NOFO and the Norwegian Coastal Administration invest in a single shared platform
The need for a shared, national basic course has long been a topic of conversation within the preparedness community. Now the ambition has been realized: NOFO and the Norwegian Coastal Administration have joined forces on a shared learning initiative, “WHAT NOW?”, developed by Task, which provides a fundamental introduction to acute pollution preparedness and response. The learning initiative covers all three types of response operations that may be relevant during an incident—state action, municipal action, and private action—and provides participants with a shared understanding of roles and responsibilities, regardless of which part of the preparedness apparatus they belong to.
The course is the first step in the right direction in line with NOFO’s new strategy towards 2030: NOFO shall utilize effective training methods, including simulation and digital tools, to ensure operational preparedness throughout the organization and among partners. Training pathways shall be standardized, measurable, and adapted to different roles and levels.
The new basic course provides a shared introduction to acute pollution preparedness and response.
The recipe for success: The right competence in the right place
One of the most important success criteria in the project has been the distribution of roles between the three actors. Task has had the pedagogical and technological leadership of the development work, while NOFO and the Norwegian Coastal Administration have contributed the professional weight from the field of emergency preparedness. This division of labor has allowed each actor to contribute what they do best, which in turn has significantly raised the quality of the final product.
“WHAT NOW?” is built around a clear didactic model, with several modules combining text, film, and practical tasks. Participants navigate through the content themselves, and the tasks along the way are intended as tools for reflection and learning.
— We at Task are proud of the framework agreement with NOFO regarding competence development. NOFO is undergoing a major modernization, and learning is central to their strategy. This is also a part of Norway’s preparedness. That makes the assignment extra meaningful for us. For those of us who are passionate about competence as a value-creating force, this is simply a dream to be part of, says Trude Haram Frølich, senior advisor at Task. She adds:
— With WHAT NOW?, NOFO and the Norwegian Coastal Administration have set a new ambition for competence development within acute pollution preparedness and response. It has demanded a lot from those involved. I am impressed by how the professionals threw themselves into a process that was completely new to them, and I believe everyone is proud of the result. Now we are excited about the reception!
A boost for the entire industry
The fact that NOFO and the Norwegian Coastal Administration have chosen to join forces with the same provider and the same methodology means that the training can now be operated and further developed more holistically going forward. The national basic course is only the first step in what is intended to be a more comprehensive learning portfolio under the NOFO School. Several training products are already under development, and these are planned for launch throughout the autumn and winter of 2026.
The project is a good example of what industrial cooperation can achieve: By pooling resources and expertise across organizations, NOFO, the Norwegian Coastal Administration, and Task have together managed to deliver a product of higher quality than each individual actor likely would have achieved alone.
About the basic course
The national basic course “WHAT NOW?” is free and is made available through NOFO’s new Competence Portal (Norwegian only).
“WHAT NOW?” is structured into seven modules:
- Introduction
- The alarm goes off – who is responsible now?
- From incident to organization
- Assessment of scope and danger
- Management and control
- Mobilize and take action
- From cleanup to learning
Are you interested? Go to the Competence Portal (Norwegian only) and register to gain access to the course.