Humanitarian & Disaster Management
Advanced Certificate in Disaster Recovery Practice & Development
Recovery, reconstruction and build-back-better practice after a disaster event.
Syllabus at a glance
Around 12 weeks of guided study, typically two sessions a week plus independent work, so you can keep working while you study.
| Unit | Study block | Module |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Weeks 1–2 | Recovery frameworks and transition from relief |
| 2 | Weeks 3–4 | Post-disaster needs assessment |
| 3 | Weeks 5–6 | Shelter, settlement and infrastructure recovery |
| 4 | Weeks 7–8 | Livelihood restoration and social recovery |
| 5 | Weeks 9–12 | Recovery governance, financing and monitoring |
Module breakdown
- 1
Recovery frameworks and transition from relief
Weeks 1–2Build a shared working vocabulary for recovery frameworks and transition from relief and set the standards this course expects of you.
What you cover
- Key concepts, terminology and standards behind recovery frameworks and transition from relief
- Step-by-step methods and templates for recovery frameworks and transition from relief
- Common problems, risks and mistakes in recovery frameworks and transition from relief, and how to avoid them
- Applying recovery frameworks and transition from relief in low-resource and community settings
Assessed work: Case study discussion applying recovery frameworks and transition from relief to a local scenario.
- 2
Post-disaster needs assessment
Weeks 3–4Work through the methods and tools used for post-disaster needs assessment in day-to-day programme work.
What you cover
- Step-by-step methods and templates for post-disaster needs assessment
- Common problems, risks and mistakes in post-disaster needs assessment, and how to avoid them
- Applying post-disaster needs assessment in low-resource and community settings
Assessed work: Practical task: draft one working document related to post-disaster needs assessment.
- 3
Shelter, settlement and infrastructure recovery
Weeks 5–6Practise shelter, settlement and infrastructure recovery on realistic case material drawn from Sierra Leonean community and field settings.
What you cover
- Common problems, risks and mistakes in shelter, settlement and infrastructure recovery, and how to avoid them
- Applying shelter, settlement and infrastructure recovery in low-resource and community settings
- Recording, reporting and communicating your shelter, settlement and infrastructure recovery work
Assessed work: Group simulation using shelter, settlement and infrastructure recovery under time pressure.
- 4
Livelihood restoration and social recovery
Weeks 7–8Turn livelihood restoration and social recovery into documents, plans and decisions your team or employer can actually use.
What you cover
- Applying livelihood restoration and social recovery in low-resource and community settings
- Recording, reporting and communicating your livelihood restoration and social recovery work
- Key concepts, terminology and standards behind livelihood restoration and social recovery
Assessed work: Portfolio entry: reflect on how you will use livelihood restoration and social recovery in your role.
- 5
Recovery governance, financing and monitoring
Weeks 9–12Review, quality-check and improve your own recovery governance, financing and monitoring work with tutor and peer feedback.
What you cover
- Recording, reporting and communicating your recovery governance, financing and monitoring work
- Key concepts, terminology and standards behind recovery governance, financing and monitoring
- Step-by-step methods and templates for recovery governance, financing and monitoring
Assessed work: Guided exercise: produce a short worked example covering recovery governance, financing and monitoring.
Who this course is for
- • Practitioners and volunteers already working in, or moving into, this area of work.
- • NGO, government and community responders involved in preparedness and response.
- • School leavers and graduates building a first professional portfolio.
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.
How you are assessed
- • Short module tasks completed during the course.
- • Practical component: Draft a sector recovery plan based on a case scenario.
- • A final assessment or portfolio review covering the full syllabus.
- • Participation in guided sessions, discussions and group exercises.
Materials and 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.
Certification
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.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the certificate you should be able to:
- Contribute to a post-disaster needs assessment
- Plan a sector recovery programme
- Apply build-back-better principles
Practical component
Draft a sector recovery plan based on a case scenario.
How this programme is delivered
Online
Guided sessions and assignments you can follow from anywhere with a connection.
Face-to-face
Classroom sessions at our Mile 91 learning centre, including weekend and evening options.
Blended
A mix of online study with periodic in-person workshops, field exercises and simulations.
Ready to start Advanced Certificate in Disaster Recovery Practice & Development?
Applications for the Founding Student Intake 2026 are open. Register your interest and we will guide you to the right programme.