Facilitator during one of the modules
GIZ
Design tailored trainings to a specific purpose
The relationship between climate change and health is very complex, as many different fields come together at this intersection. The training experience showed that there is a need to tailor the training to the participants. This should be based on the previous knowledge of the participants, their professional position and the general level of implementation of climate and health activities in their respective countries.
Based on the experience utilizing the training manual in practice, several customized formats are conceivable:
- Beginner and advanced level training formats;
- Thematic training: introduction to the scientific link between health and climate change;
- Policy training: in-depth exercises to develop core policy documents such as a climate risk and vulnerability assessment and a national public health adaptation plan;
- Climate governance training: analysis of the Ministry of Health's respective positions on climate – identifying how to integrate climate issues into health policy, how to develop climate policy documents, learning about possible coordination mechanisms, highlighting the international mechanisms on climate change, how to mainstream climate issues in the Ministry of Health
The success of tailoring the training depends on the information available at the preparation level and the skills and flexibility of the trainer. Prior questionnaires for participants can help determine their interest and prior experience. The trainer should have knowledge of climate change, health, hydrometeorology, and the environment, as well as being proficient in the core documents of the fields. Since this is a rare profile, determining the goal of the training early on also makes it easier to find a suitable trainer.
- Potential instructors must be very experienced as the manual covers several different topics;
- Using the 16 modules of this training in 5 days is too much content and leaves little time to apply more diverse training methods;
- Objectives should be clearly stated from the very beginning of the process;
- The preparation, coordination and implementation of the training requires a dedicated support team in the hosting country with enough time, personnel and budget resources.