
Global Development Consultancy, Training & Resources
What is TorqAid
We’re a participatory humanitarian practice which focuses in on Consultancy work, Training and Research, and our website illustrates these three complementary areas. On this Home Page we’d briefly like to summarise what we think are our five key Strengths. Firstly, like many of our contemporary colleagues, we combine a rich experience of overseas humanitarian work, and Chris is able to combine this with Emergency Management work in Australia. We also have a small cadre of experienced Global Humanitarian Practitioners (GHPs) with whom we share advice and ideas. Secondly, disasters are complex events, and over the years we believe there are patterns to these which can be best expressed in four key diagrams. A DRM Framework article explaining this can be found in our Resources Page. Thirdly, we’ve incorporated this experience into a Participatory Disaster Risk Management (PDRM) training program, which is delivered in both workshop and online formats. Fourthly, in addition to the DRM Framework article, we’ve developed, and update quarterly, both a Global Humanitarian and Development Bibliography and a similar Aid Directory. Fifthly, we genuinely endeavour to make our work’ participatory’. We regularly fine-tune our key diagrams from comments made by field practitioners and students. We also use a modified version on the Ten Seed Technique (TST), a fabulous ranking tool, to dig down deep into hearing and understanding a community’s strengths and challenges.
HUMANITARIAN TRAINING 2023
TorqAid has been facilitating accredited Participatory Disaster Risk Management (PDRM) and Participatory Project Management (PPM) workshops since 2002, both across Australia and overseas. Altogether a total of over 110 PDRM & PPM workshops have been facilitated in this time period. An online accredited PDRM course has also been running since 2016. For both the workshop and online program, the PDRM consists of ten topics. For those otherwise eligible candidates seeking Advanced Standing, three assignment questions also have to be succesfully answered.
Humanitarian Consultancy & Advisory Services
The TorqAid Director currently has worked as a humanitarian consultant, adviser and researcher for a number of agencies across Australia and overseas. His clientele has included NGOs, UN agencies, Government Departments, and other stakeholders. His work has included involvement in both natural hazards and complex emergencies/crises, across the Disaster Risk Management Cycle.
Latest News
Humanitarian Training
Our main humanitarian training focuses around the accredited Participatory Disaster Risk Management (PDRM) program. This is delivered both as a workshop or as an online course for clients. Ten topics in all are covered in the PDRM. Our annual online PDRM program is being taught from the 24 July until the end of November 2023, with weekly Zoom teaching sessions held at 8pm Melbourne time on a Thursday over a ten week period. See the Training Page for more details.
Resources
The TorqAid Toolkit is a fantastic compendium of humanitarian and development resources for both the practitioner and interested individual.
Student Resources

Humanitarian Issues
The first three modules of the Participatory Disaster Risk Management (PDRM) program focus on Key DRM Issues; Recent Global Disasters; and Risk Management. Articles from around the world relating to these will be included in this blog.

Complex Humanitarian Emergencies
Module 5 of the accredited Participatory Disaster Risk Management (PDRM) program relates to Complex Humanitarian Emergencies (CHEs). The key emphasis here will be the Rohingya Situation of Concern, as well as the Severe Humanitarian Crises in Syria, the Yemen, and Afghanistan.

Participatory Project Management
Module 4 of the accredited Participatory Disaster Risk Management (PDRM) program focuses on practical issues such as the Project Management Cycle (PMC); the Project Design Document (PDD); and fantastically useful participatory tools such as the Ten Seed Technique (TST) and the Seasonal Calendar.