When emergencies happen, Scout volunteers are often among the first to support their communities. But to respond effectively, National Scout Organizations (NSOs) need more than goodwill alone. They need the knowledge, skills, and systems to prepare for crises before they happen.
With this in mind, the Jordanian Association for Boy Scouts and Girl Guides requested support through WOSM Services aimed at building resilient communities and improving humanitarian response. Working closely with WOSM consultants and regional staff, the project focused on strengthening humanitarian preparedness in Jordan and brought together Scout leaders from across the Arab Region to learn from each other.
The journey began in Amman, where more than 100 Scout leaders and trainers from 12 NSOs took part in a regional gathering on relief, crisis, and disaster management. Through practical workshops, discussions, and visits to national emergency response institutions participants explored humanitarian action, disaster preparedness, crisis coordination, and the role Scouts can play before, during, and after emergencies.
Learning continued beyond the workshop through regional online sessions, tailored support for the Jordanian Association for Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, and ongoing mentoring to help organisations put their learning into practice. WOSM consultants supported leaders as they strengthened response plans, improved preparedness, and adopted new approaches to meet the needs of their communities.
Over 260 Scout leaders and young people took part in the project, while trained leaders shared their knowledge within their own NSOs. Since then, young people led 50 advocacy campaigns through the Messengers of Peace initiative - far exceeding the original target - and turned their learning into action through community preparedness and humanitarian initiatives.
Perhaps the project’s greatest achievement is what continues today. Humanitarian Action challenges are now integrated into Scouting programmes, partnerships with emergency response agencies have grown stronger, and trained leaders continue to build the capacity of others. These outcomes will help NSOs respond with greater confidence whenever their communities need them.
This project shows how WOSM Services goes beyond delivering training. By providing tailored support from experienced consultants and staff, WOSM Services helps NSOs build lasting capacity that strengthens both their organisations and the communities they serve.
NSOs looking to build more resilient communities, enhance humanitarian response, or strengthen capacity in any WOSM Service area can request tailored support through the WOSM Services Platform to access expertise designed for their specific needs.