Accessibility statement

Humanitarian Response - HEA00097M

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  • Department: Health Sciences
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2024-25

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
C Summer Term 2024-25

Module aims

This module will provide the opportunity for students to understand the differences between policy and practice in humanitarian responses where they will be able to develop new mechanisms and approaches to deal with these challenges.

This module introduces key concepts of humanitarian response in disasters and conflicts such as standards (Sphere Project), guidelines (Inter-Agency Standing Committee - IASC) and humanitarian accountability and quality management in food and nutrition, shelter, health and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). The students will receive the opportunity to explore, examine and understand different approaches to humanitarian responses (top-down, bottom-up, donor-driven) as well as to debate on the idea that affected communities are the first humanitarian responders.

Module learning outcomes

Subject content

  • Students will understand the challenges of delivering food and nutrition, health, shelter and water, sanitation and hygiene during and after disaster and conflicts.
  • Students will develop new mechanisms and approaches to deliver humanitarian responses in disasters and conflicts.
  • Students will develop a foundational understanding of monitoring and evaluating the impact, efficiency, effectiveness and relevance of humanitarian responses.

Academic and graduate skills

  • Students will learn skills to translate policy into practice as well as practice into policy in relation to humanitarian responses.
  • Students will critically analyse policy and practice documents on humanitarian responses.
  • Students will develop secondary data analysis skills.
  • Students will develop their communication and team work skills

Module content

This module will provide the opportunity for students to understand the differences between policy and practice in humanitarian responses where they will be able to develop new mechanisms and approaches to deal with these challenges.

The group work for this module will group 3-4 students that are working in the same region (to minimise time differences in communication) with a specific topic to develop a poster. The group will have to select a group lead to co-ordinate the activity as well as co-ordinate the technical support from the MIHA Team. This encourages the students to communicate with each other, to share knowledge and experiences as well as to establish a community of excellence. MIHA Teaching Team will facilitate these group activities and will assist the groups to establish ground rules and the smooth flow of information.

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 100

Module feedback

Written feedback will be provided on the standard proforma within the timescale specified in the programme handbook.

Indicative reading

Derderian, K. (2013) Checklists up for a reality check: decades of debate on humanitarian standards. ALNAP.

Sphere (2011) Sphere Handbook: The core humanitarian standards. Sphere Project, Geneva.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.