HumAct responds to two mains sets of challenges and provides an integrative solution to them. The first challenge is the enhancement of capacities in the field of higher education in the partner countries of Cape Verde and Mozambique, in collaboration with the programme countries of Greece and Portugal. The second responds to the professionalization needs in the humanitarian sector in the partner countries. HumAct’s focus is on: building capacity with regard to content in the substantive aspects of humanitarian action (HA), with a particular focus on climate change and displacements; building research capacity of educators and students; enhancing the pedagogical strategies of educators; and strengthening community-university relationships. Despite Cape Verde’s and Mozambique’s vulnerabilities to climate related disasters, and the impacts of internally and externally displaced people, particularly in Mozambique, neither of the partner institutions have curricula that specifically address HA. This project will fill that gap by, inter-alia, fulfilling the goals of developing contextually relevant curricula, modernisation, internationalisation, and by developing the HEIs within the broader contexts of their societies. The methodology is premised on democratic, participatory and collaborative decision-making among all participating institutions, and on experiential, participatory and emancipatory approaches to the capacity building initiatives, teaching, research, field practice education, and community engagements. The HumAct project responds to two of the greatest threats of the 21st century – climate change and displacements, the latter induced by environmental disasters and a range of socio-political, economic and cultural factors that see the increasing phenomena of forced migration, asylum seeking and refugeeism across the world.
Knowing that HA experts in CV and MOZ have limited access to curriculum offer in HA in Africa, HumAct responded to 4 challenges: 1) lack of Human resources in Africa to develop HA curricula, 2) lack of existing curricula for the sector, 3) difficulties for nationals from African countries to access Western HEIs offering HA curricula, 4)those who experienced emergencies living where they happen aren’t included in high level positions of NGOs, reducing national ownership of humanitarian processes.
Humanitarian action (HA) mostly happens in Global South, but education in this field is available mostly in Global North. The project contributes to change that. The European and African Universities that co-created and implemented it established a partnership in education in humanitarian action, as well as a network of discussion and research on the topic of climate change and its impact on populations to act towards Southern-based knowledge of Humanitarian Action.
<< Background >> Humanitarian action (HA) mostly happens in Global South, but education in this field is available mostly in Global North. The project contributes to change that. The European and African Universities that co-created and implemented it established a partnership in education in humanitarian action, as well as a network of discussion and research on the topic of climate change and its impact on populations to act towards Southern-based knowledge of Humanitarian Action. << Objectives >> Knowing that HA experts in CV and MOZ have limited access to curriculum offer in HA in Africa, HumAct responded to 4 challenges: 1) lack of Human resources in Africa to develop HA curricula, 2) lack of existing curricula for the sector, 3) difficulties for nationals from African countries to access Western HEIs offering HA curricula, 4)those who experienced emergencies living where they happen aren’t included in high level positions of NGOs, reducing national ownership of humanitarian processes. << Implementation >> Project started during pandemics and was adapted to constraints for travelling. Activities that required physical contact were replanned. In the initial phase there was an intensive online work among partners to create partnership culture. All project activities were fully implemented, with calendar adaptations. Some additional activities took place, in order to meet needs found, like a workshop of scientific writing and, to compensate for initial difficulties, a fourth summer school. << Results >> Results achieve went far beyond what was predict: 6 new + 28 adapted modules in HA, delivered in courses in 5 HEIs in CV and MOZ; organization of 2 educators workshops in HA (56 teachers from 7 HEIs); 4 Summer/winter intensive courses in HA (total of 828 students and 145 teachers); 6 webinars + 12 special lectures; 10 academic articles; 1 Handbook produced; 3 new master programs in HA in MOZ end CV; 1 free course of HA for practitioners in CV; New Erasmus Mundus Master program in HA, approved.