ENVIRONMENT IN HUMANITARIAN ACTION (EHA)

TRAINING

Module 11:
Community Engagement and
Capacity Building in
Humanitarian
Name of Facilitator: Action
Venue:
Date:
Module Outline

0 0 0
1
Community 2
Capacity 3 and
Monitoring
engagement in building in evaluation of
environmental environmental the
sustainability issues relevant environment in
to humanitarian humanitarian
programs actions
0 Module Learning
Outcomes

1
By the end of this module, you should be
able to:
Explain the importance of community engagement in environmental
sustainability within humanitarian action and apply techniques to effectively
involve local communities.

Describe the concept of capacity building, identify various approaches, and

develop training programs aligned with humanitarian principles and local
contexts.

Develop and implement monitoring and evaluation frameworks.

Analyze and apply lessons from case studies that illustrate successful
community engagement, capacity building, and monitoring approaches.
 Session 1: Community
0 engagement in
environmental sustainability

2
Introduction
• Engaging and involving communities in environmental sustainability
helps ensure that interventions are relevant to local needs and are
more likely to be embraced and sustained.
• Empowering communities as co-creators enhances their role in the
environmental management process, making them active participants
rather than passive beneficiaries.
• Effective community engagement and involvement fosters resilience by
building trust and ensuring that environmental programs align with
immediate humanitarian needs and long-term sustainability goals.
• Community engagement must be integrated across all stages of the
HPC and PMC, including assessment, planning, implementation, and
monitoring.
Community
Engagement in
Environmental
• Definition: Engaging and
involving local
Sustainability communities in
assessing, planning,
implementing, and monitoring
environmental initiatives in
humanitarian contexts.
• Goals: Empower communities,
ensure cultural relevance, and
promote program ownership.
• Stakeholders: Community
members, local leaders, NGOs,
humanitarian actors, and
environmental organizations.
Importance of Community Engagement
Improved effectiveness: Local knowledge enhances project relevance (e.g.,
sustainable shelter solutions).

Compliance and alignment: Ensures projects respect local standards (e.g.,

waste management practices in camps).

Sustainability: Fosters long-term community ownership (e.g., community-

managed water projects).

Resilience: Empowers communities to manage environmental challenges (e.g.,

sustainable agricultural practices).

Trust and collaboration: Builds mutual trust for smoother project

implementation.
Capacity building: Provides training for communities in environmental
management (e.g., water quality monitoring).
Techniques/Approaches to Community
Engagement
Participatory workshops: Gather community input in planning and decision-making
(e.g., developing waste management strategies).
Community meetings: Regular discussions to ensure transparency and collaboration
(e.g., monthly feedback meetings on disaster recovery).

Focus Group Discussions: Engage vulnerable groups to highlight unique challenges

(e.g., discussions with elderly and women).

Collaborative decision-making: Involve communities in key decisions (e.g., selecting

sites for reforestation projects).

Culturally sensitive outreach: Respect local customs and dynamics for greater
acceptance (e.g., gender-specific discussions in recovery efforts).

Experiential learning: Hands-on training to build capacity for environmental

management (e.g., training in renewable energy installation).
Community Engagement Across the Humanitarian
Program Cycle
Needs assessment: Strategic response Resource mobilization:
Involve communities in planning: Co-create Engage communities in
identifying environmental response strategies that sourcing local, eco-friendly
challenges (e.g., align with community input materials (e.g., using
participatory mapping of (e.g., sustainable waste locally sourced shelter
flood-prone areas). management systems). materials).

Operational review and

Implementation and
evaluation: Involve
monitoring: Empower
communities in evaluating
communities to lead and
interventions and sharing
monitor activities (e.g.,
lessons learned (e.g.,
community-led
reviewing water
reforestation projects).
conservation projects).
Community Engagement in the Project
Management Cycle
Initiation: Involve Planning: Use Execution: Engage
communities in defining community insights in communities in
project scope and planning and timeline implementing project
objectives (e.g., setting (e.g., co- activities (e.g., training
discussing water designing solar-powered in solar energy
scarcity solutions). water pumps). solutions).

Monitoring and Closing: Gather

controlling: Empower community feedback
communities to monitor and lessons learned
progress (e.g., (e.g., community
managing waste experiences managing
segregation in shelters). green recovery
initiatives).
Challenges in Community
Engagement
• Language differences: Use
local translators to ensure clear
communication.
• Cultural misunderstandings:
Adapt programs to respect local
customs.
• Community skepticism: Build
trust by involving community
leaders early on.
• Representation of minorities:
Ensure all voices are heard
through focus groups.
• Access and equity: Prioritize
resources for vulnerable and
marginalized groups.
 Session 2: Capacity
0 building in environmental
issues relevant to
humanitarian programs
3
Introduction
• Capacity building on environmental issues in humanitarian
programs strengthens the skills, knowledge, and abilities of
individuals and institutions.
• Participatory learning, where local knowledge and traditions are
included, makes training programs more relevant and sustainable.
• Effective capacity building empowers local actors to take
ownership of environmental initiatives, fostering long-term
resilience and reducing reliance on external support.
• Training programs should be culturally sensitive, context-specific,
and aligned with humanitarian principles for successful
implementation.
Capacity building

Definition: Enhancing skills, knowledge, and abilities

to manage environmental issues within humanitarian
settings.
Objectives: Develop local expertise, promote self-
reliance, and ensure sustainable environmental
practices.
Stakeholders: Community members, local leaders,
NGOs, humanitarian agencies, environmental experts.
Importance of capacity building
Enhancing resilience: Builds capacity for disaster
preparedness, equipping communities to mitigate
environmental risks (e.g., training in natural barriers to
prevent soil erosion).
Promoting environmental stewardship: Fosters
responsibility for sustainable resource management (e.g.,
educating displaced populations on sustainable fuel
usage).
Reducing dependency on external aid: Empowers
communities to manage environmental issues
independently (e.g., training on renewable energy
maintenance).
Approaches to capacity building

01 02
Mentorship programs: Participatory learning:
Accelerates skill development through Enhances engagement and retention by
knowledge transfer from experienced involving community members in the
individuals, ensuring practical application of learning process, leading to better
learned skills. understanding and ownership of
Application: Pair experienced environmental initiatives.
agriculturalists with local farmers to Application: Conduct hands-on workshops
promote sustainable farming practices post- where community members build and
disaster; create networks to share manage rainwater harvesting systems in
environmental solutions. drought-prone areas.
Approaches to capacity building

03 04
Adaptive training methods: Use of local knowledge:
Ensures inclusivity and effectiveness by Respects and utilizes indigenous practices,
tailoring training methods to different making capacity-building efforts
literacy levels, languages, and cultural contextually relevant and effective for local
contexts. communities.
Application: Develop visual aids and use Application: Integrate traditional water
local dialects in training sessions on waste conservation techniques in training for
segregation in low-literacy populations. drought-affected communities.
Approaches to capacity
building
Knowledge-sharing
platforms:
• Facilitates broader learning
and collaboration by
creating avenues for
communities to exchange
successful practices and
experiences.
• Application: Create online or
community-based platforms
to share local environmental
projects, tips, and resources
among different groups.
Developing and implementing training
programs
Needs assessment: Curriculum development:
• Ensures that training • Promotes cultural sensitivity
programs address real and relevance, ensuring that
environmental challenges training materials are aligned
specific to the community, with local customs and
making them more relevant humanitarian principles.
and impactful. • Application: Develop
• Application: Conduct modules on eco-friendly
surveys to identify gaps in construction techniques for
knowledge about sustainable communities rebuilding after
fishing practices in coastal earthquakes, incorporating
communities affected by oil local building traditions.
Developing and implementing training
programs
Selection of trainers: Monitoring and evaluation:
• Qualified trainers ensure • Feedback mechanisms enable
effective communication and continuous improvement of
skill transfer, crucial for the training programs, adapting
success of training programs. them to better suit the
• Application: Engage local community’s needs.
environmental experts to lead • Application: Conduct
training on biodiversity feedback sessions post-
conservation in regions training on sustainable
recovering from armed agriculture to gauge
conflict. understanding and refine
approaches.
Developing and implementing training
programs
Resource allocation:
• Adequate materials and
logistical support are crucial
for smooth implementation
and effectiveness of training
initiatives.
• Application: Secure
resources such as seeds,
tools, and educational
booklets for a reforestation
training program in
deforested regions.
 Session 3: Monitoring and
0 evaluation of the
environment in
humanitarian actions
4
Introduction

M&E frameworks ensure The purpose of M&E is to Relevant indicators are

that environmental track progress, assess critical in M&E frameworks
integration in humanitarian outcomes, and inform and should capture both
contexts are adaptive and decision-making, ensuring environmental and
effective in rapidly programs remain relevant humanitarian outcomes to
changing conditions. as conditions evolve. promote sustainability.

Humanitarian challenges
such as access constraints Technology like satellite
and limited resources can imagery, mobile apps, and
impact the implementation real-time analytics is
of M&E frameworks, transforming M&E,
requiring innovative particularly in remote
solutions and collaboration. areas.
Importance and Benefits of M&E in Environmental
Integration in Humanitarian Programs
Measuring environmental impact:
Example: Assessing the impact of a sustainable agriculture initiative on
Demonstrates the value of integrating soil health.
environmental considerations in humanitarian
action.
Facilitating learning and improvement: Example: Using lessons from a renewable energy project to enhance
Provides insights for improving future energy solutions in crisis settings.

environmental programs.
Supporting donor and stakeholder
Example: Presenting M&E results to donors for expanding a waste
engagement: Builds transparency and trust, management project in conflict-affected areas.
increasing the likelihood of securing future
funding.
Enhancing accountability: Ensures effective use of Example: Monitoring funds in a reforestation project to ensure they are
resources and program implementation. used as intended.

Improving program adaptability: Allows for real- Example: Adapting a water conservation project in response to
time adjustments to respond to changing conditions. unexpected drought in refugee camps.
Data Collection Methods for Environmental Integration
in Humanitarian Programs
Baseline environmental assessment: Example: Conducting soil and water quality assessments before a
Establishes reference points for measuring flood prevention project.

environmental impact.

Satellite imagery: Provides comprehensive data Example: Monitoring deforestation rates using satellite imagery in
for monitoring large-scale environmental changes. remote conflict zones.

Surveys and questionnaires: Gathers Example: Conducting surveys to evaluate the effectiveness of
qualitative and quantitative data from affected environmental education programs.

communities.

Environmental audits: External evaluations of Example: Auditing waste management in refugee camps to ensure
environmental practices in humanitarian projects. compliance with international standards.

Focus group discussions: Engages community Example: Conducting focus groups to assess community feedback
members to gather insights on specific on water conservation efforts.

environmental issues.
Challenges in Implementing M&E Frameworks and
Solutions Solution: Use satellite imagery or mobile apps for remote data
Access to affected areas: Limited
collection.
access due to conflict or geographical Example: Partnering with local NGOs to monitor deforestation in
conflict zones remotely.
barriers.

Solution: Prioritize key indicators and use cost-effective

Resource constraints: Financial and
technologies.
logistical limitations. Example: Using mobile tools for survey collection to reduce
fieldwork costs.

Solution: Implement flexible M&E frameworks that adapt to

Complexity of crisis situations: evolving circumstances.
Example: Adjusting monitoring focus in flood-affected areas
Rapidly changing conditions make rigid
from growth rates to survival rates.
M&E difficult.
Solution: Foster communication, establish clear roles, and
Stakeholder collaboration: Ensuring encourage data sharing.
Example: Regular coordination meetings for an environmental
coordination among diverse stakeholders.
recovery project to ensure shared goals.
Key Takeaways

Community engagement: Vital for culturally relevant, sustainable environmental

integration in humanitarian programs that empower communities and foster long-term
impact.
Engagement techniques: Use participatory workshops, community meetings, and
culturally sensitive outreach to involve all voices, especially marginalized groups.

Challenges: Overcome language barriers, cultural misunderstandings, and ensure minority

representation by using translators, aligning with local customs, and engaging community
leaders.
Capacity building: Strengthens local skills and knowledge to manage environmental
challenges, promoting resilience and reducing dependency on external aid.

Capacity-building approaches: Participatory learning, mentorship, adaptive training, and

local knowledge ensure inclusive, effective programs.
Key Takeaways
Training programs: Needs assessments, culturally relevant curricula, and qualified trainers
are critical for successful environmental training in humanitarian settings.

M&E frameworks: Essential for tracking progress, ensuring accountability, and adapting
programs based on real-time data.

Data collection methods: Baseline assessments, satellite imagery, surveys, and audits
provide valuable insights for environmental program adjustments.

M&E challenges: Address limited access and resource constraints by leveraging technology,
flexible frameworks, and stakeholder collaboration.

Integration: Community engagement, capacity building, and M&E collectively enhance the
sustainability and effectiveness of environmental programs.
Thank you
Any
Questions?