In a country facing severe climate challenges, one organisation is making remarkable progress in building community resilience. This case study highlights how RedR’s ‘Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction’ (CCADRR) training has transformed the work of Abdulhadi Achakzai and his NGO, leading to innovative early warning systems and improved disaster preparedness across rural Afghanistan, and participation at COP29 in Baku. 

Abdulhadi Achakzai is the Founder and CEO of the Environmental Protection Trainings and Development Organization (EPTDO), a climate change-focused NGO operating in Afghanistan. EPTDO is committed to protecting the environment and promoting sustainable development across Afghanistan. To tackle these goals, EPTDO works to build resilient communities and ecosystems by focusing on climate adaptation, livelihood and agricultural development, and gender equality and inclusion.

EPTDO has over 1500 volunteers including 680 women that lead climate-centred workshops throughout the country, raising awareness about the impact of climate change in Afghanistan and the importance of mitigation measures.  

The transformative impact of RedR’s training 

Abdulhadi undertook the RedR 7-week CCADRR training between September and November 2024. This specialist course had a positive impact on how EPTDO approaches disaster preparedness and climate adaptation.

What made the course particularly valuable were the practical sessions where Abdulhadi gained critical technical expertise and tools that have directly transformed EPTDO’s programming. The impact was immediate and lasting as he confirms “I use the technologies, methodologies and skills I learned every day” 

From training to action: RedR’s methods in practice 

The CCADRR Afghanistan course introduced Abdulhadi to crucial methodologies, allowing EPTDO to better identify and manage disaster risks, ensuring interventions are more targeted and effective, especially for marginalised, rural communities in Afghanistan. 

One such technique Abdulhadi learned during the course was the use of early warning systems, which he went on to implement in practice. After completing the course, Abdulhadi and his team installed early warning systems in schools and mosques in rural communities of Afghanistan, ensuring they receive timely disaster alerts despite infrastructure and literacy challenges: 

• In schools: following course guidance on community engagement, EPTDO has worked with teachers to educate students on disaster preparedness strategies, including how to identify safe shelters during extreme weather events. Teachers play a key role in reinforcing this knowledge, ensuring students understand how to respond effectively to hazards. 

• In mosques: Using the communication strategies emphasised in the RedR training, loudspeakers are now used to broadcast critical alerts. Abdulhadi explains that EPTDO now “provide information to village elders to announce and disseminate information during any incidents”.  This ensures that even those without direct access to mobile networks or internet services receive timely warnings. 

Through integrating teachers and religious leader into the information network – a participatory approach strongly advocated in the CCADRR course – these systems enable rapid dissemination of warnings about heavy rain, flash floods and extreme temperatures. 

Creating a lasting legacy 

Another valuable outcome of the RedR training for Abdulhadi was the creation of a wider network of professionals in Afghanistan dedicated to climate resilience. The collaborative nature of the course provided participants opportunities to exchange best practices and learn from the experiences of others in the sector. This community of practice continues to exist beyond the course, with many of the participants remaining in touch and working together on relevant projects—extending the impact of RedR’s training far beyond the initial participants. 

From local implementation to global advocacy 

Following the completion of the CCADRR training, Abdulhadi represented Afghanistan at COP29 in Baku where he moderated a panel on “Breaking the Cycle of Vulnerability: Climate Action and Financing for Afghanistan’s future.” He has also chaired a national climate crisis research conference, and participated in panels where he raised awareness and advocated for global climate action to address the challenges that Afghanistan faces due to climate change.

These important accomplishments underscore the CCADRR programme’s role in supporting leaders already at the forefront of local climate response.

A foundation for change: measurable impacts of RedR’s CCADRR training 

Through the work Abdulhadi has undertaken with EPTDO, a direct impact of RedR’s CCADRR training can be seen on climate resilience efforts in Afghanistan. 

Through implementing early warning systems in schools and mosques, strengthening risk mapping efforts, and providing targeted climate education – all methodologies central to the course – Abdulhadi and EPTDO have taken key learnings from the training to improve community preparedness to disasters. 

These initiatives, directly informed by RedR’s capacity building approach, are empowering local communities to take proactive measures against climate risks, ensuring faster response times, better information dissemination, and stronger climate resilience efforts in Afghanistan. RedR’s training has proven to not just be informational but transformative for climate action in one of the world’s most vulnerable countries.

About the Project

We’ve adapted our existing Climate Change Adaption and Disaster Risk Reduction project to support locally-led drought resilience in Afghanistan and Somalia. Funded by the Howden Foundation, we’re providing free online certified training for local climate responders in drought-affected rural areas.

If you’d like to give financially to support this and similar projects for disaster-affected communities all over the world, you can do so here. 

George’s experience with the Anticipatory Action course has given him the skills to advocate for government financing on climate adaptation and establish community integration through joint disaster risk reduction activities.

George Oryongatum is a Disaster Risk Reduction and Environmental Officer working in south western Uganda, where extreme weather events caused by climate change pose a threat to food supply and increase the risk of hunger and poverty. He spoke with us about how completing RedR’s Anticipatory Action module has shaped his work.

George’s Climate Change Pathway

George works to uplift climate awareness whilst promoting community integration and resilience in refugee settlements in south western Uganda. Through RedR’s Anticipatory Action training, George has become better at identifying disasters in the community and planning for responses using locally-available resources. He is also more aware about the mitigation measures that disasters need, and includes this in his advocacy.

Mainstreaming Climate Awareness

Previously, it was general practice for local government project planning to not pay attention to environmental components. Following RedR’s training, George now participates in different local government projects and champions the integration of climate considerations into planning phases.

His advocacy work around disaster risk financing has influenced local governments in two districts to prioritise climate adaptation projects in all departments, achieving an increase of 150% in annual budgets for natural resources and the environment. The most valuable insight was the importance of proactive intervention, rather than reactive emergency responses.

Promoting Community Integration

The Kyegegwa and Isingiro districts in south western Uganda have seen a sudden upsurge in refugee populations, resulting in increased pressure on the environment and conflict between refugee and host communities over environmental protection and use of resources.

Using skills gained from the training, George has successfully facilitated the integration of refugee and host communities through joint disaster risk reduction actions to counteract climate issues. These include the establishment of local environment committees, promoting waste recycling at institutions and households, constructing 814 energy-saving cooking stoves, planting over 56 hectares of trees, and delivering capacity-building initiatives on natural resources conflict resolutions among refugees and host communities.

Going forward, George plans to scale up existing interventions whilst also introducing components around nutrition, climate-smart agriculture and agroforestry.

About the Project

Anticipatory Action is part of our Climate Change Adaption and Disaster Risk Reduction project, which provides free online certified training for climate responders in East Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia in partnership with AXA XL.

If you’d like to give financially to support this and similar projects for disaster-affected communities all over the world, you can do so here. 

Casimir’s experience with the Anticipatory Action course has enabled him to take on a “more proactive and effective approach” to his disaster risk reduction work in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Casimir Djoko Kamdem works as the National Coordinator for Humantarian Action for Africa (HAA), a signatory of the Climate and Environment Charter for Humanitarian Organisations. His work focuses on the South Kivu and Maniema provinces in the DRC, which are increasingly vulnerable to flooding and landslides that can cause loss of life and infrastructure damage. He spoke with us about his achievements since he completed the RedR UK Anticipatory Action course.

Casimir’s Climate Change Pathway

“I didn’t have a strong background in Anticipatory Action before, but through my work with Humanitarian Action for Africa, a signatory of the Climate and Environment Charter, I saw the need to transform disaster responses in South Kivu and Maniema provinces. RedR’s training was a significant learning opportunity to understand how to analyse disaster risk reduction.

The most valuable insight was the importance of proactive intervention, rather than reactive emergency responses.

After completing the training, I have implemented anticipatory action strategies, including early warning systems, local contingency plans, and community awareness campaigns in South Kivu and Maniema. The most powerful moment was when floods hit the community. We were able to move lots of families into makeshift shelters. After using early-warning systems and gaining the trust of the authorities, we helped a high-risk community in advance.

We also reinforced infrastructure, resulting in a significant decrease in the number of households impacted by the floods. Communities now receive early warnings about flooding and landslides, making them better prepared.”

Looking Ahead

“I have enjoyed teaching others in my office on Anticipatory Action and hope to do so with others. I am proud to be contributing to a more proactive and effective approach to disaster management in the DRC, thanks to the valuable knowledge gained through RedR UK’s training.”

About the Project

Anticipatory Action is part of our Climate Change Adaption and Disaster Risk Reduction project, which provides free online certified training for climate responders in East Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia in partnership with AXA XL.

If you’d like to give financially to support this and similar projects for disaster-affected communities all over the world, you can do so here. 

Huda’s experience with the Training of Trainers (ToT) in Humanitarian Emergencies course has been a “real turning point” for her work to ensure people most affected by conflict in Sudan have agency over their livelihoods.

Huda Mohammad Al-Khair Al Tayeb has extensive hands-on experience working in areas affected by conflict and actively engaging with local communities. She works as the General Manager of
Al-Salam Organisation for Care and Development, a humanitarian organisation that provides livelihood training to people who have been made vulnerable, focusing on women and children
and working with them to improve self-sufficiency. Al-Salam collaborates with qualified and experienced trainers to deliver various capacity-strengthening programmes in multiple states.

The war in Sudan has significantly hindered Al-Salam’s work, displacing many of its trainers and volunteers. Some are among the 11 million internally displaced people; others have been
scattered across different locations and time zones as part of the 3 million who fled as refugees. This displacement, along with travel restrictions, safety concerns, and logistical
barriers, made it difficult to coordinate meetings and deliver training in-person as they had before.

Previously, their in-person training required them to rent venues, organise transportation and accommodation for trainees from remote areas and refugee camps, and cover meals and travel
expenses – challenges that had become increasingly unsustainable due to the conflict. Recognising the need to adapt their approach, Huda and her team made the strategic decision
to transition to online training.

At an individual level, Huda’s role was also transitioning from a purely supervisory position to direct involvement in training. She wanted to develop her training skills because she wanted to
share the insights that she had gained from her hands-on experience working in conflict-affected areas, and be able to train others more effectively within the organisation, reducing their reliance
on external trainers and strengthening internal capacity.

Huda chose to enrol in RedR’s ToT in Humanitarian Emergencies course to refresh and expand her knowledge and skills and support her organisation’s transition to online training.

How the training has impacted Huda’s work:

Unlike previous trainings Huda completed, which were largely theoretical, this course emphasised practical, hands-on learning. Huda and her organisation have gained real-world skills
that they can apply to address critical gaps in its work and refine their approach in light of the challenges they face.

For instance, Al-Salam has shifted from a traditional approach to conducting needs assessments to a more systematic approach. This is especially valuable, as Al-Salam uses the insights from
these assessments to guide their work and meet the needs of the most affected groups. Another example is how the organisation has strengthened its strategies around community engagement
and communication.

According to Huda, the training provided has “helped boost our confidence and improved our ability to interact with the communities we serve.”

The training also presented a tool to support Huda and Al-Salam’s adoption of online training, including how to use Zoom to evolve their approach to meetings, programmes and training
sessions. This has now made real-time sharing of information and updates possible within Al-Salam, including from those working inside conflict zones, meaning the team is better equipped
to identify and respond quickly to people’s changing needs.

Huda also appreciated the comprehensive training materials that RedR provided before, during, and after the training sessions, describing them as “extremely valuable” and allowing for “deeper
engagement and continued learning”. Training materials from the course were shared with Al-Salam’s volunteers to support their work. In turn, many of these volunteers have become trainers
themselves, leading large training sessions in high-risk areas and further spreading the knowledge within their communities.

Another key aspect of the training was how it fostered peer-to-peer learning and knowledge-sharing. Huda had the opportunity to learn from the other participants, exchanging insights
beyond the structured training sessions about their real-world experiences in different humanitarian contexts.

Next steps for Huda & Al-Salam:

Even after the training, Huda has remained connected with other participants through a Community of Practice (CoP) knowledge hub, initially set up by RedR via WhatsApp. The CoP has
since moved to being fully managed by the training participants with the ability to invite new members. In the long term, this means Huda and her colleagues can continue to share
experiences and learn from each other more effectively, fostering stronger professional relationships.

For Huda, the training was “a turning point” for her on her path to becoming a qualified trainer. Going forward, it has inspired her to further develop her skills to better serve local communities.

Training of Trainers in Humanitarian Emergencies course is part of our Transforming Aid: Training for Humanitarian Impact and Response (TATHIR) project in Sudan. This project is generously funded
by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office via the H2H Network, and delivered in partnership with Humanitarian Academy for Development.

If you’d like to give financially to support this and similar projects for disaster-affected communities all over the world, you can do so here. 

In October 2023, Herat province in Afghanistan was impacted by a series of earthquakes which caused severe destruction to buildings and infrastructure. Ebadullah Momand has overseen response from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on shelter and housing, since then, serving as technical focal person at the field level in the region.

“We supported the community financially and technically to build transitional shelters in one
village (Chahak)”, explains Ebadullah. He is now working to continue support through building
and repairing homes. 

“The RedR training on repairing and retrofitting vernacular houses was very relevant”, says
Ebadullah. “Such trainings are rare, and there is a huge expertise gap in Afghanistan in
retrofitting vernacular and even modern buildings and houses.”

When earthquakes strike, these houses are often significantly impacted. We need repair and retrofitting techniques that are affordable and earthquake resistant. He says, “My experience with UNDP has taught me about vernacular concepts including carbon emissions, climate-friendly practices, and building local knowledge and capacity, which have helped me easily understand the training on retrofitting and repairing of vernacular houses, conducted by RedR UK.” 

As Ebadullah explains, however, there is significant value in preserving and repairing vernacular houses, created through traditional techniques – from not only a cultural, but also a technical standpoint. “In preserving cultural heritage through these traditional techniques, we also ensure the sustainability of these structures with minimal carbon emissions. Using local materials and traditional techniques not only enhances the resilience of these houses to seismic forces, but also makes them more adaptable to local climate conditions, leading to natural energy efficiency.”

This training, specifically catered to developing earthquake resilience in vernacular structures such as these, therefore holds particular value in the Afghan context. “By equipping individuals with the knowledge and skills to implement earthquake-resistant features and retrofitting measures in vernacular houses”, says Ebadullah, “we can help communities better withstand the impact of earthquakes and protect their cultural and traditional method of life.”

“The training has had a significant impact on my work, as it has deepened my understanding of the importance of preserving vernacular housing techniques, especially in disaster-prone areas like Afghanistan. I now have the knowledge and skills to implement earthquake-resistant features and retrofitting measures in traditional houses, which will help communities better withstand the impact of earthquakes and protect their cultural heritage.”

“This training has inspired me to continue working in disaster response, as I see the value in combining traditional knowledge with modern techniques to build more resilient and sustainable communities.”

Thanks for your support for RedR’s work in training disaster responders worldwide. Give financially to support this and similar projects for disaster-affected communities all over the world here.

Yousra is a mental health physician, with experience working with many different organisations, locally and internationally.

Working with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) as a Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Capacity Building Assistant, she runs training and workshops on mental health, especially for migrant groups in schools and other community contexts.  She is also the founder of Mwja, an enterprise providing training and raising community awareness about mental health. Yousra is experienced in supporting people through crisis contexts. In 2019, she founded an NGO platform to raise awareness around managing stress created by the civil war in Libya. 

The flood in Libya, caused by the breaking of two dams following Storm Daniel on 11 September 2023, caused over 30,000 people to lose their homes, with more than 10,000 people having lost their lives. The disaster causes widespread psychological trauma for those affected by the flood, as well as for those who respond.  

Through RedR’s Training of Trainers programme, Yousra developed her skills in online training delivery, learning to improve interactivity, and ensure participants take in what they’re learning. “In addition to a certificate that may help me develop my career”, says Yousra, “valuable information and a network of relationships with trainers and attendees is the biggest gain for me.” 

Equipped to develop her own online training for mental health support workers working with those affected by the Libya floods, Yousra is launching her own online programme in February 2024. With specific expertise for disaster contexts, Yousra will pass on her expertise in psychological first aid, self-care for responders, and empower her participants to begin their own basic steps to facilitate support group for adults and children.  

Thanks for your support for RedR’s work in Libya, generously supported by H2H and FCDO. If you’d like to give financially to support this and similar projects for disaster-affected communities all over the world, you can do so here. 

Since the floods that devastated the city of Derna in Libya last September, Basma El-Werfally has been working with her team to provide support.

Chair of Meras Organisation for Development, a youth volunteer and development organisation, Basma lead a large campaign in the aftermath of the flood, giving food, household items, and other essentials to families who had lost everything. 

Founded in 2017 to strengthen the role of civil society in Libya, Meras usually focuses on capacity development, particularly of women and young people. Their first project strengthened social entrepreneurship among organisational leaders, and Meras went on to support capacities for various vulnerable groups affected by conflict, adopting projects for economic and political empowerment of women and young people. With several projects implemented with funding from the European Union and local partners, Meras aspires to implement many programs that enhance its role as a Libyan civil society organization contributing to achieving sustainable development in Libya.

Although Basma was experienced in working in contexts of conflict, the flood brought a new kind of disaster on an unprecedented scale. Alongside the challenges of the emergency response including lack of available data, security and political challenges, and a widespread lack of confidence in donor organisations, Basma and her team were also profoundly affected psychologically by the disaster. 

Although she is already an experienced coach and trainer, Basma had never worked in a humanitarian disaster of this kind. RedR’s Training of Trainers programme equipped Basma with the humanitarian knowledge she needed to train others, with the specific skills needed in emergency disaster response contexts. 

Thanks for your support for RedR’s work in Libya, generously supported by FCDO and H2H. If you’d like to give financially to support this and similar projects for disaster-affected communities all over the world, you can do so here. 

Annet’s experience with Essentials of Humanitarian Data Analysis training means she and her humanitarian engineering colleagues can choose the most effective engineering projects for people affected by disaster. 

Annet Nsiimire is a consultant, engineer and trainer. She’s working with RedR as an associate trainer, and with the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology at Makerere University in Uganda. She works to strengthen the capacity of engineers to carry out humanitarian engineering projects. 

“In my work, I encounter several challenges that hinder the effectiveness of humanitarian interventions”, she says. “Limited funding restricts the scale and scope of opportunities for training and fieldwork. Local people don’t have the technical capacity to effectively support humanitarian projects. We must coordinate complex stakeholder relationships – with competing priorities and agendas.” 

Through the training, Annet sought to enhance the existing training she offers to engineers by including data analysis and visualisation. The engineers she trains can then carry out projects informed by data, not only by anecdotal evidence.  

The training has significantly impacted Annet’s work

“The training was informative, engaging, and relevant”, says Annet. Through it, Annet gained hands-on experience with data visualisation tools, learnt statistical analysis and interpretation, understood data quality, ethical considerations, and communicating findings. She has also enhanced her skills for delivering effective training. 

Even with the competing priorities, limited funding, and lack of technical experts in local contexts, using data effectively means that Annet can direct activity to the places where humanitarian engineering projects are needed most – and her work can have the greatest impact.  

Annet plans to integrate data analysis and interpretation into her humanitarian engineering projects. She’s passing on what she learnt to the humanitarian engineers she works with at Makerere University. Informed by sound data, the engineers she trains can also deliver humanitarian engineering that genuinely reaches the people who need it, in the most effective way.  

Essentials of Humanitarian Data Analysis is part of the Data Literacy Project, generously supported by USAID, and delivered in partnership with ACAPS. 

Mercy’s new confidence from Essentials of Humanitarian Data Analysis training means she can demonstrate that gender issues are not “just women’s issues”.  

Mercy Wanjohi works in the County Government of Nairobi, Kenya. She is a social scientist, working in gender and inclusivity. She leads programmes to mainstream gender across the work of the county government, as well as coordinating Nairobi County Safe Shelter, for survivors of gender-based violence. 

Mercy relies on data related to gender and gender-based violence in Nairobi to inform her policy recommendations to decision-makers.  

Why are gender issues not considered important? As Mercy explains, “most people have the perception that gender issues are women’s issues”. 

Mercy joined Essentials of Humanitarian Data Analysis training in September 2024, to understand how to collect, analyse, and share data with decision makers. Now, she can recommend policies in Nairobi that support survivors of gender-based violence most effectively, and mainstream gender issues across the work of the Nairobi County government. 

“I was able to understand data sources and how to prepare analysis, as well as the different types of analysis”, she says. “Now, I’m confident to present data well for different audiences.   

A renewed confidence to present policy to decision-makers

Since the training, Mercy has returned to her role with a renewed confidence to engage decision makers with data on gender and gender-based violence. She’s reviewing all the data available to her, to analyse and use in her policy-making, and share with key stakeholders. 

“I am a firm believer that we are all endowed with a lot of talents that can help us as communities solve problems. It’s been so valuable to enhance my capacity to do so, through this opportunity”. 

Essentials of Humanitarian Data Analysis is part of the Data Literacy Project, generously supported by USAID, and delivered in partnership with ACAPS.