CALP Online: Core CVA Skills for Programme Staff Course
Do you aim to continually develop your professional skills around Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA)? The CALP Network's online course will strengthen your CVA expertise and your ability to design and implement high-quality programming.
21 July 2021
Steph Roberson Learning Content Lead
“The search has ended – we’ve put together a learning package that meets all of your CVA training needs in one place.
And it’s so flexible! You can be part of the 12-week online course OR choose to access specific elements of the course as and when you need them.”
Adel Monsefi – Relief International
“After working for over a decade in humanitarian response I have to confess I learned a lot from this course. It was the most interesting online training that I attended in my life. I encourage all of the program staff to take this course. It gave me a clear picture of the essential steps toward a successful CVA”
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An overview of the course, plus participant testimonies from Burak, Nil and Atefeh.
Option 1 – Take the 12-week online course
Our 12-week ‘CALP Online: Core CVA Skills for Programme staff’ course will enhance your skills in the ever-expanding use of CVA in humanitarian programming, and is the online equivalent to our flagship five-day face-to-face training course.
Working alongside a cohort of other CVA professionals, you will learn via an engaging mix of videos, e-learning, online workshops, group activities, written assignments and peer to peer learning.
Join the course to:
Build valuable connections and professional credentials
Deepen your understanding of CVA at each stage of the programme cycle
Develop your ability to design and deliver high quality CVA programming
Enhance your capacity to make a larger positive impact on the lives of crisis affected people
If there are no live training events in your area, sign up to our newsletter and we’ll let you know when new courses come online.
Option 2 – Self-directed learning
Not everyone can fit their work around a structured course. But you don’t have to. The course materials have been made available for online self-directed learners too.This could easily become your new go-to place for answering tricky cash-related questions or for building your capacity on specific CVA-related subjects.
Burak Cinar – DG ECHO
“the CALP Network has made it possible for learners to get the training online in the best applicable way. Now that I know better how exhaustive good-quality tools the CALP Network has, I will get more familiar with them.”
2. What is the structure and format of this course?
The 12-week online course is equivalent to taking the CALP Network’s flagship 5-day face to face training course, “Core CVA Skills for Programme Staff” and you would receive the same certificate of completion at the end.
The online version is conducted online over 12 weeks, with a range of self-directed learning, such as e-learning and training videos, as well as facilitated online workshops, offline tasks and group assignments, and peer-to-peer learning.
It is expected that learners will commit to doing 3 hours of learning per week over the course of the 12 weeks. A lot of the learning is self-directed so participants must be motivated to study the materials in their own time.
3. What do the learning materials consist of?
The course materials are made up of:
21 new e-learning courses, including 6 topic assessments to apply knowledge and practice your CVA skills in a fictional emergency context.
15 training videos or video lectures
16 talking heads videos sharing perspectives and insights from across our network
Reading materials, and links to key resources and documents in the CALP Network’s Programme Quality Toolbox
6 facilitated online workshops
A set of offline group tasks to work on in your assigned groups.
4. Is it all online? Is there a face-to-face equivalent?
This course is all delivered online, however it is equivalent to taking our flagship 5-day face to face training course, “Core CVA Skills for Programme Staff”.
Both courses have the same title, cover the same learning content and objectives, and both courses have the same certificate of completion.
5. What do participants gain by taking the course?
The overarching goal of this course is to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence of humanitarian practitioners for CVA technical design and quality.
As a participant you’ll have access to a wide range of resources aimed at improving your skills and knowledge of CVA programming. You’ll also have the opportunity to practice applying your knowledge via the end of topic assessments.
6. How much work is there for participants taking the course?
Participants will need to be self-motivated enough to study for approximately 3 hours per week over the duration of the 12–week course.
7. Is there a competitive process for enrolling onto the course?
Yes. For each new course there is a competitive application process. Application forms are assessed by our Learning Team who select up to 25 participants per course based on a range of factors such as language proficiency, location, type of organisation, job role, etc.
8. Is there a certificate of completion for this course?
Yes! We offer acertificate of completion for both the 5-day face to face training course and the 12-week online course, which both carry an equivalent certificate.However, please note that although this course will enhance your professional credentials, the CALP Network does not offer a formal accreditation for humanitarian practitioners.
9. If I can’t get a place on the course do I have any other options?
The course is available in English, Arabic and French. The course will also be available in Spanish from January 2022.
Your questions about self-directed learning
1. What is meant by ‘self-directed’ learning’?
“Self-directed learning” refers to any training materials that are not facilitated by a trainer, and are accessed by the learner directly, at any time. For example this might be training videos, e-learning courses, or reading materials.
2. What resources are available for self-directed learners?
the CALP Network has developed a wide range of new materials aimed at strengthening your skills in CVA programming; these include training videos and e-learning courses.
Have a look at the CALP Network’s Cash Learning Hub to see the full range of self-directed training resources available online. The hub is hosted on Kaya and will require you to set up a free account.
3. Can anyone be a ‘self-directed learner’?
Yes! Our online materials are open to any humanitarian practitioner interested in learning more about CVA.
Within our Cash Learning Hub we have a wide range of materials organised according to beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. You can also use our ‘CVA competency self-assessment’ in order to identify where your skillset needs strengthening.
4. Is there a certificate of completion for self-directed learners?
No. Self-directed learning means just that – you are doing your own studying in your own time and there is no formal certificate, structure or recognition. The purpose of self-directed learning is to enrich your skills and knowledge. If you’d like to be part of a more formal programme we recommend the 12-week course.
5. What are the benefits of accessing the course materials as a self-directed learner?
You can access learning materials whenever it is most convenient for you, and how much work you do it entirely up to you. The course materials are likely to become your new go-to place for answering tricky cash-related questions or for building your capacity on specific CVA-related subjects.
For example, if you need to conduct a market assessment and wish to brush up on your skills and knowledge, you can jump to Topic 2 of our new online course and review the training resources related to market assessments.
6. In what languages are the learning materials available?
The course materials are available in English, French and Arabic. The course will also be available in Spanish from January 2022.
