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Impact of the Context staff development project

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From May 2015 to December 2017 , RedR UK ran Context, an innovative professional development training programme, in the Middle East and East Africa.

Context - an initiative of the Start Network, led globally by Oxfam GB with the support of UK Aid - is a comprehensive, dynamic staff development programme for humanitarian organisations. It aims to raise standards and quality in future humanitarian responses by building core skills as well as leadership and management capacity among humanitarian staff - especially national staff, who are increasingly at the forefront of humanitarian response. The project uses the Core Humanitarian Competencies Framework (CHCF) to develop staff skills across the wide range of competencies needed to work effectively in the humanitarian sector.

Context offered two programmes in the Middle East and East Africa: Core Skills Development, a six-month programme focused on key humanitarian skills and concepts; and Management and Leadership Skills Development, a nine-month programme focused on management and leadership in emergency situations.

This report focuses on the learning essays submitted by participants of the training programmes as their final assignment. It examines the impact of the Context project on core skills and knowledge of participants in developing an effective humanitarian response. It also analyses the effect of the training on developing an effective humanitarian response at an organisational level.

The report was co-authored by independent consultants Shana O’Brien and Aisling O’Loghlen, along with Selma Scheewe, Quality and Learning Manager at RedR UK. Support was also provided by Ola Telfah and Winnie Mapenzi, who coordinate the Context project in the Middle East and East Africa respectively.

Download the report

Download a free copy of the RedR report, Impact of the Context Staff Development project.

The participant came back from training with the realisation and understanding that the sector we work in is a dynamic, high-pressured environment that requires actors to be decisive and swift in response. She ‘preached’ this to members of the team passionately. She was able to change her outlook and ways of working which had a positive impact on her overall performance. Her confidence as a manager has significantly increased and she is present for her team and provides guidance and the appropriate support.

-Line Manager of participant in M&L Cohort, Kenya.

Impact of the Context Staff Development project, RedR UK report

Our Partners

Context, led globally by Oxfam GB, is part of the Start Network’s Talent Development project. The latter is one of fourteen projects in a portfolio funded by UK Aid (DFID)