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Official programme prospectus
Preparedness & Response to Humanitarian Crises
Prepare for, activate and manage a coordinated response to sudden-onset and protracted crises.
- Duration
- 3 months / about 12 weeks
- Fee
- SLE 2,500
- Delivery
- Online · Face-to-face · Blended
- Level
- Intermediate
SLIHSD · Preparedness & Response to Humanitarian Crises · Programme prospectus
1. About SLIHSD
Sierra Leone Institute for Humanitarian and Sustainable Development is a developing professional education, training and capacity-development institute focused on practical, accessible learning for humanitarian, community and sustainable-development practice.
2. Why this programme?
Prepare for, activate and manage a coordinated response to sudden-onset and protracted crises. The programme is structured for learners who need practical, assessable capability they can connect to real responsibilities while continuing work or other commitments.
3. Programme at a glance
- Category
- Humanitarian & Disaster Management
- Level
- Intermediate
- Duration
- 3 months (about 12 weeks)
- Study modes
- Online · Face-to-face · Blended
- Indicative programme fee
- SLE 2,500
- Registration fee
- SLE 100
- Location
- Mile 91, Tonkolili District, Sierra Leone
- Application deadline
- 31 March 2026
Around 12 weeks of guided study, typically two sessions a week plus independent work, so you can keep working while you study.
4. Target audience
- • Humanitarian, development, resilience and community practitioners.
- • Government, NGO and volunteer personnel whose roles relate to this programme area.
- • School leavers, graduates and working adults seeking practical professional development.
5. Entry requirements
- • Basic literacy and secondary-level education, or relevant practical work experience.
- • Access to a phone, tablet or computer for online and blended study.
- • Commitment to attend sessions and submit assignments on time.
6. Learning outcomes
- • Write a contingency plan for a likely local hazard
- • Run a rapid multi-sector assessment
- • Coordinate a first-phase response
7. Course structure and modules
| Unit | Study block | Module |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Weeks 1–2 | Crisis typologies and the humanitarian system |
| 2 | Weeks 3–4 | Contingency and preparedness planning |
| 3 | Weeks 5–6 | Rapid assessment and situation analysis |
| 4 | Weeks 7–8 | Response activation, coordination and clusters |
| 5 | Weeks 9–12 | Accountability to affected populations |
8. Detailed module breakdown
1. Crisis typologies and the humanitarian system (Weeks 1–2)
Develop practical capability in crisis typologies and the humanitarian system, linking roles, resources, decisions, accountability and review.
- • Roles, responsibilities and decision points in crisis typologies and the humanitarian system
- • Planning tools, coordination arrangements and documentation
- • Implementation monitoring, accountability and improvement
Assessed work: Draft a usable plan, workflow or decision brief for crisis typologies and the humanitarian system.
2. Contingency and preparedness planning (Weeks 3–4)
Develop practical capability in contingency and preparedness planning, linking roles, resources, decisions, accountability and review.
- • Roles, responsibilities and decision points in contingency and preparedness planning
- • Planning tools, coordination arrangements and documentation
- • Implementation monitoring, accountability and improvement
Assessed work: Draft a usable plan, workflow or decision brief for contingency and preparedness planning.
3. Rapid assessment and situation analysis (Weeks 5–6)
Examine rapid assessment and situation analysis as an evidence-to-decision process, from selecting suitable methods to interpreting and presenting findings.
- • Purpose, scope and ethical considerations for rapid assessment and situation analysis
- • Appropriate data sources, methods and quality checks
- • Interpretation, documentation and decision-ready reporting
Assessed work: Produce and review a working analysis or evidence tool for rapid assessment and situation analysis.
4. Response activation, coordination and clusters (Weeks 7–8)
Develop practical capability in response activation, coordination and clusters, linking roles, resources, decisions, accountability and review.
- • Roles, responsibilities and decision points in response activation, coordination and clusters
- • Planning tools, coordination arrangements and documentation
- • Implementation monitoring, accountability and improvement
Assessed work: Draft a usable plan, workflow or decision brief for response activation, coordination and clusters.
5. Accountability to affected populations (Weeks 9–12)
Study accountability to affected populations in the context of humanitarian & Disaster Management, connecting essential concepts with practical decisions and professional documentation.
- • Essential concepts and terminology within accountability to affected populations
- • Methods, tools and professional standards used in practice
- • Application through a relevant case, task or workplace scenario
Assessed work: Complete a guided case task applying accountability to affected populations to a realistic setting.
9. Practical project / portfolio
Table-top simulation of a district-level emergency activation.
10. Teaching & learning approach
- • Tutor-led explanation and demonstration focused on the published module topics.
- • Guided practice using cases, scenarios, templates or production tasks relevant to the programme.
- • Individual and group feedback that helps learners improve work before final submission.
- • Flexible online, face-to-face or blended participation, with evening and weekend scheduling where available.
11. Assessment & completion
- • Short applied tasks linked to the published modules.
- • Practical component: Table-top simulation of a district-level emergency activation.
- • A final assessment or portfolio review covering the full syllabus.
- • Participation in guided sessions, discussions and group exercises.
12. Career & professional pathways
- • Apply the programme’s tools in field, programme, coordination or community-facing responsibilities related to humanitarian & Disaster Management.
- • Use the completed project or portfolio as evidence of applied professional development.
- • Progress to related SLIHSD intermediate or advanced professional learning where available.
13. Learner support
- • Session handouts, checklists and templates you keep after the course.
- • Case material and worked examples based on community and field practice.
- • Tutor guidance by WhatsApp between sessions.
14. Fees & enrolment
Indicative programme fee for this course is SLE 2,500, plus a one-off registration fee of SLE 100. Final fees and any instalment arrangement are confirmed with you in writing before you commit.
| Course length | Indicative fee |
|---|---|
| 1 month short courses | SLE 150 – 750 |
| 1–3 months | SLE 2,500 |
| 3–6 months | SLE 3,500 |
| 6–18 months | SLE 5,000 |
15. Quality, recognition & regulatory notice
SLIHSD is a developing professional learning institution. Accreditation and formal recognition are subject to applicable regulatory approvals. Completion records an SLIHSD professional short course and is not presented as an accredited academic award.
Learners who complete all assessments receive an SLIHSD professional certificate of completion. This records completion of an SLIHSD short course and is not presented as an accredited academic award.
16. Contact & application
Learn. Build skills. Make a difference.
Apply online at slihsd.org/admissions, message us on WhatsApp +232 73655013, call +232 73655013, or email info@slihsd.org.
Sierra Leone Institute for Humanitarian and Sustainable Development (SLIHSD) · Mile 91, Tonkolili District, Sierra Leone · WhatsApp Business +232 73655013 · info@slihsd.org · slihsd.org
SLIHSD is a developing professional learning institution. Accreditation and formal recognition are subject to applicable regulatory approvals. Certificates issued reflect completion of SLIHSD short courses and are not presented as accredited academic awards.