Introduction

Urban areas are increasingly becoming the focal point of humanitarian crises, with over half of the global population now living in cities. Natural disasters, conflict, and displacement are affecting urban populations at an unprecedented scale, demanding a shift in humanitarian response strategies. This 5-day course provides humanitarian professionals with the tools, strategies, and insights necessary to effectively respond to urban crises, focusing on the complexities of urban settings such as overcrowding, infrastructure challenges, and diverse population needs.

The course blends urban disaster response theory with practical case studies, offering participants the skills to engage with local authorities, community groups, and partners in creating sustainable and effective urban humanitarian responses.

Course Objectives

By the end of the course, participants will:

1. Understand Urban Humanitarian Challenges: Gain insight into the unique challenges of urban settings, including infrastructure, governance, and coordination complexities.
2. Design Effective Urban Humanitarian Interventions: Learn how to design and implement interventions that address the specific needs of urban populations, from shelter and food to healthcare and protection.
3. Improve Coordination in Urban Crisis Response: Develop strategies for effective coordination with local authorities, UN agencies, and NGOs in urban environments.
4. Engage Local Communities: Learn to engage communities in urban settings, ensuring that responses are contextually appropriate and inclusive of vulnerable groups.
5. Utilize Technology in Urban Humanitarian Response: Leverage innovative tools and technologies for better urban crisis management, including data analytics, GIS, and mobile applications.
6. Promote Sustainable Urban Resilience: Design long-term interventions that build urban resilience to future shocks, including climate change, conflict, and rapid urbanization.
7. Address Legal and Policy Frameworks in Urban Crises: Understand the legal complexities of urban displacement and the governance structures that impact urban humanitarian work.

Who Should Attend?

This course is ideal for:

• Humanitarian Professionals working in urban environments during crises.
• NGO and INGO Staff responsible for urban disaster relief, infrastructure, and urban resilience.
• Government Officials engaged in urban disaster planning, preparedness, and crisis management.
• Field and Project Managers involved in urban interventions for refugees, displaced populations, or disaster-affected communities.
• Urban Planners working on post-crisis recovery and resilience in cities.
• Donors and International Organizations looking to understand urban-specific humanitarian needs.
• Academics and Researchers studying urban humanitarian responses.

Course Outline

Day 1: Understanding Urban Humanitarian Crises

• Morning Session: The Growing Challenge of Urban Humanitarian Crises
  • Understanding the urbanization trend and its impact on crisis response.
  • The intersection of rapid urban growth, poverty, and vulnerability.
  • Case study: The 2010 Haiti earthquake and the complexities of urban disaster response.
• Afternoon Session: Urban Humanitarian Contexts
  • Identifying different types of urban crises: Natural disasters, conflict, displacement, and pandemics.
  • The complexity of urban environments: Infrastructure, governance, and population dynamics.
  • Understanding urban vulnerabilities: Overcrowding, informal settlements, and inequality.

Day 2: Coordination and Partnerships in Urban Humanitarian Response

• Morning Session: Multi-Stakeholder Coordination in Urban Settings
  • Overview of key humanitarian actors: Local governments, international agencies, local NGOs, and community organizations.
  • The role of clusters in urban settings: How to adapt coordination mechanisms to the urban environment.
  • Strategies for inter-agency cooperation in complex urban emergencies.
• Afternoon Session: Engaging Local Authorities and Communities
  • The importance of collaboration with local authorities for effective response.
  • Working with informal and formal community groups in urban areas.
  • Participatory approaches: Ensuring community involvement in needs assessments, planning, and response.
  • Case study: The Syrian refugee crisis and urban community engagement in Lebanon and Jordan.

Day 3: Urban Humanitarian Interventions

• Morning Session: Urban Shelter and WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene)
  • Designing urban shelter solutions: From temporary housing to long-term settlements.
  • Addressing WASH needs in overcrowded urban environments: Safe water provision, sanitation facilities, and hygiene promotion.
  • The role of cash-based interventions in urban settings for shelter and WASH support.
• Afternoon Session: Healthcare and Protection in Urban Environments
  • Providing emergency healthcare services in dense urban areas: Mobile clinics, health centers, and emergency medical teams.
  • Protection issues in urban crises: Child protection, gender-based violence, and the needs of vulnerable populations.
  • Case study: Typhoon Haiyan response and the health sector’s role in urban crisis management.

Day 4: Technology, Innovation, and Data in Urban Humanitarian Responses

• Morning Session: Using Technology for Urban Humanitarian Response
  • The role of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and big data in urban crisis mapping and decision-making.
  • Leveraging mobile technology for crisis communication and service delivery in urban settings.
  • The use of drone technology for rapid damage assessment and logistics support.
• Afternoon Session: Data Collection and Analysis in Urban Crises
  • Conducting needs assessments in urban areas: Innovative methods for data collection.
  • Using Open Data Kit (ODK) and other digital tools to assess urban needs.
  • Monitoring urban response and tracking progress through data analytics and visualization.

Day 5: Building Long-Term Urban Resilience and Sustainability

• Morning Session: Designing Resilient and Sustainable Urban Interventions
  • The concept of urban resilience: Designing programs that prepare cities for future shocks and crises.
  • Integrating disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) into urban humanitarian projects.
  • Urban recovery: Transitioning from emergency relief to sustainable urban development.
  • Case study: The 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami – long-term recovery and resilience-building in Tokyo and Fukushima.
• Afternoon Session: Legal, Policy, and Governance Challenges in Urban Crises
  • The role of urban governance in disaster preparedness and response.
  • Navigating legal challenges in urban displacement: Access to land, housing rights, and citizenship issues.
  • Policy frameworks for urban humanitarian action: The role of local governments, international treaties, and policy integration.