS Alliance support, will be the next challenges for our future humanitarian operators.

The post HOPE students: ready for the field experience! appeared first on ASVI Social Change.

Last days to request an interview to evaluate your potential!

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Are you looking for a learning experience that could change your life and give you a leading role in social change?

Until the 16th June 2016, you have the opportunity of an individual interview to evaluate your potential. The interview will be free and it is necessary for the admission to the following Masters:

- Master in Project Management for International Cooperation, Euro-Project Management and Local Development

- Master in FundRaising Management in the NGOs Business Administration, Marketing, Communication, Social Media, Campaigns

- Master in Humanitarian Operations in Emergencies Managing Projects, People, Administration & Logistic in the field

For almost twenty years, it has been one of the most significant professional “step” and is mandatory for the inscription to ASVI Social Change Masters.

If you dream to become a project manager or a fundraiser or if you want to work in humanitarian emergency context, if you want to re-professionalize yourself and strengthen your position in the labour market, then your moment has come. It’s time to take a challenge: request an orientation and admission interview with one of the ASVI Social Change’s Advisers.

Hurry up!

The post Last days to request an interview to evaluate your potential! appeared first on ASVI Social Change.

We need new leaders for great challenges!

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On Saturday 16, July 2016, the first day of the new edition of ASVI Social Change Masters was held at the Polo Didattico in Rome,  for the masters in Project Management for the international Cooperation, in Fundraising Management and in Humanitarian Operations in Emergencies.

A day that can be considered more than international thanks to the presence of a lot of foreign students, coming from different parts of Europe, among the 42 new students that attended. Marco Crescenzi, ASVI Social Change Staff, the Master’s Directors and also some representatives of the historical Partners, introduced the students to their new and exciting experience.

The President of the Social Change School Marco Crescenzi gave a welcoming speech to the new students, he underlined the importance of networking and integration with the different communities and institutions, in particular, after the recent international issues, he highlighted that “the school will increase its efforts to connect to the young Islamic networks, this can be a strong alliance to defeat fundamentalism”. Within the former alumni, the school has had fantastic Muslim students, like Rassmea Salah, who is now Trainer for , their leadership potential is very strong, and they are hard workers.

According to M. Crescenzi “the world and the non profit sector need new leaders in Europe able to deal with the big challenges of humanity”; leaders who invest in their job, not just their “soul and passion” but also theirskills and professionalism”, essential requirements for achieving the social change.

Our Partners and Master’s Directors intervened by telling the students about their job and passion for the non profit sector, and how  undertaking this career path has changed their life in better, allowing them to realize their own dreams. The masters’ representatives that attended were: Giampiero Giacomel-FRM Master Director; Lodovico Mariani-HOPE Master Director, Sandro Calvani-Strategic Adviser for HOPE Master, who intervened with a video, and Alessio di Carlo-Co-director of the PMC Master.

The Partners’ representatives were: Paola Cocchi-Human Resources Manager on behalf of Amref Health Africa; Federica Corsi-Policy Officer for OXFAM; Pia Cantini-International Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid Expert for Save The Children; Benedetta Genisio- Digital and New Media Responsbile for AGIRE-Italian Agency for Emergency Response; Lodovico Mariani-Human Resources Officer for INTERSOS; Maria Carla Cardelli- Fundraising and Communication Office for LIBERA, Associations, names and numbers against mafias and also Senior Adviser of the FRM Master.

As a tradition, a former student from the latest edition, Gianluca Gafforio, passed the ASVI Social Change flag to a new student, to symbolise the continuity of the work that Asvi Social Change has done since 1998, by training more than 1000 students. During the second part of the day, the students were the real protagonists of the event as they had to present themselves with an object that could better describe their experiences and the dream that they want to realize with the ASVI Social Change Master!

A very felt good luck to our new students for the coming experience!

The post We need new leaders for great challenges! appeared first on ASVI Social Change.

Social Change Leaders: Humanitarian Emergency, Interview to Kostas Moschochoritis, INTERSOS

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Here is “The Protagonists”, a journey for you to get to know better some amongst the main characters of the ‘worldwide’ NGOs. Professionals who fight for the future the many, who make the difference in the life of millions of people, who challenge themselves sometimes also putting their safety at risk. People who transformed their passion and commitment on the field, into a work full of meaning.

The first of our Protagonists (with capital ‘P’!) is Kostas Moschochoritis, General Secretary at INTERSOS, a life on the field in every continent.

INTERSOS is one of the main partners of the Master HOPE, and Kostas is amongst the most appreciated lecturers.

                                                                          “Homo Sum. Nihil humani a me alienum puto” (Terenzio)

 

Q.: Doctor Moschochoritis, let’s start from the beginning. You started with a technical education: a degree in Electronical Engineering, obtained in Patrasso in the 90s, a work as an engineer until 1995. After that, you literally changed your life, and starting to dedicate yourself to the humanitarian aid. Why did you decide to undertake that career, apparently, so different from the education you had chosen?

A.: I decided it was time to give a different meaning to my life and my career. Doing something, I felt necessary: I started to collaborate with ‘Médecins Sans Frontieres’. From being responsible for the construction site in Greece, I found myself starting my first mission in Armenia. A very deep and humanly intense experience, in a country, at the time, completely isolated, around which, all the borders were closed. What impressed me most, was the great humanity and dignity of people to whom we were trying to bring help.

Q.: Let’s move onto the beginning of your career, the daily life that we face every day. You are Greek. Greece during the past years, has been hit, also more than Italy, by the humanitarian emergency, constituted by the exodus of refugees caused by the instability in Syria. Millions of people escaping, who are in need of everything: maybe, more than anything else, to find once again the hope for a normal life. What can we do?

A.: They are people escaping from impossible situations, people who lost friends, relatives, material goods and, above all, the possibility to dream for a future. The first thing to do for them, is to give them back dignity and hope.

Q.: Doctor Moschochoritis, what do you think about the programmes adopted by the European Union and by the individual Member States regarding the refugees management?

A.: The agreement with Turkey surely does not make honour to the European Union. Sometimes is almost looks like there is a political will to subcontract the problem of the refugees and to create walls, moving the problem away instead of solving it. To keep it faraway 

Q.: In quality of INTERSOS General Secretary, a Humanitarian Organisation whose motto is, as we remember, “first line of help”, what do you think is the role of the NGOs? And which is the one of the third parties governments?

A.: The role of a humanitarian NGO is in its definition, it needs to have a humanitarian aim: it has to alleviate the sufferance, by bringing direct rescue with food and first necessity goods, but it also has to give dignity back to people, I insist on that concept. (Editor’s note, one of the symbolic sentences of INTERSOS is : “they call them refugees, we call them by name”). Moreover, a NGO, always needs to be able to take autonomous decisions. 

Q.: “Homo Sum. Nihil humani a me alienum puto”. INTEROS’s ‘mission’ is introduced by this famous sentence by Terenzio… What does it mean to be men/women in the 21st century?

A.: It means that we are all equal, all vulnerable. That we can see, perceive, understand everything that happens to us and to our similar, and that we cannot close our eyes.

Q.: Let’s take the stock on some key words that define the values of INTERSOS: ‘impartial’, ‘sensible’, ‘local potentialities’, could you explain us what they symbolise?

A.:Impartial’ means that every evaluation on the needs, has to be done independently by the involved factions, by the political, religious, social or  belonging differences, always keeping the focus on the interest of people in danger or in need.

‘Sensible’, because an extreme sensibility is always needed, and comprehension of every personal and cultural aspect met: methodologies and behaviours that respect the cultural and religious contexts are at the base of a good intervention. The relations with populations have to be founded on listening, confrontation and dialogue in order to achieve good results.

Local Potentialities’  it indicates that it is fundamental to  actively involve and since the very first moments, the population in the different activities, enhancing the capacities of individuals and communities, since participation of who has been hit by a crisis, when taking decisions, is fundamental, to give value, dignity and hope back.

Q.: How is an intervention set in an emergency area? Is it better to give a fish today, or to teach how to fish it?

A.: A humanitarian NGO firstly has to be faithful to its role: therefore, it has to provide immediate help, the ‘fish today’. However, the two things are not in opposition; since by helping in the immediate, the basis on how to solve long-term problems can and should be provided.

Q.: Do you ever have any moments of doubt? The fear of not being able to do that? Of not being incisive? In addition, how do we overcome them?

A.: Unfortunately it is a fear, a feeling that can happen often. But it is the same reality to push you forward. I remember about a camp of displaced people in Liberia in the summer 2003: we were distributing food and help, every Tuesday, and regularly, at night time, armed guerrillas came to confiscate everything, threatening and putting into danger the life of people we were trying to help. We were asked by the same population to stop the supply of aids, and we had to do it. But, we cannot cry, we need to stand up and start again.

Q.: As you have just told us, INTERSOS intervenes in areas often object of strong territorial instability: more or less official wars, rebels and armed groups, constant uncertainty. How to organise an intervention in those extreme situations?

A.: The first thing that I want to note is that our security is based on the armed protection. We gain people’s trust with our work, dialogue, and negotiating with all the actors on the place and the local population. When this is not possible, when the access to the population is not guaranteed, we should be also ready to take painful decisions, such as, for example, not intervening or withdraw from a specific area.

Q.: Doctor Moschochoritis, you had a long and articulated career, living the most different emergencies in every corner of our Planet: amongst the many Equatorial Africa, South America and the same Italy as well. Which are the most intense memories that you keep?

A.: So many memories. Every mission, every operation left me something. I remember Columbia with great affection, the human warmth and enthusiasm of people we went to rescue. One of the individuals that affected ne the most, was a local driver in Liberia, who, in a morning of New Year’s Eve, despite the difficulties and dangers, and the fact that there was nothing to celebrate about, was very happy and smiling. When I asked him why, he answered: “Because I am alive, and I have a job…” . That man, happy for things that are taken for granted by many, taught me the importance to look at our life from a different perspective.

Q.: What is instead, the most difficult situation you have faced?

A.: I would say when, in 1999 we were in an explorative mission in Timor East. Some local militants considered every foreigner as responsible of interferences in the ‘local affairs’, and they had very hostile attitudes toward them. We were in a small rest stop, when armed men came in, with very violent attitude. Luckily, nothing happened, but after a couple of months, unfortunately there were some victims, amongst which also the staff of international organisations.

Q.: Which are, in your opinion, the skills, requisites for who wants to work in the world of the NGOs? Is a strong motivation enough?

A.: Strong motivation and human values surely are fundamental, but a great professionality is needed as well, intended as the professional capacities and also as the operative diligence. The field is for working, not for learning. Moreover, it is necessary a strong flexibility: you need to be ready to operate in situations that can be very far away from the ideal ones.

Q.: One last question, which suggestion do you feel giving to who wants to be useful by following its own dream, setting its own life in the humanitarian field?

A.: Firstly, to build an appropriate professional background, being very flexible, and a positive capacity of adaptation. In addition, not being scared of questioning themselves…

 

*This section is published monthly and it is ideated and curated by Guido Pacifici, Journalist and  Television Writer, with Marco Crescenzi.

The post Social Change Leaders: Humanitarian Emergency, Interview to Kostas Moschochoritis, INTERSOS appeared first on ASVI Social Change.

Workshop “Working in Emergencies”

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Dora Lisa Mercurio | Career Service

On the 17th and 18th of December 2016, the students from the Master HOPE- in Humanitarian Operations in Emergencies Managing Projects, People, Administration & Logistic in the field, June 2016 Edition, were busy with the workshop ‘Working in Emergencies’ at the Polo Didattico in Rome.

14 students took part: the lecturer, for both days, was Massimo Dall’OlioSenior consultant and trainer in HR Management and development.

The students, by the end of the 2 days, acquired the understading of:

  • How to analyse, set and solve problems in a complex situation.
  • How to set the adequate objectives by acquiring a basic knowledge on the tools for objective management.
  • How to plan, recognise priorities, also in an emergency situation
  • How to manage a working team
  • How to communicate in an effective way also when under pressure
  • How to solve and manage the cultural influence on the relation
  • How to conduct an interview and how to give a feedback to the single person and team.
  • How to organise an effective meeting, that engages the participants with the aim of reaching a common objective

According to the lecturer, Massimo Dall’Olio:

“In my experience of human resources management and training, I realised that the best cooperators are those who can put on the field their personal abilities and not just their technical skills. Being able to communicate, being able to work in a team and have the right attitude when facing problems, are abilities that can be acquired and trained even if they are often left on the side of our traditional study paths. During the two days of training, we put those themes at the centre of the attention and we have experimented techniques and tools to improve the personal competences and self-awareness.”

During the first day, the students have looked, through an introductive part, with some case studies and exercises, at the following themes:

MINDSET AND PROBLEM SETTING IN HUMANITARIAN FIELD

Changing our own mentality in order to develop an effective behaviour. Group activity: Metaplan. Mapping of the humanitarian field criticalities. Problem setting: technical reformulation and locus of internal control. The importance of the mental approach.

STRESS MANAGEMENT AND SECURITY

Personal safety and wellbeing. Risk, danger, threat and damage.

Tools and notions to work safely in the humanitarian. Stress management.

MANAGING BY OBJECTIVES AND PLANNING

Objectives management, transforming the problem into an objective. Basic characteristics of an effective objective. Importance vs urgency: how to recognise the priorities and organise the activities in an effective way.

Development of an action plan, how to share it with the interested parties and collaborators.

TEAM BUILDING AND COLLABORATION

Group exercise: “make your decision”. Teambuilding and teamwork: from the competition to the collaboration, building trust and pursuing the common objective.

During the second day, centred on the capacities and communication techniques, the students had the chance to analyse at the following themes:

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Through an exercise “are you communicating clearly?”. Communication: the basic process of the communication. The feedback and the circularity of the communication.

Listening capacity and effective questions. Communication Axioms.

Communicating in a multicultural environment and managing a team in different countries.

GIVE AND RECEIVE FEEDBACK

Lead an interview: steps and techniques with a role play. Debriefing and feedback on personal communication style.

GROUP DYNAMICS: CONDUCT MEETING

Group dynamics and conducting a meeting: processes and tools.

#Working4SocialChange..!

 

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A new challenging Field Experience for HOPE students!

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Giulia Pizzuti | Head of Didactics

The students of the Master HOPE in Humanitarian Operations in Emergencies Managing Projects, People, Administration & Logistics in the field participated, from the 21st to the 24th of February, to the field experience organized in the UNHRD Base in Brindisi.

A group of 13 students took part in the field experience, all the activities have been organized and lead with the presence of Lodovico Mariani, HOPE Master Director and Head of Finance at Amref Italia, Francesca Matarazzi, Regional Director Assistant at INTERSOS, Davide Berruti, HR Manager at INTERSOS, Dora Lisa Mercurio and Giulia Pizzuti, Social Change School Staff.

The three days have been extremely interesting and challenging for the students, they had the chance to know and get in touch with the problems and needs that can arise during a humanitarian emergency.

All the activities have been organized to improve student’s capacities to plan and implement responses to emergency situations. A special attention has been paid on presenting and gaining a practical knowledge on how to react and respond to some of the challenges that it is possible to face while planning the management and coordination of the activities and the organization process during an emergency.

The majority of the students affirmed that the field experience represented an important and enriching moment that gave them the possibility to get in touch with specific dynamics and problems that they didn’t face before.

The Field Experience ended with the visit to the UNHRD Base Lab. During this last activity, the students could look at and get to know the details of the instruments and tools that are provided and used during the humanitarian emergency missions.

In Brindisi, both participants and organizers, had the opportunity to live a great and enriching experience. The UNHRD, is already waiting for us to go back with our new HOPE students!

 

Read more reports and articles by Giulia Pizzuti:

‘Get to know us!': Giulia Pizzuti

“Workshop: ‘Scenario Paradigms, Legal Framework, Strategic Perspective’ – an NGOs’ strategic insight”

“The Journey Begin! – Report of the first day of the season for the ‘Social Change School’”

 

Do you want to work in the NGOs? Apply now for the Admission and Professional Potential Evaluation Interview, one hour of in-depth dialogue with the managers and HRM of our partner NGOs! 

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First HOPE Workshop: “Scenario – Paradigms, legal framework, strategic perspectives”

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The students of HOPE – Master In Humanitarian Operations in Emergencies Managing Projects, People, Administration & Logistic in the field, of the Edition started in June 2017, took part at their first workshop “SCENARIO - PARADIGMS, LEGAL FRAMEWORK, STRATEGIC PERSPECTIVES” held on the 8th, 9th and 10th of July at the Polo Didattico in Rome.

On the first day, the students were introduced to the Career Development, meeting Silvia Fontana, the Head of Career Development Unit. 

The workshop was lead by professionals from the field of Humanitarian Emergencies, which gave the students the first tools and insights over the sector.

The first day focused in fact on HUMANITARIAN AID AND ETHICS. Federico Marcon, Strategic Growth and Business Development Manager at Australian Red Cross introduced the students to the definitions, concept, history and principles of Humanitarian AID.

Marcon. Workshop HOPE

The second part of the day was led by Marcelo Garcia Dalla Costa, Head of Emergency Unit at INTERSOS on “WHAT IS A HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCY? The context: major crisis and root causes, affected communities, fleeing people”.

At the end of the day, the students could hear stories and personal testimony of experts in humanitarian operations by Marta Collu, Humanitarian Aid Advisor at Italian Development Cooperation Agency.

Marta Collu - Workshop HOPE

The second day was lectured by Federico Marcon focusing on the Legal Framework of humanitarian emergency on the role of Red Cross.

On the 10th, Riccardo Sansone, Head of Humanitarian Emergencies at Oxfam Italia focused on HUMANITARIAN COORDINATION: coordination mechanisms, Cluster System and General framework of humanitarian action.

Riccardo Sansone Workshop HOPE

 

The three days ended with Marta Persiani’s intervention, Head of Sub Saharan Africa Unit at Save the Children Italy, on why humanitarian aid is needed and what are the challenges and contexts in which it works.

The workshop has been very interesting and the student participated with enthusiasm and will to start this new path with energy and commitment. A good starting point to begin to know the scenario of this sector!

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EDITORIAL. 16 years after 9/11, building a better future together with the Social Change School

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Today is 9/11. 16 years after 9/11, building a better future together with the Social Change School.

After the Twin Towers catastrophe, there was a change also in the story of ASVI. We doubled our communication effort and impact and many people left for-profit joining the School to make a change in the world. It was at that point that the School really started flying and we felt that our mission was right and deeply understood. 

The fate of humanity is not magnificent and progressive as hoped by communism, but is instead rich of ups and downs, of great momentum and depressions, of continuous contradictions, of great efforts often empty and often successful. Story can be made by each of us ants, if conscious of being on the right side of the scale, to incline it in the wished direction. Story is made not much of great acts, but more of a patient work of construction that each of us does every day with their own virtuous behaviors.

Let’s imagine the school as a crawling anthill, active in building the future. Ants never stop, keep that in mind!

 

By M. Crescenzi

 

Do you want to be part of the change? Apply now for the Admission and Professional Potential Evaluation Interview, one hour of in-depth dialogue with the managers and HRM of our partner NGOs! 

 

Photo Source: The Atlantic

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Master HOPE students in Madrid: Workshop on SPHERE STANDARDS

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Between the 15th and the 17th of September, the cycle of workshops on SPHERE STANDARDS for HOPE – Master in Humanitarian Operations in Emergencies, Managing Projects, People Administration & Logistic in the Field, was held in Madrid, at the Social Change School’s Headquarters, and it was led by Ana Urgoiti, Sphere Trainer and Humanitarian Expert.

The first day was dedicated to an initial approach to “QUALITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE: SPHERE STANDARDS AND OTHER KEY STANDARDS”. Furthermore, the students had a first contact with the Humanitarian Charter, the Protection Principles and the Core Standards, in an interactive way, through group works.

On the second day, a first moment was dedicated to exploring the content of the Core Humanitarian Standards, which always have PEOPLE at its core. Afterwards, the students worked in groups to propose suggestions to improve the response to different humanitarian situations, according to the CHS (CORE HUMANITARIAN STANDARDS) and the protection principles. The rest of the day was centered around the overview of the four Technical chapters and on how to use Sphere in the project cycle. In the end, the students worked on case studies to apply those standards. 

Workshop HOPE madrid

 

 

 

 

 

On Sunday morning, the workshop started with a simulation on the application of Sphere standards within the WASH chapter, using the Sphere handbook, which defines benchmarks in which to understand how to better assess the situation. Afterwards, the students worked on another case study, applying all the knowledge acquired on how to use the Standards Sphere book, analysing the situation and preparing a small project. The workshop ended with a contest, “Who wants to be a Sphere Freak”, where students had to answer 10 questions on the issues they had dealt with during the entire workshop.

The objective achieved in this series of workshops was to give the students a global understanding of the Sphere Standards and the capacity to apply them in practical situations in the field.

 

Do you want to work in the NGOs? Apply now for the Admission and Professional Potential Evaluation Interview, one hour of in-depth dialogue with the managers and HRM of our partner NGOs! 

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Master PMC travels to Lebanon: Field Experience with INTERSOS

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On Monday the 11th of September 2017, our students of PMC – Master in Project Management for International Cooperation, Euro-Project Management and Local Development started their Field Experience, effectively putting in practice all the knowledge they have acquired so far in the Master.

During the first week, a group of students started with a validation workshop, meeting many stakeholders, as the representatives of INTERSOSUNDPWorld BankUnion of Tyre Municipalities and other Lebanese associations. This group’s duty was to review INTERSOS’ call for proposal to the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, demonstrating their familiarity with Project Management and International Cooperation’s techniques and strategies.

The whole Field Experience took place in Beirut and Tyre, Lebanon, where our students also had the chance to visit the field and see from up close two of INTERSOS’ projects, having children and women as beneficiaries.

Field PMC- Lebanon

As reported by Cinzia D’Intino, the Head of Didacts: “All feedbacks from our stakeholders are extremely positive; they appreciate our methodology and the professionalism of the students”.

Now is the turn of the second group, who has started another extremely educational experience on Monday the 18th of September 2017, meeting with the Head of Mission in the Offices of INTERSOS
The objective of the second group is to contribute in writing a programme in the sector of protection, focusing on the issue of child labour. On Tuesday morning, the team of students has participated in a workshop with many stakeholders, like the staff of INTERSOS and other local associations, as well as international organizations like Terre des Hommes and Danish Refugee Council. The output of the workshop is divided in three parts: a problem-oriented analysisa logical framework and an impact map for the theory of change. The second group is going to visit the field too, focusing on two projects in Mount Lebanon.

With the words of Linda, one of our PMC students: “It was a very interesting experience. Today’s workshop was very interesting because we were able to work very closely with all the stakeholders that attended the workshop. We were able to identify strategies for the development of vulnerable children in Lebanon”.

The Field Experience was organized by Alessio Di CarloCo-Director of the Master In Project Management for International Cooperation, and Cinzia D’Intino, who worked extremely hard to provide students and stakeholders the best experience possible.

Expectations were high, but so far everybody seems to be completely satisfied with the experience.

Here is a statement from the President of Social Change School, Marco Crescenzi:

Master PMC and its students are arriving in Lebanon, in Beirut and Tiro, welcomed by our colleagues of INTERSOS to actually work on local projects. For me this is another ‘didactic’ dream come true. We had talked about it two years ago with INTERSOS, but some of the difficulties seemed impossible to overcome to our staff back then. An important change, a greater international disposition, for which I thank the Head of Didactics, Cinzia D’Intino, and the Master’s Co-Director, Alessio Di Carlo. Cinzia actually knows Lebanon and Beirut very well, having worked there in the past. I think this is a complex experience from an organizational point of view, it’s not only a ‘visit on the field’, but it’s an engaging experience of project design on the field with real stakeholders. An experience that required a great amount of work and preparation. A great added value for our students, in experience, professionalism and curriculum, even for those that have already been on the field. I am extremely happy; thank you so much to the staff, you are extraordinary, and good luck to the students!”

 

Do you want to work with the NGOs? Apply now for the Admission and Professional Potential Evaluation Interview, one hour of in-depth dialogue with the managers and HRM of our partner NGOs! 

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Humanitarian Emergency- Migrants at risk: trafficking and smuggling networks. By Susana Ferreira, Master HOPE Coordinator

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Susana Ferreira | Master HOPE Coordinator | Career Development Officer

We are currently witnessing the largest and most pressing escalation of human mobility since World War II. All around the world people are forced to leave their homes, fleeing conflicts (Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Ukraine, etc.), persecution (Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa), or just looking for better living conditions. The 21st century is already known as the “age of migration”, as large portions of the population in different geographical areas are on the move, either within their own territory or crossing international borders.

This has translated into a dramatic increase in the flow of refugees and other migrants seeking protection and refuge in the EU and other Western countries since 2013. Still, an insignificant number when compared to the number of refugees hosted by neighbouring countries, such as Turkey for example. During this time, we have all witnessed the international community’s incapacity to deal with those flows and the lack of political willingness from a group of States to cooperate and reach common answers and solutions.

But behind the political failure is a far more dramatic reality, the other face of this international migratory crisis, the humanitarian side: migrants’ human security and vulnerability. Displaced persons and refugees are a vulnerable social group and a possible victim of trafficking networks working in different regions. All reports from international agencies agree that migrants and refugees are the most vulnerable group, as well as women and children, who account for the highest percentage of trafficking victims (UNODC, 2016).

The continuing restrictions of legal immigration channels and the adoption of increasingly restrictive border control measures have led to the search for alternative routes, mostly illegal, by migrants and the consequent emergence of a market of facilitation services. Migrants often seek those assistance services that help them cross the routes, entirely or in part, which may include transportation, lodging, or even support with fraudulent documentation.

Not only human trafficking but also smuggling threatens the security of the individual himself who may be subject to extortion along the journey, theft of documentation, money or other property, or even exposed to inhumane conditions, or even physical or psychological abuse, which may result in death. In this sense, I want to emphasise that both people smuggling and trafficking threaten the dignity of migrants and respect for their rights.

The management of irregular migrations – including refugees, IDPs (Internally Displaced People), and other migrants – are one of the main challenges of our times. Therefore, first and foremost, the international community, in line with the existing international laws and commitments, must ensure the protection of all migrants, particularly vulnerable groups, such as children and women. This means, ensuring a humane and proper treatment. Furthermore, there is an urgent need to improve legal migration channels, and the adoption of long-term management strategies. Thus, I think the moment has come to rethink approaches and policies to address those challenges.

 

 

References: UNODC (2016). Global Report on Trafficking In Person 2016

Photo Source: globalriskinsights.com

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Field Experience in Lebanon: PMC students’ thoughts and feelings

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During the weeks of the 11th and 18th September, our PMC – Master in Project Management for International Cooperation, Euro-Project Management and Local Development students were busy with their Field Experiences in Beirut and Tyre, Lebanon.

The students had the chance to meet and work on real projects with many stakeholders: INTERSOSUNDPWorld BankUnion of Tyre Municipalities Terre des Hommes, Danish Refugee Council and other Lebanese associations. They could visit the field and see from up close Project Management and International Cooperation techniques and strategies, as well as getting in contact with a new reality and culture.

tyre

 The Union of Tyre Municipalities talking about the Field Experience with the Social Change School on their website.

The field experience was successful in terms of satisfaction, and of the competences acquired.  The students also felt that it positively enhanced their personal and professional development. Now, find out what are our students’ thoughts and impressions by reading their own words!

Quoting our students, the most interesting aspect of the Field Experience was…

“To be part of a real project on the field, even if for a small piece; to understand how the project is connected to others running in the same area”

“Taking part to a real project proposal writing and working together with great professionals

“Getting to know a new country and its dynamics, entering in contact with local people.

“..being in charge of a real program construction, working for so many stakeholders.”

Moreover, the students valued and considered as very useful:

“Having a relationship with local stakeholders and NGOs

“Taking contact with an important NGO and with great professionals”

Professional skills about the process of Project Management”

“The field visit with INTERSOS

“To work actively in a “real” context

“Having the possibility to act and not just stay in front of the process.”

Finally, some of them expressed their wish of having some more days on the field and thanked the School and INTERSOS for the amazing opportunity and experience.

“I would like to thank the School for the organization of such an interesting experience!”

We are satisfied and glad that the hard work of our team, partners and colleagues has been positively recognised by our students, and that they felt that their personal and professional growth has been enhanced by a meaningful and engaging experience on the field and with local NGOs.

 

Read also the article “Master PMC travels to Lebanon: Field Experience with INTERSOS” if you’d like to know more about the Field Experience.

 

Do you want to work with the NGOs? Apply now for the Admission and Professional Potential Evaluation Interview, one hour of in-depth dialogue with the managers and HRM of our partner NGOs! 

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Time for a prepared impact after the Social Change School’s fellows graduation

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After months of preparation, Social Change School’s fellows have been awarded their well-deserved Master Diploma in Rome, the 15th of October 2017. The city’s sunny sky reflects the happiness of the fellows and the satisfaction of their lecturers and coordinators.

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The 14th of October 2017, students proved their skills and knowledge by attending the final exam, presenting their group project works. The evaluation committee consisted of: Stefano Oltolini, Director of the Master in Project Management for International Cooperation; Lodovico Mariani, Director of the Master in Humanitarian Operation in Emergencies, Finance and Administrative Director at Amref Health Africa – ItaliaSilvia Fontana, Head of Social Change School Career Development Unit, Development and Public Policy Consultant. Social Change School’s President, Marco Crescenzi presided over the committee.

For Stefano Oltolini “Your energy, a fresh energy, is extremely important: with your new perspectives and solutions, you fuel everything. Don’t ever lose it”.

 

Silvia Fontana shared three principles with the fellows: passion, empathy and preparation. To use her words “these are the drivers of the students’ future work, working together towards a resilient society”.

With the words of President Marco Crescenzi:

We really feel the responsibility: we doubled the staff, we are working for the community of fellows. We are not only thinking about the Master programme, so this is not the end. I have never seen this level of engagement in the people working in the sector, we are always looking for something more. I believe we all did a good job, both you and the staff”.

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After the speeches of staff and fellows, the graduation ceremony ended with a moment of conviviality and joyous exchange.

Once again, we are extremely proud of our students and wish them the best of luck for their future in the sector. As Silvia Fontana said, you are now ready to “go and make a prepared impact”.

 

Do you want to work with the NGOs? Apply now for the Admission and Professional Potential Evaluation Interview, one hour of in-depth dialogue with the managers and HRM of our partner NGOs!  

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Master HOPE in Rome for the Workshop on “Disaster Management”

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Between the 20th and the 22nd of October, the cycle of workshops on “DISASTER MANAGEMENT. PROJECT AND PROGRAM MANAGEMENT FOR EMERGENCIES”  for Master HOPE – in Humanitarian Operations in Emergencies, Managing Projects, People Administration & Logistic in the Field,  June 2017 Edition, was held in Rome, at the Polo Didattico, and it was led by Silva Ferretti, Independent Consultant, Humanitarian and Development Professional.

The first day was dedicated to an initial approach to “Project and Program Management”, through a set of exercises on concepts – such as project cycle, adaptive managementHOPE - Roma, disaster risk management, stakeholders’ analysis, etc –  and a personal critical reflection on the fellow’s own competences. A second moment was dedicated to a first contact with Project Cycle Management, focusing on the Logframe and the Theory of Change, of the advantages and weaknesses of each and how they interact. By the end of the day, divided into groups, representing different kinds of organizations, the fellows had to assess the situation of the Nepal earthquake and address the activities (what to do), the approaches processes (how to work) and the stakeholders (with whom).

HOPE romaOn the second day, the fellows worked on the development of their own organization’s projects, based on the Nepalese situation. A first moment was dedicated to talking with a donor who gave the fellows an assessment of the needs in the project cycle. The rest of the day was dedicated to identifying different actors within a humanitarian operation, and an in-depth work on the Logframe and Theory of Change, focusing on concepts such as ‘accountability’ and ‘participation’.

 

On Sunday, after a first moment of Question & Answers with the lecturer, the session was dedicated to assumptions and risk analysis. In the second part of the day, the fellows focused on trying to bring together the main ideas of the different organizations, to create a consortium, in which they had to emphasise the concept of resilience, central to their project – as the power to face disaster/threats.

The objective achieved in this series of workshops was to understand what project and program management involve for humanitarian programs, as well as the capacity to compare different approaches to project/program management, through a practical use of concepts and tools in simulations and exercises.

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Sandro Calvani about “nudging toward sustainable development”

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Sandro Calvani, President of the Scientific Committee of the Social Change School and Strategic Advisor for our Master in Humanitarian Operations in Emergencies, comments 2017 Nobel Prize in Economics winner Prof Richard Thaler’s “nudge theory” in an article written for the Bangkok Post about sustainable development. 

Read the article here: Nudging the nation toward sustainable development

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‘Get to know us!’: Susana Ferreira, Master HOPE Coordinator and expert on International Relations and Security

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On this new chapter of our “Get to know us” we meet Susana Ferreira, Master HOPE – Humanitarian Operations in Emergencies Managing Projects, People, Administration & Logistic in the field Coordinator. When meeting Susana, one immediately recognizes her as an energetic and clever young woman, and instantly feels at ease in her presence.     

 

Hello, Susana! Can you give us some basic information about yourself, something anybody talking to you should know?

My name is Susana, I am Portuguese, and I have been living in Madrid, Spain, for over 4 years now. I have started working as part of the staff of Social Change School in June 2017 and I am the coordinator of Master.

I started volunteering when I was young, I went to the scouts and I did some volunteering work at the catholic community. And afterward, when I graduated, I contacted an NGO that focused on migrants because I wanted to do something for the others and that was my first more professional involvement in the third sector. That’s how it all started: after this first period of volunteering, I was given an opportunity to work as a mediator.

 

You have recently written an article about migration and human trafficking on Social Change School’s website and you studied these issues during your PhD.

I started working with migrants as a volunteer, then with an NGO and I decided to pursue that dream in academia as well, so I did my PhD in International Relations, focusing on Migration Security. I am still collaborating with the Complutense University of Madrid. As part of the field work I went to the Spanish cities of Ceuta and Melilla, where I had the opportunity to get in contact with the reality of migrants trying to enter the European territory.

 

What was the most powerful experience you faced?

On the day I was visiting one of the centers in Melilla, there was actually the biggest jump at the international border, people jumped the fences and entered the city of Melilla, and I saw them already on the other side, the Spanish side, all covered in blood, with their clothes torn apart. What touched me the most and what I would consider the most shocking moment is how you would see them all with their clothes torn apart and in terrible physical conditions, but with the biggest smile in their eyes. It was the happiness to have reached the other side… So that was the most touching moment I have experienced.
Sometimes migration is so intangible, that studies cannot really cover it completely… In the end I had a really big smile on my face for seeing how happy they were to have reached their goal to be in the European territory; they didn’t know what would happen after that, but at least they were here.

 

Did something change in you after that?

Yes, it did.

In terms of perception: migration is such a complex phenomenon, at times it might be so intangible, that studies cannot really cover them completely in all its senses and motivations. Furthermore, I have realised how important is your own personal strength to achieve your goals. You need to keep fighting and being motivated even through the most difficult moments. And I realized that if you reach that objective, even if it might be ephemeral, for just a few minutes you have reached your own goal.

 

Did you face other challenging moments in your career path so far?

It was when I was working as a mediator at a local NGO. A big part of my job was to do social service; I found myself dealing with issues of people living in very bad conditions. The most challenging moments were the ones when people came to me and had not eaten in days… Let me explain how it worked: the institution would give them indications of where to go and get what they needed, to find food or shelter. So, it was my job to only take them to the institution that would provide them with what they needed. But it was very difficult… Some people hadn’t eaten in days and I would try to give them what I had. I remember one moment as the most upsetting: a man living in terrible conditions, surrounded by rats… Sometimes the sense of powerlessness and helplessness was overwhelming, knowing that I was not able to help them made me feel restless.

 

What is the one thing you like the most about your current job? And the one thing you like the most about Social Change School?

The possibility to unite my two passions: working for social change and the academic part. Being coordinator of a Master gives me the opportunity to bring those two passions together.
Like when I was following HOPE’s field experience at the UNHRD base in Brindisi. It was an incredibly strong didactic experience, where I also had the chance to visit the refugee camp of San Pietro (Brindisi) and interview the people that were there, something that was extremely useful for both the University and Social Change School.

 

And what is the big cause you are most committed to? What drives you?

In the end, I would have to say migration, because it is something that we are all somehow related to; most of us have experienced it on a smaller or larger scale themselves. I am now a migrant myself, since I am Portuguese and am now living in Spain. It’s a reality that we all get in contact with, directly or indirectly, and since it is something that we sometimes take for granted, it might become a great challenge which is often overlooked, for instance because of all the integration problems that might arise, among other issues of course. I would say that international migration is currently one of the biggest international challenges, because we live in Europe and people are on the move and I believe that the international community is still not prepared.

 

A motivational space: what is your message to our students and people working in the nonprofit sector?

Finding something that you are passionate about is the key to be happier in both your professional and personal life, and it makes us strong enough to overcome challenging times.

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Master HOPE in Rome: Workshop on Humanitarian Finance and Logistics. Communication in Emergencies

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Between the 17th and the 19th of November, the cycle of workshops on HUMANITARIAN FINANCE AND LOGISTICS. COMMUNICATION IN EMERGENCIES for Master HOPE – Master in Humanitarian Operations in Emergencies, Managing Projects, People Administration & Logistic in the Field, was held in Rome, led by Leonardo Palma (Logistics Coordinator at INTERSOS – Humanitarian Organization), Lodovico Mariani (Director of Master HOPE and Finance and Administration Director at Amref Health ItaliaFilippo Ungaro (Communications Manager at Save the Children Italy).

Leonardo Palma's lecture - Humanitarian Finance and Logistics. Communication in emergencies

The morning of the first day was dedicated to “The role of logistics in a humanitarian intervention” and “Logistics keypoints – theory” with Leonardo Palma as lecturer. Fellows had the chance to learn about what needs to be done and the general guidelines to follow on the field, understanding the importance of a good logistics coordination.
During the second part of the day, fellows met Lodovico Mariani, who divided them in groups and helped them create a correct GANNT chart for their group projects.

Lodovico Mariani and Social Change School's fellows - Humanitarian Finance and Logistics. Communication in emergencies

On the second day, the fellows were once again with Lodovico Mariani and, always divided in groups, created a budget proposal for their projects, gave feedbacks to the other groups and ultimately learned how to create a realistic and correct budget. 
The rest of the day was dedicated to understanding and applying solid financial management practices in humanitarian programs, learning of all administrative and financial procedures in the grant management cycle and in general about ‘Financial structure and Financial planning’.

Filippo Ungaro interviews a student - Humanitarian Finance and Logistics. Communication in emergencies

On Sunday, our fellows met their lecturer, Filippo Ungaro, and started a new session dedicated to “Communication in emergencies”, its principles and tools.

The objective achieved in this series of workshops was to understand humanitarian finance and logistics, as well as the capacity to effectively communicate in emergencies.

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