17 November 2023, Dominican Republic - IOM staff from across the Caribbean, representatives of UNICEF and the Caribbean Public Health Agency CARPHA received training in what is known within the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) as Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) and locally within the Caribbean as Coordination and Management of ‘Emergency Shelters’.   The intense four-day training was held in the Dominican Republic from 13-16 November 2023.  The objective was to increase and strengthen the skill-set of participants in coordinating the provision of protection and assistance to populations in emergency shelters or similar settings giving shelter to people who have been displaced. The training focusses on a rights-based approach which aims to ensure that the humanitarian principle of “do no harm” is maintained by the efforts of operational agencies. 

Twenty-one participants were trained, from Aruba, Barbados, Belize, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Haiti, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname. The training focused on the following topics: 

• Introduction to CCCM and Roles and Responsibilities 

• Humanitarian Principles and Code of Conduct 

• Gender Based Violence Prevention (GBV)  

• Data Collection and Information Management 

•  Setting up Governance and Community Participation 

•  Protection 

•  Providing Information and Listening Back (Accountability and Two-Way Communication) 

• Minimum Standards for Camp Management 

• Site Design and Improvements  

• Consolidation and Site Closure 

• Coordination of Services. 

The dynamic team of trainers brought a wealth of knowledge, experience, and expertise to the training. This team consisted of IOM specialists from the North America, Central America and Caribbean region including: 

• Emergency and Post-Crisis Adviser - Alex Rigol 

• Emergency and Post-Crisis Adviser - Jean- Phillipe Antolin 

• Programme Coordinator (Shelter and NFI) – Frank Santana, and 

• Border Coordinator - Idelfonso George Cruz. 

Participants were able to receive high quality training, participate in interactive group sessions and receive links to additional resources. Each day consisted of practical exercises which facilitated the absorption and seamless application of the knowledge. In addition, the trainers utilized interactive games and technology to reinforce and ensure that the information disseminated was easily assimilated.  A WhatsApp group was also created to ensure active communication and easy access to trainers where questions can still be posed after the training. 

Overall, the training was a success. Key highlights for many were the wealth of knowledge from the trainers, the practical application of the knowledge to the Caribbean context and the highly interactive and engaging sessions.  IOM Coordination Office for the Caribbean is grateful to the Migration Resource Allocation Committee (MIRAC) which funded the training, the trainers and participants who made this training a huge success it was.