Getting READY to respond to major disease outbreaks

Launch of a new online learning hub for humanitarians

London, UK, 18 January 2023 – The READY initiative is pleased to announce the launch of the READY Outbreak Readiness and Response Learning Hub. A unique and freely accessible resource for the humanitarian sector, the READY Learning Hub showcases a collection of curated outbreak-related learning products, brought together in a single, user-friendly, digital space for the first time.

The READY Outbreak Readiness and Response Learning Hub is available on Kaya, the Humanitarian Leadership Academy’s e-learning platform, which is accessed by over 650,000 registered users from over 190 countries and offers over 450 courses in up to 12 languages. 

In the READY Learning Hub, humanitarian actors will have access to a curated, user-friendly course catalog that contains over 60 external and READY-developed e-learning courses covering a range of technical and operational topics to support individual and organizational readiness and response to infectious disease outbreaks. 

Additionally, the READY Learning Hub offers innovative digital outbreak simulations. Outbreak READY!, the latest simulation developed by the READY initiative, allows individuals to test their skills by taking the role of an NGO team lead managing a multi-sectoral humanitarian program portfolio when an outbreak occurs. 

“The READY Learning Hub brings existing and new online learning opportunities into one central platform. Humanitarians from around the world will be able to easily access the best, free learning resources available to improve our individual and collective ability to effectively respond to disease outbreaks, and ultimately save lives.” READY Chief of Party, Laura Cardinal  

The value of the READY Learning Hub to the humanitarian sector is highlighted by one learner who said: “The greatest advantage of the Learning Hub is the connection with other courses and having all of the outbreak-specific content centered in one place. That has been a huge problem for people on the ground as previously we found it difficult to identify all of the relevant courses. The Learning Hub answers that need.”  

James Maltby, Head of Digital Learning at the Humanitarian Leadership Academy, a READY partner said:

“The Humanitarian Leadership Academy’s mission is to enable people to prepare for and respond to crises in their own countries. In the last few years, one of the urgent learning needs that has come from local organizations is more support to build their capacity to respond to major infectious disease outbreaks. Through our partnership with the READY initiative, the new online ‘READY Outbreak Readiness and Response Learning Hub’ on the Kaya global learning platform is central to our future programming in this area.” 

The READY Outbreak Readiness and Response Learning Hub is free and currently available in English, with Arabic, French and Spanish versions set to follow in the upcoming months. 

Visit the READY Outbreak Readiness and Response Learning Hub here

Notes to editors 

About READY  

When major disease outbreaks occur, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are often on the frontlines, using their deep connections with affected communities and expertise to support outbreak readiness and response. READY, an initiative funded by USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance and led by Save the Children and a consortium of partners, is supporting NGOs to more effectively respond to major disease outbreaks in humanitarian settings. Through investments in a robust and diverse capacity-strengthening portfolio, knowledge and best-practice sharing, and engagement with key coordination groups to identify and respond to real-time needs, READY is equipping national and international humanitarian NGOs with knowledge and skills to be ready to respond to major disease outbreaks through integrated and community-centered approaches.  

Led by Save the Children, the READY initiative is implemented in partnership with the Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health, the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs, UK-Med, and the Humanitarian Leadership Academy. For more information, visit READY’s website. To learn more about the READY partners, visit the links below: 

Save the Children 

The Humanitarian Leadership Academy 

Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health 

Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs 

UK-Med 

If you have any questions or would like to suggest learning content to include on the READY Learning Hub, please get in touch with us at ready@savechildren.org 

Media Contacts  

READY Initiative 

Laura Cardinal, READY Chief of Party 

Email: laura.cardinal@savethechildren.org  

Humanitarian Leadership Academy   

Anne Garcon, Head of Communications and Marketing 

Email: a.garcon@humanitarian.academy