Rapid Response Radio does more than give you a radio kit. When disasters strike, communication is often the first system to fail. Rapid Response Radio training prepares local broadcasters, journalists, and emergency responders to build and operate a fully functional emergency radio station in as little as one day, ensuring communities receive life-saving information when they need it most.
Our training program builds local capacity so that regions can respond quickly to emergencies with reliable radio broadcasting that delivers trusted information, coordinates aid, and supports recovery.
The Process
Rapid Response Radio training combines classroom instruction, practical exercises, and real-world exercises and operations to ensure participants can deploy emergency radio systems under disaster conditions.
Participants learn how to:
- Assemble and operate a portable “suitcase radio station”
- Broadcast emergency information under field conditions
- Coordinate with humanitarian responders and local authorities
- Produce critical public service programming
- Manage a disaster information workflow during crises
The program includes extensive training resources:
- Disaster Radio Student Workbook (70+ pages)
- 5-Day class schedule
- Curriculum outline covering 15 training modules
- 15 trainer manuals, each with specialized resources and exercises
- Hands-on equipment training and operational simulations
By the end of the program, participants have the skills to launch and operate an emergency radio station and train others in their region.
Training Timeframe
The Rapid Response Radio training model is designed for fast skill development and immediate operational readiness.
5-Day Classroom Training
Participants learn the theory, tools, and techniques of disaster radio broadcasting across fifteen core modules.
3-Day Field Exercise
Participants learn how to:
- Use the radio station to engage with the local community
- Assemble and operate a portable “suitcase radio station”
- Broadcast emergency information under field conditions
- Coordinate with humanitarian responders and local authorities
- Produce critical public service programming
- Manage a disaster information workflow during crises
This program ensures teams are fully prepared to deploy disaster radio systems when emergencies occur.
Cost
The Rapid Response Radio program is designed to be affordable and scalable, allowing organizations and regional networks to collaborate and share resources.
EQUIP — £6,000 ($8,000 USD)
Provides a complete suitcase radio station, including the equipment needed to establish a rapid-deployment broadcast studio.
TRAIN — £3,500 ($4,700 USD)
Covers delivery of the full 5-day training course and 3-day field exercise, including trainers, materials, and instruction.
RESPOND — £7,000 (average) ($9,300 USD – average)
The estimated cost to deploy a Rapid Response Radio operation during a disaster response.
Collaborative funding models allow multiple organizations or regional partners to share costs and build long-term local capacity.
Building Local Capacity
A core goal of the program is sustainability. After completing the training, the strongest participants join a Training-of-Trainers (ToT) pathway, enabling local teams to run future courses and expand disaster radio capability across their region.
This approach ensures that communities are not dependent on outside responders, but instead have the tools and expertise to communicate during emergencies themselves.