[Training before departure of volunteers during nutritional emergencies. From inception to evaluation]

Predeparture training is rarely undertaken within emergency nongovernmental organizations. Although field-training is considered as the only real school, the technical requirements are increasingly more constraining. To cope with this problem, the technical officers of Action contre la faim planned a predeparture training project based on self-instruction of any volunteer leaving for a nutritional emergency mission. The project began in 1994. Six self-instruction sessions were produced to enable volunteers to learn. To improve the quality of work, this framework encouraged creativity, constant research and motivation. The training supervisor accompanied the volunteers and put them in simulated situations where various tools were made available to them. A series of measures have been used to improve this basic training: 1) a training contract meant to make the volunteer responsible for his training; 2) better programming to ensure adequate relay from one volunteer to the next; 3) an apprentice report covering the first 15 days of the volunteer's integration into the field, thereby providing important feed-back to the supervisor; 4) an evaluation of the monthly report and an interview-grid used to follow the volunteer in the short and medium-term; 5) and an evaluation form completed by the volunteer which enables the updating of sessions and simulated situations. This initiative has made us aware of the importance of following the volunteers at all stages: this can increase the volunteer's efficiency and their fidelity to the non-governmental organization. Currently, the main objective is to gain the support of qualified technical coordinators who will be the most important factor in continuous training.