Who | This course is primarily for IT responders from WFP and Stand-by Partner organizations, that will deploy to emergency situations and use their data communications skills with the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC). Other agencies in the humanitarian sector are also welcome to apply, however priority is given to applicants that will directly use the skills learnt on the course. Because the course is focused on the standard "Data Fly-Away Kit" and the "ETC Solution" for providing voice & data services, people who do not have access to the kit or will not respond in an ETC or inter-agency role will only gain marginal benefit from attending this course. Participants need to already have a technical background in data communications (specifically 1-2 years of networking experience as a minimum), and be available for deployment in this type of role with WFP or their respective agencies. Emergency experience is an advantage.
There is an online entry test for applicants wishing to attend this course. The purpose of this is to ensure all participants arrive with a minimum level of knowledge, allowing the class to proceed at the designed pace. There is a maximum of 12 participants for this course. All training materials including the assessment are in English only, and given the technical nature of the content, students must have strong English skills to successfully complete the course.
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When | This course is organized on demand by WFP and in conjunction with Stand-by Partners, typically twice per year. See the training calendar for exact dates. |
Where | Typically held in Dubai, UAE or Schimpach, Luxembourg this course can also be delivered for Stand-by Partner agencies at their facilities.
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What | Key Objective
ICT staff will be able to plan, deploy and maintain standard inter-agency data communications infrastructure, focusing on the data fly-away kit used for inter-agency deployments during emergencies. Course Content
The course is founded on the standard "Data Fly-Away Kit" used for inter-agency emergency deployments. This course includes intensive hands on training in the installation and configuration of key data communications equipment.
In more practical terms, the course is intended to train participants in the following areas.
- Inter-Agency IT Programs
- Emergency Preparedness and Response Planning for ICT
- UN inter-agency Telecommunication Services
- Networking Fundamentals
- LAN Switching
- IP Routing and Security
- Wide-Area Networks & Metro-Networks
- Wireless communication concepts
- Wireless Networks & Equipment
- Installation Procedures
- VoIP Emergency Data Response
The specific equipment covered in the course includes Cisco switches, routers & firewalls, Proxim wireless links and access points, and Ericsson Response's WIDER solution. |
Cost | Accomodation and meals during the course, and all direct course costs (instructors, facilities, equipment etc) are provided by the host. Participants will need to arrange their own flights & travel costs.
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General Contact | WFP.Lets_Net@wfp.org (this address is for generic enquiries about the course that are not related to any specific event. Do not send applications to this address)
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Event Enquiries & Applications | WFP.IT_Training_Applications@wfp.org |
Entry Test
For candidates to be eligible for selection for the Let's Net course, they must complete the Entry Test. This test helps the learning process by ensuring everyone starts with the same level of background knowledge. This applies to all participants. Click here for more information on the Entry Test, and resources that can help you prepare for and pass the test.
How to Apply
Because this course has a very specific student profile, a strict selection process is applied. All agencies that are nominating participants should filter and prioritise their candidates internally before sending the nominations.
If you belong to... | The nomination should come from... |
| An ETC Partner organization | Your organization ETC focal point |
| WFP | Either a RITO or Chief |
| WFP Stand-by Partners | Your organisation focal point for WFP |
| All other organizations | A manager that is globally responsible for emergency ICT and telecommunications across your organization |
Once the Entry Test is successfully completed, the nominating manager should send an e-mail with the following attachments:
- CV (no particular format is required)
- A letter of motivation (no more than half a page) that describes how you will use these skills in emergency response or humanitarian work. We recommend you detail your role in ETC or Inter-Agency emergency response.
- Evidence the entry test has been completed successfully (take a screenshot or print a PDF upon completion, you can forward this as evidence).
Selection Criteria
The applications will be considered based on these criteria:
- Technical background
- Inter-agency or ETC role
- Manager's approval
- Availability for deployment in emergency response and humanitarian work
Student Information
Instructors and course managers will be given basic profile information about the course participants, in order to prepare the course appropriately for the audience. This may include contact information such as email addresses.
Pre Course Requirements
Once accepted onto the course, there is a mandatory requirement to complete pre-course reading, which is fairly technical in nature. To facilitate the learning process, all students must complete this pre-course reading before arrival. Students who are already CCNA certified will only need to refresh their knowledge. Others will potentially need 30-50 hours to study and learn this content.
The pre-course reading is from the "CCNA book", specifically the CCENT/CCNA ICND1 Official Exam Certification Guide. If you cannot borrow this book from your agency, it can be purchased online as an e-Book online (as of September 2011, ~US$27) or through normal channels. ISBN-13: 978-1-58720-182-0.
The following chapters from the book should be learnt:
- Chapter 1: Introduction to Computer Networking Concepts
- Chapter 2: The TCP/IP and OSI Networking Models
- Chapter 3: Fundamentals of LANs
- Chapter 4: Fundamentals of WANs
- Chapter 5: Fundamentals of IP Addressing and Routing
- Chapter 6: Fundamentals of TCP/IP Transport, Applications and Security
- Chapter 7: LAN Switching
- Chapter 8: Operating Cisco LAN Switches
- Chapter 9: Ethernet Switch Configuration
- Chapter 11: Wireless LANs
- Chapter 12: IP Addressing and Subnetting
- Chapter 13: WAN Concepts
Each chapter has a introductory quiz called "Do I know this already?". We recommend you complete this quiz to determine whether you need to study the chapter or not.
Note that the content from this book is not re-covered during the course - you are expected to know it when you arrive. Therefore attending the training without already possessing this knowledge will leave you at a severe disadvantage and make it difficult for you to keep pace with the class.
If you are already quite familiar with these networking topics, you can save some time by looking for the Key Topic icon in the book. These topics are the most important for you to understand well. At the end of each chapter is a summary of the key topics.
Evaluation of Participants
During the course there is a written test (mostly multiple choice) and a practical assessment designed to check the effectiveness of the training and the competence of the students. Results from the test can be shared with the managers of individual students upon request.
Post Course Requirements
There are no post-course requirements for this course, however students must find ways to practise the skills learnt in order to keep their skills fresh. We recommend students discuss how to do this with their managers before applying for the course.
