Nigeria: Training of Trainers in the Humanitarian Context

With the support from USAID OFDA, iMMAP builds the knowledge and skills of national officers to provide further training and capacity building activities to other humanitarian partners responding to the Boko Haram crisis in Nigeria.



February 6, 2019, Maiduguri –As part of iMMAP´s capacity building efforts towards humanitarian response actors, our team in Nigeria implemented two separate four-day Training of Trainers (TOT) in the Humanitarian Context workshops for partners in Maiduguri, Borno State, and in Yola, Adamawa State. This was the first TOT capacity development activity of its kind in the humanitarian sector conducted by iMMAP in north east Nigeria.

The activities were conducted from 14-17 January 2019, and 28-31 January 2019 in Maiduguri and Yola, respectively. There was a total of 26 participants (13 from each of the states) trained, and they were all Nigerian nationals responding to the Boko Haram crisis, based in the north east.


The participants were selected from the list of national officers who increased their information management skills by attending previous training organized by iMMAP and UNOCHA in 2018. All people trained had a positive track record in applying advanced information management techniques for humanitarian operations.

The workshop aimed at building the knowledge and skills of national officers to provide further training and capacity building activities to other humanitarian partners in Nigeria, for effective preparedness and response to emergencies. At least 38% of the participants were female, and 62% were male. Of these, 31% were from national NGOs, 23% from international NGOs, 23% from United Nations agencies, and 23% from other organizational types, including government, Red Cross/Red Crescent, and the Academia.

I learned a lot. I really do like iMMAP. When it comes to capacity building they are the best! Looking forward to participating in one of iMMAP’s future training, or in co-facilitating. Zubainatu Yahaya, State Team Leader, Support for Needy Children and Women Initiative (SUNCHI) Yola.


The Training of Trainers (TOT) in the Humanitarian Context was instructor-led, and It focused on the principles, theory and best practices in adult learning in the humanitarian context. It was delivered through lectures, use of visual aids, and engaged the participants through individual activities, group work and presentations, simulations and do-it-yourself tasks.

Through the use of data-led evidence, the iMMAP team ensured a correct assessment of the learning progress: pre-training and post-training tests were administered on the first and last day of the workshop, containing both open-ended and multiple-choice questions. On first-time testing, the group average knowledge and skills level was at 55.4%. In the same post-training test, the group average knowledge and skills level was at 75.3%. All in all, this accounted for a 19% average improvement in observable knowledge and skills.


After the training, all participants expressed their commitment to join iMMAP and UNOCHA to co-facilitate training sessions in the future, to continue building the national information management capacity in a sustainable and long-lasting manner.

With the support from the United States Agency for International Development Office for Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID OFDA), iMMAP is prioritizing capacity building for Nigerian nationals to effectively respond to the current crisis and assist them in preparing for future humanitarian crises.

For further information and training opportunities, please contact nigeria@immap.org