The [Good Enough Guide] training has improved my understanding of essential elements of accountability and precisely the need to involve the community at every stage of the project. It enabled me to plan effectively with other development partners especially in the IDP camps and also during the meetings."

Hanshi Jama
Senior Public Health Officer
Kenyan Ministry of Health

People affected by disasters (source: EMDAT)

Climate change is just one of many factors that mean the frequency and severity of disasters and emergencies is increasing rapidly in the 21st century. Disasters hit hardest on the world’s poorest, and can undo years of long term investment in development and poverty reduction.

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The ECB Project is one of a number of initiatives focused on improving quality and accountability in the humanitarian sector.

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Welcome to the ECB Project

The Emergency Capacity Building (ECB) Project was launched in 2005 to improve the speed, quality, and effectiveness of the disaster and emergency response work within the humanitarian community.

Latest news from ECB

ECB Agencies Deploy Joint Needs Assessment in Response to Indonesian Quake

On Sunday, January 4th, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.6 on the Richter Scale struck the Indonesian province of West Papua. According to UNOCHA, 14,000 people have been internally displaced, and eight hundred houses and 34 government buildings have sustained damage. Building on their experiences with the Joint Needs Assessment (JNA) tool from ECB Phase I, four ECB partners in Indonesia conducted a JNA in Manokwari, West Papua. Under ECB Phase I, the Joint Needs Assessment tool was collaboratively developed to create an on-line platform to share assessment data in real time, allowing for more accurate data and less duplication. Read more here.

Second Phase of ECB Project launched

Disasters and emergencies are increasing in frequency and severity, threatening lives and livelihoods across the world and endangering years of investment and progress in long-term development and poverty reduction. Through the Emergency Capacity Building (ECB) Project, six of the largest global humanitarian agencies - CARE, Catholic Relief Services, Mercy Corps, Oxfam, Save the Children and World Vision – have been working together since 2005 to meet this challenge.

Now these agencies are launching a five year second phase of the ECB Project. ECB Phase II will continue to nurture innovation and seek new solutions to shared challenges, whilst ensuring that this new knowledge translates into concrete improvements in the speed, quality and effectiveness of emergency preparedness and response. In Phase II, ECB will scale up its impact, both in the field and across the humanitarian sector, through a series of new partnerships, including governments, academia and the private sector.

Visit the Phase II section of this website to find out more.

ECB is recruiting Project Staff

We are looking for committed professionals to join the global team which will support and oversee the implementation of ECB Phase II, and help ECB's many stakeholders achieve their shared goal: improved speed, quality and effectiveness of emergency preparedness and response.

CARE is recruiting these positions on behalf of the ECB Project. To view specific positions and apply, visit www.care.org/careers.