USAID/OFDA Shelter And Settlements Training Course – Module 5

Module 5: Disaster Risk Reduction & Reconceiving The Road To Recovery

The final module focuses on the importance of incorporating DRR into S&S activities, and its importance in saving lives, reducing suffering, and reducing the economic and social impacts of disasters. DRR efforts are intended to minimize adverse impacts before, during, and after disaster. This module starts with a brief case study based on Typhoon Haiyan (locally known as Yolanda), which struck the Philippines in November 2013. The module stresses the importance of incorporating DRR into relief projects either as a stand-alone initiative or integrated into S&S programming. Settlements-based interventions that address disaster risks require training and outreach for multiple audiences in order to promote knowledge, advocacy, and policy and program changes.

This shift from shelter to shelter and settlements and the implied scaling up that is required, will entail making new alliances within the humanitarian community and between the humanitarian and development communities, as well as engaging host country authorities. These alliances must recognize that concerns are shared, and not in competition. Training and outreach through multiple outlets for multiple audiences (e.g., the private sector and local government) and humanitarian activities (e.g., shelter, DRR, urban settlements planning, protection, livelihood, WASH) is necessary for scaling up and shifting towards a more collaborative atmosphere.
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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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You can also download all five interactive sessions at the above website for offline use. Please contact shelter@interaction.org with questions and comments.