Friday 1 October 2010

Beirut Hosts First Nutrition in Emergencies Short Course

The first nutrition in emergencies short course, facilitated by the NIE Regional Training Initiative, was successfully run in Beirut from 13th to 18th of September.  Organised and hosted by the American University of Beirut, it attracted 17 participants from Lebanon and the region. Participants came from NGOs, UN agencies, and academia and brought a wealth of experience to share during the six days of intensive training.  

The course covered a wide range of subjects and was presented in 14 modules, ranging from the causes of malnutrition through to disaster preparedness and personal professional development.

The highlight for many was the emergency simulation exercise which ran for a full day and introduced some elements of realism, with participants having to handle multiple information sources and make decisions within a tight time frame, while coping with many uncertainties.

The networking aspect of the course was very important and we hope that many of the connections that were made during the week will lead to further collaborative working and help strengthen the capacity for nutrition action with Lebanon and the wider region. Photos and further reflections on the Beirut course will be posted soon.