Humanitarian Response - HEA00097M
Module will run
Occurrence | Teaching period |
---|---|
C | Summer Term 2025-26 |
Module aims
This module will provide the opportunity for students to understand the differences between policy and practice in humanitarian responses where they will be able to develop new mechanisms and approaches to deal with these challenges.
This module introduces key concepts of humanitarian response in disasters and conflicts such as standards (Sphere Project), guidelines (Inter-Agency Standing Committee - IASC) and humanitarian accountability and quality management in food and nutrition, shelter, health and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). The students will receive the opportunity to explore, examine and understand different approaches to humanitarian responses (top-down, bottom-up, donor-driven) as well as to debate on the idea that affected communities are the first humanitarian responders.
Module learning outcomes
Subject content
- Students will understand the challenges of delivering food and nutrition, health, shelter and water, sanitation and hygiene during and after disaster and conflicts.
- Students will develop new mechanisms and approaches to deliver humanitarian responses in disasters and conflicts.
- Students will develop a foundational understanding of monitoring and evaluating the impact, efficiency, effectiveness and relevance of humanitarian responses.
Academic and graduate skills
- Students will learn skills to translate policy into practice as well as practice into policy in relation to humanitarian responses.
- Students will critically analyse policy and practice documents on humanitarian responses.
- Students will develop secondary data analysis skills.
- Students will develop their communication and team work skills
Module content
This module will provide the opportunity for students to understand the differences between policy and practice in humanitarian responses where they will be able to develop new mechanisms and approaches to deal with these challenges.
The group work for this module will group 3-4 students that are working in the same region (to minimise time differences in communication) with a specific topic to develop a poster. The group will have to select a group lead to co-ordinate the activity as well as co-ordinate the technical support from the MIHA Team. This encourages the students to communicate with each other, to share knowledge and experiences as well as to establish a community of excellence. MIHA Teaching Team will facilitate these group activities and will assist the groups to establish ground rules and the smooth flow of information.
Indicative assessment
Task | % of module mark |
---|---|
Essay/coursework | 100 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
Task | % of module mark |
---|---|
Essay/coursework | 100 |
Module feedback
Written feedback will be provided on the standard proforma within the timescale specified in the programme handbook.
Indicative reading
Derderian, K. (2013) Checklists up for a reality check: decades of debate on humanitarian standards. ALNAP.
Sphere (2011) Sphere Handbook: The core humanitarian standards. Sphere Project, Geneva.