Tropical Equatorial Shelter Kit, Cameroon Mission – IFRC-Shelter Research Unit (2019)

Context:

National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Africa are often called upon to take the lead in different crises. It is therefore necessary to equip them with effective shelter solutions designed in a participatory and innovative way.

In the context of countries with humid tropical forests, we have currently limited available emergency shelter solutions: the IFRC Shelter Kit (composed of Shelter Tool Kit and 2 tarpaulins) and the IFRC family tent. These two solutions are poorly adapted and lead populations not to occupy shelters during the day because they are considered too hot or they are likely to be flooded regularly during rainy periods.

L’Aide Internationale de la Croix-Rouge luxembourgeoise (AI-CRL) hereby requests the IFRC-SRU to conduct an R&D study to develop a context-based emergency shelter kit adapted to the predefined context of the humid tropical forest in Africa.

Outcomes

This R&D project intends to improve the future emergency shelter operations and the living conditions of the population affected.

The focus has been placed on the design and development of a contextualized Emergency Shelter Kit adapted to the humid tropical forest of Africa named Tropical Equatorial Shelter Kit (TESK).

Outputs

The following objectives were achieved during this R&D project and the Cameroon mission

• Documentation of context information based on State of the art (background research) field observation, market visits, interviews with Cameroon Red Cross, and if possible with other shelter actors present in the country and the region.
• Validation of the Shelter prototype with a participatory exchange with RC volunteers and local people.
• Definition of the improvements/adaptations of the Tropical Equatorial Shelter kit based on the field information.
• Documentation of the Tropical Equatorial Shelter Kit with the description of used materials, designs, BoQ, and assembly instructions.

For further information, please read the following document: Tropical Equatorial Shelter Kit.