The pandemic presents unprecedented challenges, and as a sector we need to have an accurate understanding of staff’s capacity needs in order to support effective programme implementation. Initiatives in the sector have and continue to assess the situation from an organisational and individual perspective to inform responses and programmes. RedR UK conducted a Learning Needs Analysis (LNA) in April/May 2020 to investigate the organisational challenges and staff learning needs in the wake of COVID-19. There were 83 respondents from 45 humanitarian and development organisations globally, including INGOs, NGOs, faith-based organisations, UN agencies, clusters, and governmental bodies. The findings of this LNA are complemented by sectoral surveys and assessments on the challenges organisations are facing within the context of COVID-19. Based on this, capacity building needs and solutions are outlined, as well as next steps and recommendations.
In August 2020, RedR UK repeated this LNA to gauge if and how the learning needs of personnel have changed over the preceding four months. The report found that the impact of COVID-19 on operations is stabilising and organisations are adapting to a new normal of remote working, however significantly more respondents noted the impact of COVID-19 on their health.