Trainer's Notes for the UNHCR Emergency Management Training
SESSION
8.2.
Synthesis Exercise Debriefing
Session at a glance
Content
Approx. Time
Instructional Activity
Facilitators’ Feedback
45 minutes
Plenary Presentations
Exercise Q&A
40 minutes
Open Plenary Discussion of Exercise
Wrap-up
5 minutes
Total Time
90 minutes
Main objectives
After completing this session, participants will be able to:

understand many of the key technical requirements of refugee camp planning

list a number of the key minimum standards that must be observed in planning a response
to a refugee emergency
Supplies
Flip chart and markers
Synthesis Exercise Presentations
General guidance

This session is designed to provide feedback on the team presentations delivered in
the previous session.
Key Points
The main points in this session include:
While
Session Activities
Facilitators’ Feedback
45 minutes
Presumably, facilitators have taken copious notes on the presentations made in the previous
session and are prepared to offer guidance and technical corrections if needed.
Facilitators should plan to share responsibilities for the feedback in accord with their own
areas of expertise. One facilitator well-versed in many of the technical issues that arise in
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Trainer's Notes for the UNHCR Emergency Management Training
refugee emergency responses should provide the technical feedback. Another might comment
on success or lack thereof the coordination process.
First and foremost congratulate the teams on their obvious well-intentioned, hard work. They
will have just spent several hours preparing their plans and the deserve some acclaim –
regardless of the quality, they should be congratulated.
The critical piece in of this feedback is highlighting the linkages between and among the
various technical sectors that teams have identified and built into their plans. These include –
but are in no way limited to - such items as:
 The need for better wat/san planning in the new site because of the high incidence of
diseases among the refugee population

The need to link think about the links between latrine and shelter placement

The obvious linkages between malnutrition, diarrhea, poor sanitary conditions and the
need for improved health services in the new camp – including health screening of the
population

The links between feeding programmes and health services

The links between shelter space requirements and space needed for other services

The need to consider security in planning the site

The links between the needs of the local population and the great increase in services
planned for the refugees

The links between many of the obvious logistical needs and needed programme
inputs (i.e. simply getting the inputs to the site before the rainy season begins)

The links between logistics planning and the actual relocation of people (be clear:
they should NOT be planning to move sick people!)

etc.
This list can be much longer. The point is to look out for these links throughout the
presentations of the sector plans and note them. Try to note at least two or three critical issues
that each team has addressed, as well as two or three critical points each team has missed.
(Do not be negative in your critiques; try to avoid comments that undermine group or
individual morale. Speak in terms of areas “in need of improvement” rather than “errors and
mistakes.”)
Note in particular where the teams have applied or made use of UNHCR standards in their
planning. Highlight evidence of planning according to UNHCR standards. Such evidence
would include planning for:

the number to be relocated to the specific site in accord with UNHCR site standards

a sufficient number of shelters (sq meters/person) in accord with UNHCR shelter
standards

a sufficient amount of water (liters/person/day) in accord with UNHCR water
standards

a sufficient quantity of food (kcals of food in tons) according to UNHCR nutrition
standards

a sufficient number of latrines according to UNHCR sanitation standards, etc.
Do not spend too much time here getting into a full-blown discussion of the exercise. There
is plenty of time for an open discussion in the Activity that follows.
Do take pertinent questions and address them as concisely as possible. If participants want to
discuss a particular technical issue or topic, do so, but do so with brevity.
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Trainer's Notes for the UNHCR Emergency Management Training
Exercise Q&A
45 minutes
This time is available for participants to step out of their team exercise roles and comment or
ask questions about the exercise, its design, and how it relates to the “real world”, the use of
minimum standards, UNJCR’s role in relocating refugees, or any other issues that have arisen
during the day.
Keep the discussion moving as long as there is apparent interest. If there are no questions or
comments, close early. Participants have been working hard all day and may be ready to
close for the day.
Wrap-up
5 minutes
Be sure once again to congratulate participants on a hard day’s work. Note the importance of
information-sharing in any planning exercise – and particularly when it relates to an
emergency situation. Remind participants that there are standards that should be observed,
and that lives may depend upon their understanding of those standards.
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