Module 3: Shelter

This module explores the importance of shelter in meeting the most urgent emergency needs of disaster-affected populations. Starting from the importance of framing in the emergency shelter, the module advocates against the cultural mindset of shelter as four walls and a roof, tents, or even houses. It promotes the concept of shelter and its setting (settlements), and the many functions of shelter, which often include home-based enterprises, factories, barns, warehouses, granaries, etc. This module covers various options to sheltering affected communities and the importance of understanding self-recovery.
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This course introduces the basics of humanitarian community shelter and settlements (S&S) activities, including some history and trends related to the sector, best practices in assessments and programming strategy, basic shelter responses, the relationship between shelter and its context (settlements), and how to promote the recovery of affected settlements. This training course is based on many years of USAID/OFDA and humanitarian organization experience in S&S activities, so discussions and case studies are based on real-life situations. Discussions are non-technical and geared towards how to develop strategies and options to appropriately deliver humanitarian shelter and settlements assistance. Additionally, the course provides an opportunity for participants to understand the relationship of S&S activities, disaster risk reduction, sectoral activities, and larger trends such as urbanization. This version of the course incorporates participant feedback from over 15 USAID/OFDA S&S training courses conducted in the US, Canada, Costa Rica, Taiwan, and Thailand.

This course is divided into five modules. Each module will take between 45 minutes to an hour to complete. 

Module 1: Approach to S&S Activities
Module 2: Description of Humanitarian S&S Activities
Module 3: Shelter
Module 4: Settlements
Module 5: Disaster Risk Reduction & Re-conceiving the Road to Recovery

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Interactive training sessions and course notes can be accessed via the InterAction website at the following link: http://www.interaction.org/training/USAID-OFDA-shelter-se…

You can also download all five interactive sessions at the above website for offline use. Please contact shelter@interaction.org with questions and comments.