Conference on Improving Learning and Practice in the Humanitarian Shelter Sector

Two day conference hosted by the Centre for Development and Emergency Practice (CENDEP) & CARE International UK

Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK

While very few humanitarian organisations list post-disaster shelter reconstruction as one of their main activities, many often become instrumental in the delivery of large-scale shelter projects. Yet, as the recent Haiti earthquake and previous large disasters such as the Asian Tsunami and the Kashmir earthquake demonstrate, shelter after disaster is complex, spanning immediate relief needs of security and comfort to longer term developmental issues of land, ownership, funding, community engagement and political control.

To tackle these tasks, humanitarian workers must collaborate with actors from all sectors with varying agendas, seek to engage in coordination for better effectiveness, while navigating situations which by definition have been overwhelmed by catastrophe.

What then works well? What are the lessons that are emerging from practice, and as a sector what can be learnt to improve effectiveness?

The objective of this two day conference is to learn and share lessons from the practical experience of shelter after disaster. To these ends the conference will comprise invited speakers, plenary and smaller seminar optional sessions.

The conference fee is £75. To register please go to www.brookes.ac.uk/schools/be/research/cendep/shelters.html

For further information, registration and submission of outlines please contact Jeni Burnell, conference organiser, at jburnell@brookes.ac.uk.