This course offers practical training in the complex issues and field skills needed to engage in humanitarian work. Students will gain familiarity with the concepts and international standards for humanitarian response. While providing a solid theoretical foundation, the course will focus on practical skills such as conducting rapid assessments, ensuring field security, and interacting with aid agencies, the military, and the media during humanitarian crises. The course culminates in a required three-day intensive humanitarian crisis field simulation at Harold Parker State Forest in North Andover, MA, from XXam on May XX, 2021 through XXpm on May XX, 2021. There is a fee ($300) to cover camping gear hire, food, and other equipment costs. Students will camp for two nights in the forest as part of an aid agency team responding to a simulated international disaster and conflict. Student teams will carry out rapid assessments, create a comprehensive humanitarian aid plan, and manage interactions with refugees, officials, and other humanitarian actors. Students will face challenges that test their subject knowledge, team skills, creativity, and grit. Topics covered are listed below. Participation in both the lecture and simulation parts of the course is required.
IMPORTANT TO NOTE: The first day of class is January XX, 2021 and the last day of class is May XX, 2021. There is no class on March XX, 2021.
• Humanitarian response community and history
• International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Law
• Sphere standards (shelter, water and sanitation, food security, health)
• Civil-military relations, media skills, logistics, and budgeting
• Monitoring and evaluation, accountability
• Personal security, metal health, stress, and teamwork
• Humanitarian technology, and crowdsourcing, and GPS skills
This course is cross-listed with The Fletcher School (D213) and enrollment is limited to 10 Friedman students and 10 Fletcher students. Priority enrollment for Friedman is given to: 1) FANPP students pursuing the Humanitarian Assistance Specialization, 2) MAHA students, 3) Graduating and Second-Year students, 4) First-Year students. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or instructor consent.
Primary Course Delivery: Synchronous
