Humanitarian & Disaster Management
Preparedness & Response to Humanitarian Crises
Prepare for, activate and manage a coordinated response to sudden-onset and protracted crises.
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 | 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 |
Module breakdown
- 1
Crisis typologies and the humanitarian system
Weeks 1–2Build a shared working vocabulary for crisis typologies and the humanitarian system and set the standards this course expects of you.
What you cover
- Key concepts, terminology and standards behind crisis typologies and the humanitarian system
- Step-by-step methods and templates for crisis typologies and the humanitarian system
- Common problems, risks and mistakes in crisis typologies and the humanitarian system, and how to avoid them
- Applying crisis typologies and the humanitarian system in low-resource and community settings
Assessed work: Case study discussion applying crisis typologies and the humanitarian system to a local scenario.
- 2
Contingency and preparedness planning
Weeks 3–4Work through the methods and tools used for contingency and preparedness planning in day-to-day programme work.
What you cover
- Step-by-step methods and templates for contingency and preparedness planning
- Common problems, risks and mistakes in contingency and preparedness planning, and how to avoid them
- Applying contingency and preparedness planning in low-resource and community settings
Assessed work: Practical task: draft one working document related to contingency and preparedness planning.
- 3
Rapid assessment and situation analysis
Weeks 5–6Practise rapid assessment and situation analysis on realistic case material drawn from Sierra Leonean community and field settings.
What you cover
- Common problems, risks and mistakes in rapid assessment and situation analysis, and how to avoid them
- Applying rapid assessment and situation analysis in low-resource and community settings
- Recording, reporting and communicating your rapid assessment and situation analysis work
Assessed work: Group simulation using rapid assessment and situation analysis under time pressure.
- 4
Response activation, coordination and clusters
Weeks 7–8Turn response activation, coordination and clusters into documents, plans and decisions your team or employer can actually use.
What you cover
- Applying response activation, coordination and clusters in low-resource and community settings
- Recording, reporting and communicating your response activation, coordination and clusters work
- Key concepts, terminology and standards behind response activation, coordination and clusters
Assessed work: Portfolio entry: reflect on how you will use response activation, coordination and clusters in your role.
- 5
Accountability to affected populations
Weeks 9–12Review, quality-check and improve your own accountability to affected populations work with tutor and peer feedback.
What you cover
- Recording, reporting and communicating your accountability to affected populations work
- Key concepts, terminology and standards behind accountability to affected populations
- Step-by-step methods and templates for accountability to affected populations
Assessed work: Guided exercise: produce a short worked example covering accountability to affected populations.
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: 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.
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:
- Write a contingency plan for a likely local hazard
- Run a rapid multi-sector assessment
- Coordinate a first-phase response
Practical component
Table-top simulation of a district-level emergency activation.
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 Preparedness & Response to Humanitarian Crises?
Applications for the Founding Student Intake 2026 are open. Register your interest and we will guide you to the right programme.