About This Course
Disasters — whether floods, earthquakes, conflicts, or droughts — displace communities and destroy the economic foundations that underpin dignified living. In the aftermath, the quality and speed of shelter and livelihoods recovery interventions can mean the difference between temporary displacement and protracted poverty. Yet despite growing investment in humanitarian response, many programmes continue to deliver fragmented solutions that address shelter needs in isolation from economic recovery, overlooking the deep interdependencies between where people live and how they earn.
This course offers a comprehensive, practice-oriented grounding in the principles and operational realities of shelter and livelihoods programming within disaster recovery. Participants will gain a thorough understanding of international frameworks — including the Sphere Standards, the Sendai Framework, and the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) guidance — alongside practical skills in needs assessment, programme design, stakeholder coordination, and monitoring for results. The course situates technical knowledge within broader recovery governance systems, emphasising the roles of national governments, local authorities, affected communities, and humanitarian actors.
A central theme throughout the course is the integration of shelter and livelihoods: how housing design can support income-generating activities, how cash-and-voucher assistance can serve both economic recovery and shelter self-recovery, and how to build community resilience so that rebuilt lives are not simply restored to pre-disaster vulnerability. Participants will leave with a practical toolkit applicable to emergency, early recovery, and longer-term reconstruction contexts.
TrainingComplex has designed this programme for professionals working in humanitarian response, disaster risk reduction, urban planning, and community development. Whether you are coordinating a multi-sector recovery effort or managing field-level implementation, this course will sharpen your analytical thinking, strengthen your technical skills, and expand your capacity to design programmes that truly transform recovery outcomes.
Who Should Attend
- Humanitarian response coordinators and field programme officers
- Government disaster management and urban planning officials
- NGO and INGO shelter and livelihoods programme managers
- Reconstruction project managers and housing policy advisors
- Development practitioners working in fragile or crisis-affected settings
- UN agency staff involved in recovery cluster coordination
- Civil engineers and architects engaged in disaster-resilient construction
- Microfinance and livelihood officers supporting crisis-affected populations
- Monitoring and evaluation specialists in humanitarian programmes
- Community development officers and local authority resilience planners
Learning Objectives
- Explain the global policy and normative frameworks governing shelter and livelihoods in disaster recovery, including Sphere, Sendai, and IASC guidelines
- Conduct multi-sector post-disaster needs assessments using standardised tools and participatory approaches
- Design integrated shelter and livelihoods programmes that address immediate needs while building long-term household resilience
- Apply the Transitional Shelter framework to guide sequential recovery planning from emergency shelter to durable solutions
- Develop livelihood recovery strategies using market systems analysis, cash-and-voucher assistance, and enterprise support models
- Coordinate effectively across clusters, government counterparts, and community structures during multi-actor recovery responses
- Incorporate cross-cutting themes — gender equity, protection mainstreaming, disability inclusion, and environmental sustainability — into programme design
- Select appropriate construction technologies and settlement planning approaches that reflect local building cultures and hazard profiles
- Design monitoring and evaluation frameworks that capture shelter and livelihoods outcomes at household and community levels
- Identify financing mechanisms and resource mobilisation strategies for disaster recovery programming
Course Modules
Module 1: Foundations of Disaster Recovery: Concepts, Frameworks, and Actors
- Disaster typologies and their differential impacts on shelter and livelihoods
- The disaster-to-recovery continuum: emergency, early recovery, and reconstruction phases
- Key international frameworks: Sphere Standards, Sendai Framework, and the IASC system
- Roles and mandates of governments, UN agencies, NGOs, and affected communities
- Humanitarian principles and their application in recovery programming
- Recovery governance models: national leadership, cluster systems, and local actor engagement
Module 2: Post-Disaster Needs Assessment for Shelter and Livelihoods
- Principles and ethics of disaster-affected population assessment
- Multi-cluster Initial Rapid Assessment (MIRA) methodology and tools
- Joint Needs Assessment frameworks for shelter: damage, loss, and needs scoring
- Livelihoods assessment approaches: EMMA, HEA, and household economy analysis
- Participatory assessment techniques: focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and transect walks
- Data synthesis and prioritisation: translating assessment findings into programme evidence
Module 3: Shelter in Emergencies: Standards, Options, and Decision-Making
- Sphere minimum standards for shelter, settlement, and non-food items
- Emergency shelter typologies: collective centres, host family arrangements, camp settings, and self-settlement
- Non-food item (NFI) kit design and distribution modalities
- Site selection and settlement planning principles in acute displacement contexts
- Protection risks in emergency shelter settings and mitigation measures
- Decision-making frameworks for shelter modality selection in complex emergencies
Module 4: Transitional Shelter and the Path to Durable Solutions
- The transitional shelter concept: purpose, principles, and design criteria
- Durable solutions frameworks: IASC criteria and integration with national housing policy
- Upgradeability and reusability in transitional shelter design
- Land rights, tenure security, and their impact on shelter recovery trajectories
- Community-led and owner-driven reconstruction models
- Case studies: transitional shelter programmes in Haiti, Philippines, and East Africa
Module 5: Disaster-Resilient Construction and Settlement Planning
- Hazard-specific construction standards: earthquake, flood, cyclone, and fire resistance
- Build Back Better principles and their operationalisation at programme level
- Local building materials, vernacular construction techniques, and cultural appropriateness
- Urban settlement planning: density, infrastructure, and service integration in reconstruction
- Technical support modalities: mason training, engineer supervision, and quality assurance systems
- Environmental considerations: material sourcing, waste management, and ecological impact
Module 6: Livelihoods Theory and Systems Thinking in Recovery
- Sustainable livelihoods frameworks: DFID SLA and its application in crisis contexts
- Understanding household livelihood strategies before, during, and after disaster
- Vulnerability and asset-based analysis: human, physical, social, financial, and natural capital
- Systems thinking: how disasters disrupt market chains, social networks, and productive infrastructure
- The intersection of shelter and livelihoods: home-based enterprises and productive asset recovery
- Prioritising livelihoods interventions across the recovery continuum
Module 7: Market Systems Analysis and Cash-and-Voucher Assistance
- Rapid market assessment methodologies: EMMA and RAM tools in practice
- Market functionality analysis: supply chains, price monitoring, and trader capacity
- Cash-and-voucher assistance (CVA) modalities: unrestricted cash, vouchers, and e-transfers
- Feasibility assessment for CVA: market readiness, financial infrastructure, and protection considerations
- Multi-purpose cash grants as integrated shelter and livelihoods response tools
- Monitoring CVA outcomes: expenditure tracking, market price surveillance, and post-distribution monitoring
Module 8: Enterprise Development and Economic Inclusion in Recovery
- Livelihood recovery pathway models: wage employment, self-employment, and social enterprise
- Value chain development in post-disaster contexts: identifying viable sectors and market opportunities
- Microfinance, savings groups, and emergency credit mechanisms for crisis-affected populations
- Skills training and vocational rehabilitation linked to labour market demand
- Gender and social inclusion in enterprise recovery: barriers and enabling strategies
- Linkages to social protection systems: disaster-responsive social safety nets and graduation models
Module 9: Cross-Cutting Themes: Gender, Protection, Inclusion, and Environment
- Gender-transformative approaches in shelter design and livelihoods programming
- Protection mainstreaming: identifying and mitigating risks to vulnerable groups
- Disability inclusion and universal design principles in shelter and livelihoods interventions
- Child protection considerations in settlement planning and economic recovery
- Environmental sustainability: disaster-sensitive land use, climate adaptation, and green recovery
- Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP): feedback mechanisms and community-led monitoring
Module 10: Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning in Shelter and Livelihoods Recovery
- Developing results frameworks and log frames for integrated shelter and livelihoods programmes
- Key performance indicators for shelter outcomes: habitability, durability, and tenure security
- Livelihoods outcome measurement: income, asset recovery, and food security metrics
- Data collection tools and methodologies: household surveys, participatory monitoring, and remote sensing
- Real-time adaptive management: using monitoring data to course-correct programme implementation
- Documenting and disseminating learning: after-action reviews, programme evaluations, and knowledge management
Requirements & Prerequisites
Participants should have at least two years of professional experience in humanitarian response, development programming, disaster management, or a related field. A basic familiarity with project management concepts and community engagement processes is recommended. No prior specialist expertise in shelter engineering or livelihood economics is required, as foundational technical content is introduced progressively throughout the course.
Training Methodology
- Structured case study analysis drawn from post-disaster responses in East Africa, South Asia, and the Pacific, enabling participants to extract transferable lessons
- Participatory needs assessment simulations using realistic field datasets and scenario-based community profiles
- Cluster coordination role-play exercises replicating multi-actor response environments and inter-agency negotiation challenges
- Market systems mapping workshops in which participants apply rapid market assessment tools to fictional but realistic crisis contexts
- Shelter design charettes where participants sketch and critique transitional and permanent housing solutions against hazard and cultural criteria
- Group programme design sprints producing draft project logic frameworks, indicator matrices, and activity plans for peer review
- Guest practitioner dialogues featuring virtual or in-person contributions from experienced humanitarian professionals
- Reflective journalling and structured peer feedback sessions to consolidate daily learning and surface practical applications
Organisational Benefits
- Strengthened organisational capacity to design and deliver coherent, standards-compliant shelter and livelihoods recovery programmes
- Improved coordination with government, UN clusters, and civil society partners, reducing duplication and coverage gaps
- Better integration of shelter and economic recovery components, maximising programme impact per dollar invested
- Reduced programme risks through principled needs assessment and context-sensitive design practices
- Enhanced staff ability to advocate for recovery funding with evidence-based proposals and clear outcome logic
- Greater community trust and participation in recovery processes, improving programme acceptance and sustainability
- Stronger compliance with Sphere, IASC, and donor accountability frameworks, supporting audit readiness and reporting
- Improved monitoring systems that generate learning for adaptive management and future emergency preparedness
Where Is Shelter and Livelihoods in Disaster Recovery Training Offered?
This course runs in-person across: Nairobi, Abuja, Kampala, Kigali, Johannesburg, Mombasa, Riyadh, Naivasha, Dar es Salaam, Accra, Lagos, Zanzibar, Cape Town, Addis Ababa, Pretoria, Arusha, Dubai, Kisumu, Nakuru, plus Live Virtual (online) cohorts. Browse live dates for your city below.
Upcoming Schedules
| Location | Format | Dates | Price |
|---|
| Nairobi, Kenya |
In-Person |
5 Oct 2026 – 9 Oct 2026 |
KES 105,000 |
| Abuja, Nigeria |
In-Person |
5 Oct 2026 – 9 Oct 2026 |
USD 2,800 |
| Kampala, Uganda |
In-Person |
12 Oct 2026 – 16 Oct 2026 |
USD 1,900 |
| Kigali, Rwanda |
In-Person |
12 Oct 2026 – 16 Oct 2026 |
USD 1,900 |
| Johannesburg, South Africa |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
USD 3,500 |
| Mombasa, Kenya |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
KES 120,000 |
| Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
USD 4,500 |
| Naivasha, Kenya |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
KES 115,000 |
| Dar es Salaam, Tanzania |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
USD 2,300 |
| Accra, Ghana |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
USD 3,800 |
| Lagos, Nigeria |
In-Person |
19 Oct 2026 – 23 Oct 2026 |
USD 2,500 |
| Live Virtual |
Online |
24 Oct 2026 – 15 Nov 2026 |
KES 80,000 |
| Zanzibar, Tanzania |
In-Person |
26 Oct 2026 – 30 Oct 2026 |
USD 2,500 |
| Cape Town, South Africa |
In-Person |
26 Oct 2026 – 30 Oct 2026 |
USD 3,800 |
| Addis Ababa, Ethiopia |
In-Person |
26 Oct 2026 – 30 Oct 2026 |
USD 2,400 |
+237 more dates — view live schedule →
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a background in engineering or construction to attend this course?
No engineering background is required. The course introduces technical shelter concepts in an accessible way, and the primary focus is on programme design, coordination, and management rather than structural engineering. Practitioners from social science, economics, policy, and community development backgrounds attend successfully alongside technical specialists.
Will I receive a certificate upon completing the course?
Yes. Participants who complete all sessions and engage with the practical assignments will receive a TrainingComplex Certificate of Completion in Shelter and Livelihoods in Disaster Recovery. The certificate is recognised by many humanitarian employers and can be included in professional development portfolios.
Is the course relevant for both urban and rural disaster recovery contexts?
Absolutely. The course draws on examples and case studies from both urban and rural post-disaster settings, covering dense city reconstruction challenges as well as rural resettlement and agricultural livelihood recovery. Participants are encouraged to relate exercises to their own organisational contexts throughout the programme.
Can teams from the same organisation attend together?
Yes, and this is actively encouraged. When colleagues attend together, they can work on shared case studies drawn from their own programmes and return with a common framework and shared action plan. Group enrolment discounts are available — please contact TrainingComplex directly for team pricing.
Is this course available online for participants who cannot travel?
The course is primarily designed as an in-person, immersive experience, but a Live Virtual cohort is offered at scheduled intervals for participants who cannot travel. The virtual format uses the same curriculum, live facilitators, and interactive exercises, adapted for an online environment with breakout group sessions and digital collaboration tools.
