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March 2008                                                                                              Volume 14 - Number 2

International News...

The United Kingdom’s RedR Program

By Dick Templeton

The RedR program in England has found a niche in the disaster arena by offering training programs and recruiting services for humanitarian professionals. They also provide a technical support service to help aid workers solve problems they may be experiencing in the field. RedR does not offer any direct services to those affected directly by disaster; that is, it doesn’t, for example, provide housing or utilities in a stricken area but does provide a mechanism for training personnel who provide those services.

Among the courses offered, at the student’s cost, are Personal Security in Emergencies, Managing People in Emergencies, Managing Projects in Emergencies, and So You Think You Want to be a Relief Worker? The courses are offered in Britain and in specific disaster areas; in Sri Lanka, for example, after the 2004 tsunami.

Amongst the agency’s other services is their quarterly journal, Safety and Security Review. This brief covers personal safety and security issues in disaster locations and provides a forum for sharing knowledge and expertise in the global aid sector. A recent issue included an article entitled ‘Perceptions of Insecurity Among Aid Workers.’

Another service that RedR provides is a recruitment service they say is used by over 200 humanitarian agencies around the world. They offer humanitarian agencies a pool of approximately 1600 members who are available for emergency deployment and are proficient in areas of engineering, health, logistics, and senior management. Potential members of the register are selected and interviewed by peers and professionals. Minimum requirements for membership are two years’ professional experience and previous field exposure.  In addition to technical skills and experience, they look for personal attributes such as humanitarian motivation and the ability to work in team and cross-cultural environments. 

RedR doesn’t just work in disaster areas but also provides assistance to aid workers in areas of conflict. They are in the Darfur region of the Sudan, for instance, and have a base in east Africa to provide serves to that volatile region.

To drum up support for the organization, RedR sponsors, and can help others to sponsor, local and regional events such as bike races, Wear Red for RedR Day, and Challenge Days, where teams of challengers raise funds and take part in a number of activities simulating those necessary in real disaster response situations, using authentic disaster response equipment.

In brief, the UK’s RedR is a worldwide organization, based in Great Britain, that, rather than providing direct support to those suffering from disasters or protracted violent conflicts, provides support to the relief workers who are providing the direct services. RedR has found a valuable niche in the world of humanitarian aid, helping those who help others.