Essentials of Humanitarian Action

GSD SES 05432 is the equivalent of GHP 515 and GHP 518.

This course will offer a practical and in-depth analysis of the complex issues and skills needed to engage in humanitarian work in field settings. Through presentations offered by the faculty of the Humanitarian Studies Initiative and guest speakers who are experts in their topic areas, students will gain familiarity with the primary frameworks in the humanitarian field (human rights, livelihoods, Sphere standards, international humanitarian law) and will focus on practical issues that arise in the field, such as rapid public health assessments, field cluster sampling techniques, application of minimum standards for food security, and operational approaches to relations with the military in humanitarian settings. Topics will be presented in case studies and in structured participatory modes. Additionally, these topics will provide the foundational knowledge and skills needed to perform successfully during Spring 2, GHP 518 course which will involve a three-day intensive simulation of a humanitarian crisis, which is a required component of this HSI program. At the completion of this course, the students will be able to fulfill the following learning objectives: – Design a rapid assessment in the field including applying appropriate epidemiological methods to assess population needs in crisis situations; – Design, conduct, and analyze field interviews with key stakeholders in a humanitarian crisis – Synthesize the complex social, political, economic, geographic, and public health parameters that define the dynamic of a given humanitarian crisis; and – Analyze the historical frameworks that define current approaches to humanitarian response and to assess the relative utility of these frameworks in a particular situation.

Enrolled students will be term billed $300. This is for expenses associated with the three-day simulation.