Programme Outline

Goal: To provide training in humanitarian action, disaster prevention, preparedness and response and thereby enhance human resource capacity for managing the humanitarian emergencies arising from natural disasters and complex emergencies worldwide.

The Diploma in Humanitarian Assistance (DHA) is an intensive multidisciplinary training programme designed for humanitarian workers engaged in emergency relief and development. The curriculum combines core and specialist modules enabling participants to explore the essential issues relevant to all humanitarian workers, whatever their professional background.. The DHA has been specifically designed so that it can be delivered as a short course that addresses the needs of participants in countries directly affected by humanitarian emergencies. The DHA has been offered at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine since 2002.

From 2020, the programme is delivered by a combination of on-line and face-to-face teaching. An introductory module ‘The Humanitarian Arena’ will be available on-line 3 weeks prior to the start of the face-to-face component. This will include key readings, videos, debates and discussion boards. This will be followed by 2 weeks of face-to-face teaching at LSTM, and another 2 weeks of either face-to-face or online learning depending on options taken. Following the teaching, students will have 1 week for reading, revision and assessments. Finally, participants will submit their final written assignment 4 weeks after the assessment week. Access to LSTM e-learning and library resources will be available throughout.

Course Outline:

Weeks 1-3 On-line Introductory module (online) - 28 February to - 18 March 2022

Weeks 4-5 Face-to-face teaching (at LSTM) - 21 March – 1 April 2022

Weeks 6-7 Face-to-face or online learning (according to options chosen) 4 April – 15 April 2022

Week 8 Assessment - 18-22 April 2022

Weeks 9-12 Preparation and submission of written assessment (self-study and online) - 24 April - 19 May 2022 (hand in final assessment 19 May)

This format of concentrated contact time combined with flexible self-study makes the programme accessible to participants concurrently engaged in professional practice.