In this course you will explore the response and recovery of shelter and settlements after disaster. You will investigate design strategies that promote sustainability in the context of natural disasters, climate change and conflict. Diverse approaches to designing shelter and planning settlements in disaster-prone or disaster affected places will be investigated. This will be examined at different stages after a disaster and/or crisis, including emergency, transitional and permanent shelter.

You will learn how shelter provision by leading humanitarian agencies such as The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is provided. Of key focus is the IFRC led Shelter Cluster System, established to make post-disaster operations more effective and timely. You will learn how to effectively plan and coordinate shelter needs assessments, develop strategies and implement plans with international organisations, national authorities, the displaced and the affected population.