-With Advanced Operations Training in Nimba
Sanniquellie, Nimba County — The Liberia National Red Cross Society (LNRCS) has launched a five-day Managing Operations Training (MOT) in Sanniquellie, Nimba County, as part of efforts to strengthen Liberia’s capacity to respond effectively to increasingly complex humanitarian emergencies.
The training is intended to enhance the skills of Red Cross staff and volunteers responsible for managing medium- to large-scale emergency operations. Liberia continues to face recurring disasters including floods, fires, windstorms, coastal erosion, and public health emergencies, which can have devastating consequences when response systems are weak or poorly coordinated.
To address these challenges, the Global Response Unit of the Swedish Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) are supporting the LNRCS in building stronger local operational leadership and emergency response management capacity.
With a presence in all 15 counties, the Liberian Red Cross has played a central role in responding to major national emergencies such as the Ebola outbreak, COVID-19 pandemic, and widespread flooding and fires. Its sustained leadership in these crises has earned recognition for resilience and effectiveness under difficult conditions.
The current in-person training builds on that experience, adding depth to the operational skills of staff and volunteers who already have emergency response backgrounds. As climate-related disasters continue to intensify, the MOT reinforces the commitment of the LNRCS and its partners to improving preparedness, coordination, and response efficiency nationwide.
Nearly 30 participants are taking part in the training, including representatives from the National Disaster Management Agency, the Liberia Meteorological Service at the Ministry of Transport, and the Sierra Leone Red Cross. The opening ceremony was held at the Kopaa (Red Cross) Guesthouse in Sanniquellie. The training runs until December 18 under the theme “Strengthening Operational Management Capacity” and the slogan “Enhancing skills, strengthening systems, saving lives.”
The MOT is part of the IFRC’s broader Operational Leadership Programme, designed to equip members of the LNRCS National Disaster Response Team with the competencies required to manage complex humanitarian operations. The programme combines lectures, group work, and experiential learning, culminating in a tabletop simulation exercise based on a medium-scale disaster scenario in Liberia.
“This training is not just about learning new skills; it is about preparing ourselves for the challenges ahead,” said Gregory Blamoh, Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer of the Liberian Red Cross. “Next year will be a challenging year, and I urge all volunteers and staff to work harder, with high professionalism, and deliver better results for the communities we serve.”
The Head of the IFRC Freetown Cluster Coordination Delegation, Peter Ophoff, emphasized that successful emergency operations depend on trust and coordination as much as technical planning. He noted that operational management requires strong partnerships with communities and extended stakeholders to ensure effective and timely responses.
Representing the Swedish Red Cross, Country Representative Armel Komena said the training presents an opportunity for the Liberian Red Cross to raise the standard of its humanitarian work and demonstrate leadership within the region. He noted that strengthened operational management can position the LNRCS as a center for peer learning and support among neighboring National Societies.
Organizers say the MOT is designed as an agile adaptation of international-standard operational leadership training, tailored to Liberia’s context while remaining relevant for wider regional application. Supported by the Swedish Red Cross Global Response Unit in partnership with the IFRC, the initiative underscores a shared commitment to strengthening disaster preparedness and response systems in West Africa.
