UNOCHA, CFE-DM strengthen civil-military partnerships in Fiji
11.19.2015
SUVA, Fiji – Two staff members from the Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (CFE-DM) participated in the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) Civil-Military Coordination Course (CMCoord) Nov. 16-20.
The course is taught worldwide to improve the effectiveness of international relief operations and promote effective humanitarian-military relations by raising mutual awareness and understanding of the roles played by humanitarian and military responders in emergencies.
"This is the only course in the region that jointly trains civilians, humanitarians and military actors,” said Ronaldo Reario, humanitarian affairs officer with the Training and Partnership Unit, UNOCHA. “It allows them to learn from each other to better prepare and effectively respond to future disasters in Asia-Pacific."
Jesse Wolfe, a disaster management and humanitarian assistance advisor for CFE-DM, is a regular UN-CMCoord trainer for courses occurring the in Asia-Pacific. “Bringing instructors in from different backgrounds provides a broader range of experiences and perspectives for the participants. Our collaboration also keeps the relationship between UNOCHA and (CFE-DM) strong for real-world crises.”
The course brought together more than 20 participants from across the Pacific, including U.S. service members from Japan.
"The UN CMCoord Course, supported by [CFE-DM], provided an invaluable learning experience that deepened my appreciation for other humanitarian actors and partners,” said Capt. Benjamin Backsmeier, lead planner for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HA/DR), United States Army Japan. “The opportunity to study the humanitarian decision-making and response mechanisms during HA/DR operations will help me facilitate improved cooperation and more refined military planning."
Participants design an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp using Legos during the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs’ Civil-Military Coordination Course (UN-CMCoord) in Suva, Fiji, Nov. 16. The course improves the effectiveness of coordination in the field by introducing civilians, humanitarians and military actors to each other’s roles and responsibilities during an emergency.
Jesse Wolfe (center), a disaster management and humanitarian assistance advisor for the Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance, serves as a guest instructor during the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs’ Civil-Military Coordination Course (UN-CMCoord) in Suva, Fiji, Nov. 17.
Mara Langevin (front), a disaster management and humanitarian assistance advisor for the Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance, participants in a class exercise during the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs’ Civil-Military Coordination Course (UN-CMCoord) in Suva, Fiji, Nov. 18.