Course Objectives and Curriculum
At the completion of the course, participants will be able to fulfill the following learning objectives:
•To design a rapid health assessment in the field including applying appropriate epidemiological methods to assess population needs in crisis situations;
•To design, conduct, and analyze field interviews with key stakeholders in a humanitarian crisis – a cross-section of the local affected population, brigands and local militia, international heads of agencies, local and regional governmental officials, members of the local and international press, and representatives of the United Nations agencies;
•To synthesize the complex social, political, economic, geographic, and public health parameters that define the dynamic of a given humanitarian crisis; and
•To analyze the historical frameworks that define current approaches to humanitarian response and to assess the relative utility of these frameworks in a particular situation.
Outcome Measures
Participants are expected to:
1. Attend all class sessions;
2. Complete all assigned readings prior to each session;
3. Participate actively in the discussions, case studies, and group work for the daily humanitarian exercises, applying background understanding derived from the reading for each session;
4. Complete daily reports as a part of the humanitarian exercises, as well as a 5 page group service delivery plan paper analyzing a the simulated humanitarian crisis from the January course, due final day of course by 5 pm. (Email to bdaly1@partners.org);
5. Attend and participate in the weekend-long simulation in April; and
6. Complete 10-15 page paper at the end of the Spring simulation describing a detailed service delivery plan for response to the simulated humanitarian crisis.
Readings
All readings will be available through the course online resource center.
Please note: there may be daily readings not included in the syllabus, which will be made available on the website. Participants are encouraged to bring laptops to class. We ask that you respect your lecturer’s and group’s time and attention and avoid emailing and chatting during the course.
Curriculum Focus Areas:
Introduction to Humanitarian Crises
Course Overview & Nuts and Bolts
Learning Objectives:
•To become familiar with the objectives of the humanitarian studies course, grading and daily requirements of the course
Humanitarian Crises: Evolution of the Humanitarian Community
Learning Objectives:
•To understand the relevance of the history of humanitarianism to today’s response community
•To have a clear understanding of the main actors in humanitarian response
Key Issues in Humanitarian Crises
Learning Objectives:
•To become familiar with the basic nature of humanitarian crises
•To understand the key terminology used in the humanitarian business
•To become familiar with the key issues facing humanitarian action today
Humanitarian Standards/Sphere Standards
Learning Objectives:
•To be familiar with the historical rational for global standards
•To understand the methodology for creating standards and the basic taxonomy of such standards
•To be able to apply the Sphere manual in program design
The Unfinished Agenda in Global Health
Learning Objectives:
•To explore the impact of deficient public health infrastructure on vulnerable populations, and the concept of the “bottom billion”
Methods of Humanitarian Research
Learning Objectives:
•To be familiar with the standard methodologies for rapid health assessment, their limitations and uses
•To be familiar with the use of cluster sampling and its relevance to needs assessment, monitoring an evaluation of humanitarian operations
•To be familiar with the methodologies available for estimating populations in crisis zones
•To develop a good appreciation of the constraints imposed by the crisis environment on estimating populations
Rapid Health Assessment
Learning Objectives:
•To be familiar with the standard methodologies for rapid health assessment, their limitations and uses
Logistics and Coordination
Learning Objectives:
•To understand the role of logistics in field operations
•To become familiar with the arguments for and against humanitarian coordination
•To explore the range of challenges to humanitarian coordination
•To become familiar with the standard mechanisms and bodies used to coordinate humanitarian action
Overview of Communicable Disease
Learning Objective:
•To become familiar with the major communicable disease risks in the field.
•To learn how to apply preventative measures as well as develop and implement mitigation and containment plans.
Geographic Information Systems
Learning Objectives:
•To understand the basic operation and use of GIS systems
•To understand and practice the basic operation of GPS units and their use in the field
Environmental Humanitarian Crises
Learning Objective:
•To explore the humanitarian consequences of natural disasters which force people to flee their lands
•To understand the factors which determine these consequences, such as the extent and permanence of environmental destruction wrought by these crises, people's attachment to their homes and ecosystems, the circumstances of departure, the destinations of refuge, and the possibilities for return
International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights
Learning Objectives:
•To explore the dilemmas and opportunities of a rights based approach to assistance
•To understand the nature and application of protection in humanitarian crises
Mental Health
Learning Objective:
•To understand the mental health consequences of humanitarian crisis situations
•To become familiar with strategies for coping with mental health issues in the field
Ethics
Learning Objective:
•To be familiar with the most common ethical dilemmas encountered in humanitarian work
•To explore the limitations of humanitarian action imposed by these dilemmas
Civil-Military Relations
Learning Objectives:
•To understand the present roles of military forces in humanitarian crises
•To explore the opportunities and cost of military engagement in humanitarian work
•To examine the consequences of military “hearts and minds” campaigns for humanitarian operations
Food Aid/Food Security
Learning Objectives:
•To understand the drivers of food insecurity
•To understand information systems and approaches to analysis of food security crises
•To be familiar with common approaches to food security programming
•To understand the nature limitations and opportunities of food aid and food aid programming
Emergency Nutrition
Learning Objectives:
•To be familiar with the most common methodologies for estimating population nutrition levels
•To be familiar with the rationale behind emergency nutrition programs
•To understand the various types of programming used
•To be familiar with the limitations and common problems associated with emergency feeding
Livelihoods
Learning Objectives:
•To understand the basis of livelihoods analysis
•To understand its application in humanitarian crises
•To apply it to an analysis of survival in Darfur
Methods in Cluster Sampling
Learning Objectives:
•To be familiar with the standard methodologies for rapid health assessment, their limitations and uses
•To be familiar with the use of cluster sampling and its relevance to needs assessment, monitoring an evaluation of humanitarian operations
•To be familiar with the methodologies available for estimating populations in crisis zones
•To develop a good appreciation of the constraints imposed by the crisis environment on estimating populations
Water and Sanitation
Learning Objectives
•To become familiar with programming options for supplying water in emergencies
•To understand the social context in which wat/san decisions are determined
•To become familiar with the common methodologies for sanitation control
Shelter
Learning Objectives:
•To become familiar with programming options for Shelter in emergencies
•To become familiar with the common methodologies for Shelter provision
•To understand the social context in which shelter options are determined
Genocide
Learning Objective:
•To understand the political and historical context of the Genocide Convention and its current application
Gender-Based Violence
Learning Objectives:
•To understand the nature and drivers of gender based violence
•To be familiar with programming options to counter such violence
•To understand the implications for common relief programming modalities of countering gender-based violence
Monitoring and Evaluation
Learning Objectives:
•To explore the present nature of agency evaluations and accountability and become familiar with some of the key practices
•To become familiar with the use of the DEC evaluation criteria
Child Soldiers
Learning Objective:
•To understand the history of the use of child soldiers in conflict and its current implications for humanitarian intervention
•To explore the psychological consequences upon children and communities
Interaction with Media
Learning Objectives:
•To be familiar with the range of media one is likely to meet in the field
•To practice a range of common media interviews
•To be familiar with the common mistakes field workers make when confronted with the media
At the completion of the course, participants will be able to fulfill the following learning objectives:
•To design a rapid health assessment in the field including applying appropriate epidemiological methods to assess population needs in crisis situations;
•To design, conduct, and analyze field interviews with key stakeholders in a humanitarian crisis – a cross-section of the local affected population, brigands and local militia, international heads of agencies, local and regional governmental officials, members of the local and international press, and representatives of the United Nations agencies;
•To synthesize the complex social, political, economic, geographic, and public health parameters that define the dynamic of a given humanitarian crisis; and
•To analyze the historical frameworks that define current approaches to humanitarian response and to assess the relative utility of these frameworks in a particular situation.
Outcome Measures
Participants are expected to:
1. Attend all class sessions;
2. Complete all assigned readings prior to each session;
3. Participate actively in the discussions, case studies, and group work for the daily humanitarian exercises, applying background understanding derived from the reading for each session;
4. Complete daily reports as a part of the humanitarian exercises, as well as a 5 page group service delivery plan paper analyzing a the simulated humanitarian crisis from the January course, due final day of course by 5 pm. (Email to bdaly1@partners.org);
5. Attend and participate in the weekend-long simulation in April; and
6. Complete 10-15 page paper at the end of the Spring simulation describing a detailed service delivery plan for response to the simulated humanitarian crisis.
Readings
All readings will be available through the course online resource center.
Please note: there may be daily readings not included in the syllabus, which will be made available on the website. Participants are encouraged to bring laptops to class. We ask that you respect your lecturer’s and group’s time and attention and avoid emailing and chatting during the course.
Curriculum Focus Areas:
Introduction to Humanitarian Crises
Course Overview & Nuts and Bolts
Learning Objectives:
•To become familiar with the objectives of the humanitarian studies course, grading and daily requirements of the course
Humanitarian Crises: Evolution of the Humanitarian Community
Learning Objectives:
•To understand the relevance of the history of humanitarianism to today’s response community
•To have a clear understanding of the main actors in humanitarian response
Key Issues in Humanitarian Crises
Learning Objectives:
•To become familiar with the basic nature of humanitarian crises
•To understand the key terminology used in the humanitarian business
•To become familiar with the key issues facing humanitarian action today
Humanitarian Standards/Sphere Standards
Learning Objectives:
•To be familiar with the historical rational for global standards
•To understand the methodology for creating standards and the basic taxonomy of such standards
•To be able to apply the Sphere manual in program design
The Unfinished Agenda in Global Health
Learning Objectives:
•To explore the impact of deficient public health infrastructure on vulnerable populations, and the concept of the “bottom billion”
Methods of Humanitarian Research
Learning Objectives:
•To be familiar with the standard methodologies for rapid health assessment, their limitations and uses
•To be familiar with the use of cluster sampling and its relevance to needs assessment, monitoring an evaluation of humanitarian operations
•To be familiar with the methodologies available for estimating populations in crisis zones
•To develop a good appreciation of the constraints imposed by the crisis environment on estimating populations
Rapid Health Assessment
Learning Objectives:
•To be familiar with the standard methodologies for rapid health assessment, their limitations and uses
Logistics and Coordination
Learning Objectives:
•To understand the role of logistics in field operations
•To become familiar with the arguments for and against humanitarian coordination
•To explore the range of challenges to humanitarian coordination
•To become familiar with the standard mechanisms and bodies used to coordinate humanitarian action
Overview of Communicable Disease
Learning Objective:
•To become familiar with the major communicable disease risks in the field.
•To learn how to apply preventative measures as well as develop and implement mitigation and containment plans.
Geographic Information Systems
Learning Objectives:
•To understand the basic operation and use of GIS systems
•To understand and practice the basic operation of GPS units and their use in the field
Environmental Humanitarian Crises
Learning Objective:
•To explore the humanitarian consequences of natural disasters which force people to flee their lands
•To understand the factors which determine these consequences, such as the extent and permanence of environmental destruction wrought by these crises, people's attachment to their homes and ecosystems, the circumstances of departure, the destinations of refuge, and the possibilities for return
International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights
Learning Objectives:
•To explore the dilemmas and opportunities of a rights based approach to assistance
•To understand the nature and application of protection in humanitarian crises
Mental Health
Learning Objective:
•To understand the mental health consequences of humanitarian crisis situations
•To become familiar with strategies for coping with mental health issues in the field
Ethics
Learning Objective:
•To be familiar with the most common ethical dilemmas encountered in humanitarian work
•To explore the limitations of humanitarian action imposed by these dilemmas
Civil-Military Relations
Learning Objectives:
•To understand the present roles of military forces in humanitarian crises
•To explore the opportunities and cost of military engagement in humanitarian work
•To examine the consequences of military “hearts and minds” campaigns for humanitarian operations
Food Aid/Food Security
Learning Objectives:
•To understand the drivers of food insecurity
•To understand information systems and approaches to analysis of food security crises
•To be familiar with common approaches to food security programming
•To understand the nature limitations and opportunities of food aid and food aid programming
Emergency Nutrition
Learning Objectives:
•To be familiar with the most common methodologies for estimating population nutrition levels
•To be familiar with the rationale behind emergency nutrition programs
•To understand the various types of programming used
•To be familiar with the limitations and common problems associated with emergency feeding
Livelihoods
Learning Objectives:
•To understand the basis of livelihoods analysis
•To understand its application in humanitarian crises
•To apply it to an analysis of survival in Darfur
Methods in Cluster Sampling
Learning Objectives:
•To be familiar with the standard methodologies for rapid health assessment, their limitations and uses
•To be familiar with the use of cluster sampling and its relevance to needs assessment, monitoring an evaluation of humanitarian operations
•To be familiar with the methodologies available for estimating populations in crisis zones
•To develop a good appreciation of the constraints imposed by the crisis environment on estimating populations
Water and Sanitation
Learning Objectives
•To become familiar with programming options for supplying water in emergencies
•To understand the social context in which wat/san decisions are determined
•To become familiar with the common methodologies for sanitation control
Shelter
Learning Objectives:
•To become familiar with programming options for Shelter in emergencies
•To become familiar with the common methodologies for Shelter provision
•To understand the social context in which shelter options are determined
Genocide
Learning Objective:
•To understand the political and historical context of the Genocide Convention and its current application
Gender-Based Violence
Learning Objectives:
•To understand the nature and drivers of gender based violence
•To be familiar with programming options to counter such violence
•To understand the implications for common relief programming modalities of countering gender-based violence
Monitoring and Evaluation
Learning Objectives:
•To explore the present nature of agency evaluations and accountability and become familiar with some of the key practices
•To become familiar with the use of the DEC evaluation criteria
Child Soldiers
Learning Objective:
•To understand the history of the use of child soldiers in conflict and its current implications for humanitarian intervention
•To explore the psychological consequences upon children and communities
Interaction with Media
Learning Objectives:
•To be familiar with the range of media one is likely to meet in the field
•To practice a range of common media interviews
•To be familiar with the common mistakes field workers make when confronted with the media