Data Protection Officer (DPO) Humanitarian Action Certification
Upcoming courses
16-20 June 2025, Istanbul
13-17 October 2025, Naivasha, Kenya
3-7 November 2025, Bangkok, Thailand
Protecting individuals' personal data is an integral part of protecting their life and dignity. This is why personal data protection is of fundamental importance for humanitarian organizations. Recent developments in new technologies have meant that the processing of ever-increasing quantities of personal data in an interconnected world has become easier and faster, and this has given rise to enormous opportunities to make the work of humanitarian organisations more effective and efficient, in the interest of the people they serve. This, however, has also given rise to concerns about the possible harm and harmful unintended consequences generated by such new technologies and intrusion into the private sphere of individuals and to regulatory efforts worldwide to respond to these concerns.
The European Centre on Privacy and Cybersecurity (ECPC), Maastricht University Faculty of Law and the Data Protection Office at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC DPO), in cooperation with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) Centre for Humanitarian Data, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) offer this training and certification programme specifically designed for Data Protection Officers in Humanitarian Action.
It is not intended to replace compliance with applicable legal norms, or with data protection rules, policies and procedures that a particular organization may have adopted. Rather, the handbook seeks to raise awareness and assist humanitarian organizations in ensuring that they comply with personal data protection standards when carrying out humanitarian activities, by providing specific guidance on the interpretation of data protection principles for humanitarian action, particularly when new technologies are employed.
During the International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, in December 2019 a clear call emerged for Data Protection literacy and standards to be disseminated more broadly and effectively within the Movement. In response to this call, a training curriculum has been developed building on the Handbook. The European Centre on Privacy and Cybersecurity (ECPC), Maastricht University Faculty of Law and the Data Protection Office at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC DPO), in cooperation with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Centre for Humanitarian Data, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) offer this training and certification programme specifically designed for Data Protection Officers in Humanitarian Action. This course is made possible with the support of the Directorate for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs of the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.
View for more information about the course:
Programme
Certification
Partners
Registration & fee

Also read
-
European Administrative Law Dialogues
These online discussions seek to set the scene for further exchange about the intellectual, conceptual, social, legal and practical interactions between comparative administrative law in Europe and European administrative law. The European Administrative Law Dialogues are strongly anchored in...
24 Mar31 Dec -
Seminar International Supply Chain Taxation
Various speakers of international standing will address future changes in indirect taxation, such as the reform of the Union Customs Code, including the creation of an EU Customs Data Hub and Customs Authority. Collecting and reporting data in the field of indirect tax becomes increasingly important...
26 Mar -
Experience Day - European Law School (on campus)
During the Experience Day you will receive more information about the European Law School programme and Problem-Based Learning (PBL) system.
27 Mar