This course is designed for policymakers, regulators and other entities involved in disaster management at a national and regional level.  

This course is open to: 

• Regulators 

• Policymakers 

• Representatives from organizations involved in disaster risk reduction, including academia, advocacy outfits and international organisations working on regulatory or policy issues on technologies for disaster management. 

This course looks at the role of policymakers and mobile operators throughout the disaster management cycle (mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery, the value of a robust emergency telecommunications regulatory, institutional and institutional framework and the positive effect that preparedness can have on the acceleration of aid delivery of aid during and after a disaster or a humanitarian crisis.

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand how improved coordination between mobile operators, governments, regulatory authorities and the humanitarian community can improve disaster response and mitigate risks
• Define how regulators around the world are adopting flexible approaches to digital technologies for disaster management including early warning systems with policies  that positively impact response efforts.
• Analyze how mobile platforms can digitize humanitarian aid delivery channels through innovative case studies.

The participants will attend 6-hour synchronous sessions via Zoom (3 hours per day).

The activities on the course include group discussions about the various concepts regarding disasters and humanitarian action and how ta mobile phone can be a vital tool in humanitarian crises, the group discussions will take place during the sessions. The participants will also learn through case studies about the role of policy during crises, the trainer will present the case studies followed by group discussions. After the sessions, participants will engage in a simulation exercise on how to use mobile technologies to facilitate disaster response action. For the group exercises the participants will be paired in breakout rooms at the end of the sessions.

A total score higher than 80% is required to obtain the ITU certificate.

The students will be required to submit a final project on the platform, which will be the only assignment requiring a passing threshold of 80%. Likewise, attendance at both training sessions will be mandatory and marked automatically on ITU Academy platform via Zoom. The criteria to assess your final project are as follows:

• Originality of thought
• Quality of analysis
• Thoroughness and clarity
• Data relevance and credibility 

Day 1

1. Disasters and Humanitarian Action

• Explore the concept of a disaster
• Explore the concept of humanitarian action
• Learn about the role of mobile as a basic humanitarian need in times of crisis
• Group discussion

2. Private Sector Challenges and Policy

• Discuss the MNO challenges during a crisis
• Explore the role of policy for disaster management and during a crisis
• Discuss how to create an enabling policy environment and practical cases studies
• Group discussion

Day 2

3. Explore policy Tools, Guidelines and Principles:

• National Emergency Telecoms Plans (NET plans)
• Business Continuity Plans (BCPs) and examples
• Early Warning Systems and examples
• Mobile Privacy Guidelines
• GSMA Humanitarian Connectivity Charter
• Group discussion

4. Identity, Mobile Money and Humanitarian Action

• Digital lives of refugees
• Mobile-enabled Digital ID
• Mobile Money and humanitarian action