Introduction

Urban areas, home to a growing portion of the global population, have seen a dramatic increase in poverty due to rapid urbanization, inequality, and economic instability. Humanitarian interventions often focus on rural or conflict-affected areas, neglecting the unique challenges faced by urban poor populations. This course explores the dynamics of urban poverty, provides tools for effective humanitarian response in cities, and focuses on strategies to engage with the complex issues of housing, education, healthcare, sanitation, and livelihoods in urban settings.

Course Objectives

By the end of this training, participants will:

• Understand the unique drivers of urban poverty, including economic inequality, social exclusion, and migration trends
• Examine the scale and characteristics of urban poverty, including issues related to informal settlements, homelessness, underemployment, and social marginalization
• Identify key challenges in providing humanitarian assistance in cities, such as limited access, fragmented governance, and resource allocation issues
• Explore strategies for improving humanitarian programming in urban environments, focusing on sustainability, community-led initiatives, and integration of local governance
• Learn to design inclusive, integrated interventions that address the needs of marginalized urban populations, including women, youth, and migrants
• Develop conflict-sensitive urban humanitarian programming, ensuring interventions are not only responsive to the immediate needs but also contribute to long-term resilience and peacebuilding

Who Should Attend?

This course is designed for:

• Humanitarian professionals working in urban settings, including field officers, program managers, city planners, and community engagement specialists
• NGO staff and donors focused on poverty reduction, urban development, and humanitarian response
• Government officials and municipal leaders involved in urban development, social services, and disaster response
• Social workers and community organizers engaged with marginalized urban populations
• Development professionals working in the intersection of urbanization, poverty, and crisis response
• Academics and researchers studying urbanization, poverty, and humanitarian aid in cities

Course Outline

Day 1: Understanding Urban Poverty and Humanitarian Needs

📌 Key Topics:

• The Urbanization Challenge: Understanding the global trend of urbanization and its impact on poverty, migration, and inequality in cities
• Defining Urban Poverty: Characteristics of poverty in urban areas, including informal settlements, homelessness, lack of access to basic services, and unemployment
• Drivers of Urban Poverty: Economic, social, and political factors contributing to urban poverty, including economic disparity, housing shortages, discrimination, and climate change
• Vulnerabilities in Urban Areas: Impact of poverty on women, children, migrants, and elderly populations
• Case Study: Exploring urban poverty in a specific city or region (e.g., Kibera, Manila, Delhi), analyzing key factors that drive poverty and vulnerability

🛠 Practical Exercise:

• City Mapping: Participants will create a poverty map of a given city, identifying high-risk areas for poverty, vulnerabilities, and access to services

Day 2: Urban Humanitarian Challenges and Opportunities

📌 Key Topics:

• Challenges of Urban Humanitarian Action: Addressing limited space, overcrowding, poor infrastructure, and insecure land tenure in urban settings
• Accessing Urban Slums: Navigating the complexities of reaching and working in informal settlements or slums where the urban poor live
• Coordination and Governance in Urban Areas: Working with local governments, community-based organizations, and private sector actors to ensure effective responses
• The Role of Housing in Urban Poverty: Addressing housing insecurity, informal housing, evictions, and land rights in humanitarian interventions
• Urban Resilience and Sustainability: Promoting long-term solutions through climate-resilient infrastructure, public health interventions, and social safety nets

🛠 Practical Exercise:

• Group Discussion: Identifying and discussing the major challenges faced by humanitarian organizations working in urban environments and brainstorming possible solutions

Day 3: Effective Programming for the Urban Poor

📌 Key Topics:

• Needs Assessment in Urban Settings: Conducting assessments in cities to identify key challenges, prioritize interventions, and map local resources
• Livelihoods and Economic Empowerment: Addressing underemployment, informal labor, and income generation for the urban poor
• Access to Basic Services: Developing programs for healthcare, sanitation, education, and water supply in urban poor communities
• Urban Protection and Safety: Addressing violence, gender-based violence, child protection, and displacement in urban environments
• Inclusive and Participatory Program Design: Involving local communities, grassroots organizations, and vulnerable groups in program planning and execution

🛠 Practical Exercise:

• Program Design Simulation: Participants will work in groups to design a humanitarian intervention targeting a specific issue (e.g., access to clean water, housing rights, youth employment) in an urban poverty context

Day 4: Leveraging Technology and Innovation for Urban Poverty Solutions

📌 Key Topics:

• Technology and Data Collection: Using GIS, mobile data collection, and big data analytics to better understand urban poverty and target interventions
• Innovative Housing Solutions: Exploring affordable housing models, temporary shelters, and community-led construction initiatives
• Smart Cities and Urban Resilience: Leveraging technology for urban planning, public services, and climate adaptation to combat poverty
• Urban Social Protection Systems: Using technology to improve access to cash transfers, social safety nets, and vouchers for vulnerable urban populations
• Digital Inclusion: Ensuring access to digital technologies and connectivity for marginalized urban communities

🛠 Practical Exercise:

• Technology Solutions Brainstorm: Participants will brainstorm and present technology-driven solutions for an urban poverty issue in a simulated scenario

Day 5: Moving Towards Sustainable and Inclusive Urban Humanitarian Interventions

📌 Key Topics:

• Building Long-term Resilience: Developing interventions that empower urban communities to overcome poverty and build self-sufficiency over time
• Linking Humanitarian Aid to Development: Moving beyond short-term relief to integrate development goals and peacebuilding in urban poverty responses
• Partnerships and Collaboration: Working with local governments, NGOs, and the private sector to create integrated, sustainable solutions
• Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL): Designing monitoring systems to track outcomes and measure the long-term impact of urban poverty interventions
• Advocacy for Urban Poor Rights: Promoting policy change and advocacy for the urban poor at the national and international levels

🛠 Practical Exercise:

• Action Plan Development: Participants will create a detailed action plan for implementing an inclusive, sustainable urban poverty intervention, addressing challenges such as governance, resources, and local buy-in

Conclusion & Certification

Upon successful completion of the course, participants will receive a Certificate in Addressing Urban Poverty in Humanitarian Interventions, equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and tools to design and implement effective humanitarian programs in urban settings, helping to alleviate poverty and enhance the well-being of marginalized urban populations.