CRGR starts regional research course

CRGR | Central America | July 07, 2020

In the framework of the education and training processes promoted by the Regional Network for Risk Management in Central America (CRGR), the regional course «Action Research» began today, which is aimed at representatives of the National Networks for Risk Management from Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua.

The main objective of this course is to consolidate knowledge on design, collection, analysis, presentation of proposals for solutions to problems related to Risk Management and Humanitarian Action, through the use and management of various tools and methodologies to promote action research, to contribute to the academic rigor of research and the advancement of the social sciences.

The Executive Secretary, Denis Meléndez welcomed and shows thanks to the group of fellows, interns, teaching staff and the CRGR team of the Virtual Course on Research – Action for making this regional training process possible, which will come to strengthen capacities of the organizations that make up this regional network.

“We must recognize that we are opening the doors for a new episode of the work we do every day. The generation of levels of uncertainty that impact our lives and that stem from the pandemic leads us to search for clues for the development of human activities now under conditions different from the previous year, before the genesis of COVID-19. This is the basis for understanding the vital and urgent need to develop a course on Research – Action «declared Denis Meléndez

Likewise, «we must remember that we are linked to risk management and that we favor the development of our countries; we have historical backwardness in terms of research.» We must gradually close that gap. The realization of this Course is taxed in that direction” expressed the Executive Secretary of the CRGR.

For the CRGR the Action Research course offering the opportunity to have a practical theoretical training process to the members of the Regional Network for Risk Management, to strengthen their research capabilities, within the framework of the Project: «Consolidate CRGR capacities for higher quality Humanitarian Action and contribution to improving resilience in Central America” financed by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

This course is taught by the Regional Network for Risk Management in Central America (CRGR) through SEPADE CONSULTORES, a team of professionals with experience in Risk Management and Humanitarian Action, as well as in participatory action research processes.

This process will be specifically led and facilitated by Gloria Hernández Cabrera, educational psychologist, and teacher in learning problems, with more than 15 years working on the systematization of experiences, research, and evaluation of projects related to community monitoring, women producers, citizen training and leadership, bilingual intercultural education, inclusive risk management, solidarity tourism, food, and nutritional security, gender equity.

According to Gloria Hernández, in this course “the graduated participants will have the methodological foundations and the tools to conduct research processes, which will help them increase the quality of their research in Risk Management and Humanitarian Action. Likewise, it enables the exchange of experiences among the members of the CRGR”.

Likewise, this course will be facilitated by Rolando Déleon Wong, teacher, and facilitator with training in Comprehensive Risk Management, Analysis in Public Policies, and with experience in systematization, research, and evaluation of development projects. He has been a teacher and facilitator in various virtual and face-to-face courses related to the topics of risk management, humanitarian aid, climate change, and political advocacy.

The Action Research course will be developed in 4 months through virtual learning sessions synchronously, virtual orientation meetings by country teams, personal and group work guides, technical support via email, or other methodology analyzed by Rolando Déleon.

Representatives of the Citizen Convergence for Risk Management in Guatemala (COCIGER), Permanent Network for Risk Management in El Salvador (MPGR), National Advocacy Network for Risk Management in Honduras (MNIGR) and of the National Network for Risk Management in Nicaragua (MNGR). At the end of the course, the CRGR hopes to have the opportunity to hold a face-to-face meeting to present the investigations, if the situation and context allow it.

Through this initiative, the CRGR in Central America seeks to eliminate the barriers that currently exist in access to education, information, and research. The CRGR places great value and importance on the knowledge and learning of network members and hopes that this course can have a great impact on the training of the participants and the organizations they represent.

As CRGR we hope that this regional course «Action Research» and other courses, available from this initiative, allow the advancement and updating of our partner organizations at the three levels of local, national, and regional intervention.