KANDAHAR Protection Mainstreaming Training Report for the month of July 2025
The topic to have known as a very significant issue for all the humanitarian actors, knowing its importance, HOPA on 05-July-2025 arranged a PROTECTION MAINSTREAMING training session for all the HOPA’s current and standby staff responding to beneficiaries at HOPA’s main meeting hall. PROTECTION MAINSTREAMING one of the very important policies of an organization is necessary to be circulated among all the staff an organization withhold. It refers to policies, training, and practices designed to prevent and respond to protection practices by humanitarian, development, and peacekeeping personnel. HOPA’s this training ensures that employees understand their responsibilities in preventing norms against protection, recognizing misconduct, and taking appropriate action when violations occur. The PROTECTION MAINSTREAMING Protection Mainstreaming training is essential for ensuring that Humanitarian Organization for the People of (HOPA) staff uphold the highest standards of integrity and safeguard vulnerable populations from harming beneficiaries and applying all protection norms. This training that was held in July 2025 equipped HOPA’s staff with the knowledge, skills, and tools to prevent, report, and respond to Protection Principles cases effectively. HOPA believes in its procedures and self-improvement actions, today’s Protection training started with Pre-test from the participants to gauge their awareness on Protection mainstreaming. In the pre-test we found some new employees joined HOPA recently knew very little on Protection norms topic. HOPA’s this Protection training is widely implemented across all humanitarian interventions, this time especially for returnees’ staff to ensure ethical conduct and safeguard the dignity and rights of affected populations.
HOPA believes pre-test is an essential pathway used to assess participants' baseline knowledge before undergoing training on Protection Mainstreaming. The pre-test that included questions that evaluate understanding of key concepts such as the definition of Protection, organizational policies, reporting mechanisms, and ethical responsibilities of staff and volunteers. By identifying knowledge gaps, the test helps trainers tailor the session to address misconceptions and reinforce critical principles. It also emphasizes the importance of accountability, survivor centered approaches, and the role of every individual in maintaining a safe and respectful work environment. The pre-test is not meant to judge but rather to prepare participants for meaningful learning and engagement in Protection training. After the pre-test was taken , according to plan the training started by HOPA’s Protection focal point. Some sources like banner a computer slide show was put under way to make the participants easier to understand and get improved on their Protection knowledge.
Defined Protection to HOPA’s participants as protection refers to the policies, measures, and actions taken to protect vulnerable individuals from protection exploitation norms by humanitarian, development, and peacekeeping personnel. It ensures that organizations and their staff uphold the highest ethical standards, prevent misconduct, and respond effectively to any violations. Protection is based on principles of accountability, safeguarding, and a survivor-centered approach to protect the dignity and rights of affected populations. The main principles were also defined to them, along the other important issues under Protection topic. The Protection focal point made it clear for the participants that the entire UN and HOPA has a Zero tolerance for any Protection allegation and misconduct.
We took assurance from the participants to protect the dignity of beneficiaries as the protection of the affected population is very important to HOPA. The Protection focal point explained every important step on whistle blowing to reporting such mis conducts on Protection allegation. The participants were oriented on how to report and avoid protection allegations, the Protection focal point’s Email address for HOPA and the hotline number also displayed. Moreover, survivors centered approached was explained to the participants, HOPA’s staff were excellently trained on how to protect survivors first the training that lasted almost three hours with important exchange of Protection knowledge finally ended with a post-test taken from the participants. The post-test showed very important development of HOPA’s staff on Protection mainstreaming knowledge.
The Post-test which is an essential evaluation tool used after training to assess participants' understanding of key Protection principles, policies, and reporting mechanisms. It helps measure the effectiveness of the training by identifying improvements in knowledge and any remaining gaps that need further clarification. The post-test typically included scenario-based questions that test participants’ ability to recognize protection, their responsibilities in preventing it, and the correct procedures for reporting misconduct.
By comparing pre-test and post-test results, Protection focal ensured that the staff and partners are well-equipped to uphold ethical standards and maintain a safe, respectful environment for all. Ultimately, the post-test reinforces accountability and the organization’s commitment to protecting vulnerable populations from protection misbehaving norms.
Eventually the question-and-answer session was a vital component of training, allowing participants to clarify doubts, reinforced key concepts, and engaged in meaningful discussions. This interactive session provided an opportunity to explore the definitions of protection mainstreaming, understand reporting and avoiding mechanisms, and discuss the ethical responsibilities of staff and organizations.
By addressing real-life scenarios and common misconceptions, the Q&A session helped participants develop a deeper understanding of Protection policies and the importance of a survivor-centered approach. It also encouraged an open and safe dialogue, fostering a culture of accountability and awareness in preventing and responding to Protection. In the wrap up session, every participant signed the attendance sheet and expressed their gratitude on letting them aware on Protection topic, they requested for such more fruitful trainings on other important issues in the future. They thanked HOPA’s Gender and Protection department for arrange such fruitful awareness sessions to them.
