Introduction
Background
The first Emergency Personnel Seminar (EPS 1) was held in Dublin in November 1997. See section 2.2 for more detail. At the end of that meeting a working group was given the task of planning follow-up and monitoring. Preparations for EPS 2 were started by this group, and carried forward at planning meetings in May and July 1998. RedR took responsibility for most of the practical aspects of organising the seminar. Invitations were sent to over 250 individuals in a wide range of agencies concerned with emergency personnel, and nearly all who asked to participate were able to do so. Funding for 75% of the costs of EPS 2 was provided by ECHO. The remaining 25% was provided by participating agencies in the planning group and the fees paid by agencies for individuals attending the seminar in Brussels.
Aim, objectives and structure
The aim of EPS 2 was to improve the ability of participating organisations, both individually and as a community, to find, select, prepare and retain personnel for emergency operations.
More specific objectives included:
- To share knowledge and experience
- To monitor progress of the EPS 1 working groups
- To propose and plan ways forward on issues of emergency personnel
The structure of EPS 2 was worked out at the July planning meeting and involved five main elements:
1. Presentation of background of EPS 2 to enable all participants to have a common understanding of the nature of the seminar and ways of working collaboratively;
2. Presentation of research and then working group sessions on the subject of foundation training for emergency personnel;
3. Presentation of research and then working group sessions on the subject of recruitment, employment and retention of local staff in emergency situations
4. Working group sessions on a series of 'buzz' topics not included in the main agenda
5. Development of an action plan, drawing on the working group and buzz group sessions during the seminar
Acknowledgements
Thanks are due to all the members of the EPS 2 planning group for laying such solid foundations and to the small management group who saw it through; to Rachel Searle-Mbullu and John Telford for their facilitation, which helped make the event so productive; to Sam Platt and Pat Brooke for their administrative work behind the scenes; to Zoe Maus of VOICE for help with preparations in Brussels; to the staff of the Holiday Inn who guaranteed no unpleasant surprises; to ECHO for substantial funding for EPS 2; and to all the participants who gave their time and energy and ideas in such a positive spirit.