Humanitarian & Disaster Management
Water Supply & Sanitation in Emergencies
Emergency water supply, excreta management and hygiene in displacement and outbreak settings.
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 | Emergency water sources, treatment and storage |
| 2 | Weeks 3–4 | Water quality testing and chlorination |
| 3 | Weeks 5–6 | Emergency sanitation and excreta disposal |
| 4 | Weeks 7–8 | Hygiene promotion and NFI/hygiene kits |
| 5 | Weeks 9–12 | Sphere WASH standards and monitoring |
Module breakdown
- 1
Emergency water sources, treatment and storage
Weeks 1–2Build a shared working vocabulary for emergency water sources, treatment and storage and set the standards this course expects of you.
What you cover
- Key concepts, terminology and standards behind emergency water sources, treatment and storage
- Step-by-step methods and templates for emergency water sources, treatment and storage
- Common problems, risks and mistakes in emergency water sources, treatment and storage, and how to avoid them
- Applying emergency water sources, treatment and storage in low-resource and community settings
Assessed work: Case study discussion applying emergency water sources, treatment and storage to a local scenario.
- 2
Water quality testing and chlorination
Weeks 3–4Work through the methods and tools used for water quality testing and chlorination in day-to-day programme work.
What you cover
- Step-by-step methods and templates for water quality testing and chlorination
- Common problems, risks and mistakes in water quality testing and chlorination, and how to avoid them
- Applying water quality testing and chlorination in low-resource and community settings
Assessed work: Practical task: draft one working document related to water quality testing and chlorination.
- 3
Emergency sanitation and excreta disposal
Weeks 5–6Practise emergency sanitation and excreta disposal on realistic case material drawn from Sierra Leonean community and field settings.
What you cover
- Common problems, risks and mistakes in emergency sanitation and excreta disposal, and how to avoid them
- Applying emergency sanitation and excreta disposal in low-resource and community settings
- Recording, reporting and communicating your emergency sanitation and excreta disposal work
Assessed work: Group simulation using emergency sanitation and excreta disposal under time pressure.
- 4
Hygiene promotion and NFI/hygiene kits
Weeks 7–8Turn hygiene promotion and NFI/hygiene kits into documents, plans and decisions your team or employer can actually use.
What you cover
- Applying hygiene promotion and NFI/hygiene kits in low-resource and community settings
- Recording, reporting and communicating your hygiene promotion and NFI/hygiene kits work
- Key concepts, terminology and standards behind hygiene promotion and NFI/hygiene kits
Assessed work: Portfolio entry: reflect on how you will use hygiene promotion and NFI/hygiene kits in your role.
- 5
Sphere WASH standards and monitoring
Weeks 9–12Review, quality-check and improve your own sphere WASH standards and monitoring work with tutor and peer feedback.
What you cover
- Recording, reporting and communicating your sphere WASH standards and monitoring work
- Key concepts, terminology and standards behind sphere WASH standards and monitoring
- Step-by-step methods and templates for sphere WASH standards and monitoring
Assessed work: Guided exercise: produce a short worked example covering sphere WASH standards 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: Practical water testing and chlorination exercise with reporting.
- • 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:
- Set up safe emergency water supply and treatment
- Plan emergency sanitation for a site
- Monitor WASH indicators against Sphere standards
Practical component
Practical water testing and chlorination exercise with reporting.
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 Water Supply & Sanitation in Emergencies?
Applications for the Founding Student Intake 2026 are open. Register your interest and we will guide you to the right programme.