Humanitarian & Disaster Management
Water Supply & Sanitation in Emergencies
Emergency water supply, excreta management and hygiene in displacement and outbreak settings.
View prospectus
Programme rationale
Emergency water supply, excreta management and hygiene in displacement and outbreak settings. The programme is structured for learners who need practical, assessable capability they can connect to real responsibilities while continuing work or other commitments.
Programme 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 |
Target audience & entry requirements
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.
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.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the programme, learners should be able to:
- Set up safe emergency water supply and treatment
- Plan emergency sanitation for a site
- Monitor WASH indicators against Sphere standards
Detailed modules
Each module below follows this programme’s published syllabus and contributes to the final practical work.
- 1
Emergency water sources, treatment and storage
Weeks 1–2Study emergency water sources, treatment and storage in the context of humanitarian & Disaster Management, connecting essential concepts with practical decisions and professional documentation.
What you cover
- Essential concepts and terminology within emergency water sources, treatment and storage
- 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 emergency water sources, treatment and storage to a realistic setting.
- 2
Water quality testing and chlorination
Weeks 3–4Study water quality testing and chlorination in the context of humanitarian & Disaster Management, connecting essential concepts with practical decisions and professional documentation.
What you cover
- Essential concepts and terminology within water quality testing and chlorination
- 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 water quality testing and chlorination to a realistic setting.
- 3
Emergency sanitation and excreta disposal
Weeks 5–6Study emergency sanitation and excreta disposal in the context of humanitarian & Disaster Management, connecting essential concepts with practical decisions and professional documentation.
What you cover
- Essential concepts and terminology within emergency sanitation and excreta disposal
- 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 emergency sanitation and excreta disposal to a realistic setting.
- 4
Hygiene promotion and NFI/hygiene kits
Weeks 7–8Study hygiene promotion and NFI/hygiene kits in the context of humanitarian & Disaster Management, connecting essential concepts with practical decisions and professional documentation.
What you cover
- Essential concepts and terminology within hygiene promotion and NFI/hygiene kits
- 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 hygiene promotion and NFI/hygiene kits to a realistic setting.
- 5
Sphere WASH standards and monitoring
Weeks 9–12Examine sphere WASH standards and monitoring as an evidence-to-decision process, from selecting suitable methods to interpreting and presenting findings.
What you cover
- Purpose, scope and ethical considerations for sphere WASH standards and monitoring
- 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 sphere WASH standards and monitoring.
Practical project / portfolio
Practical water testing and chlorination exercise with reporting.
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.
Assessment & completion
- • Short applied tasks linked to the published modules.
- • 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.
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.
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.
Career & professional pathways
This programme supports professional development; it does not guarantee employment, promotion or entry to a regulated occupation.
- 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.
Fees & enrolment
- • Indicative programme fee: SLE 2,500.
- • One-off indicative registration fee: SLE 100.
- • Final fees, start date, delivery arrangement and any instalment option are confirmed in writing before commitment.
- • Submitting an application does not require payment and does not guarantee admission.
Regulatory & recognition 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.
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.