Evaluating Climate Vulnerability in Humanitarian Hotspots

This study, conducted in 2019, focuses on the definition of climate vulnerability with operational and political perspectives and delivers guidelines for assessing climate vulnerability in long-term crises, such as in conflict-affected countries and recurrent disaster-prone areas.

The research draws on an extensive academic literature review in the fields of biology, political science, sociology and geography. It derives data from a variety of innovative projects and methods in the field of development and humanitarian aid, induced and encouraged by the Grand Bargain. In addition, the research offers a contribution to the IKI Project carried out by the UNEP/OCHA Joint Environment Unit in the refugee camp of Gitega Province in Burundi.

The study is available in French only. Read More

Remote Sensing for Risk Analyses in Fragile Contexts

This study, conducted in 2020, sheds light on a variety of potentials and pitfalls of remote sensing for disaster risk analyses in fragile contexts. This topic gains importance in light of the need to formulate more systemic and better-integrated approaches to risk-informed development. Evidence-based policy recommendations encourage organizational learning and action such as resource pooling, project evaluation and multi-stakeholder cooperation.

The research reveals cutting-edge practical experiences from a dozen in-depth expert interviews, including the UNEP/OCHA Joint Environment Unit and UN-SPIDER, the aerospace community NASA, DLR and Maxar, the German development agency GIZ and civil protection authority BBK. Supported by an extensive body of interdisciplinary literature, this work offers a contribution to understanding ambiguous feedback effects of digital technologies in dynamic environments.

The study is available in English only. Read More

Safe management of wastes from health-care activities

This document highlights the key aspects of safe health-care waste management to guide policy-makers, practitioners and facility managers to provide services in health-care facilities. It is based on the comprehensive and detailed WHO handbook Safe management of wastes from health-care activities. Read More

Overview of technologies for the treatment of infectious and sharp waste from health care facilities

This study, conducted in 2019 by WHO, looks at safe health care waste management, including segregation, collection, transport, treatment and waste disposal and understands that it is fundamental to wider efforts to provide quality and safe health care. Read More

Humanitarian Needs Overview – Annex III – Developing an environmentally sensitive HNO

Download the two page annex here.

Integrating environmental considerations into the humanitarian programming cycle from the onset of the operation enables the prevention and mitigation of future environmental damage, increases the likelihood of humanitarians doing no harm, and helps to increase the resilience of (potentially) affected peoples.

For more information on the development of HNOs, click here.

To access recent HNOs for given countries, click here. Read More

Scoping review on Environmental Footprint of humanitarian assistance for DG ECHO

This study, conducted in 2020 by Groupe URD on behalf of DG ECHO, analyses the environmental footprint of humanitarian assistance. The report looks into both operational and programmatic approaches of areas spanning the greening of offices through to what type of seeds to distribute in livelihood programmes. The report also examines multi-dimensional approaches ranging from the global (e.g. CO2 emissions) to the local (e.g. water table depletion) with indirect, short and long-term impacts. Acknowledged by Groupe URD is that environmental issues can be cross-sectoral including the supply chain and cash transfer programmes, or they can be sector-specific (Shelter, WASH, Health, etc.) and therefore the report highlights the importance to acknowledge adopting multi-pronged approaches in addressing environmental protection. Read More

Study report on HI’s environmental practices

Groupe URD conducted a study on the environmental practices of the international organisation,with funding from the Humanitarian Environment Network in 2019. Despite the environmental and climate emergency, which predominantly affects countries where humanitarian operations take place, these issues are still not taken into account properly in aid organisations practices and policies. Read More

USAID – Sector Environmental Guidelines: Healthcare Waste – Full Technical Update, 2019

Healthcare Waste - within the Sector Environmental Guidelines (SEGs) prepared for USAID under the Agency's Global Environmental Management Support (GEMS and GEMS-II) Program and Environmental Compliance Support (ECOS) Contract. Read More

No Plan B: The Importance of Environmental Considerations in Humanitarian Contexts

This study, conducted for the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) by a consultancy team from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), examines these challenges, as well as key opportunities for change and development. Read More

Myanmar – NEAT+ Environmental Scoping Report and Recommendations, October 2019

This report presents the results of an environmental scoping mission using the Nexus Environmental Assessment Tool (NEAT+) Hpa An Township, Kayin State in Southeast Myanmar. Read More

Environment in Humanitarian Action: What Donors Need to Know

The Environment and Humanitarian Action Network’s donor tip sheet is a resource to guide donors on how to have an impact, from influencing policy proposals and projects to engaging with the issue on a personal level. It outlines the principles of Environment in Humanitarian Action, an explanation of… Read More

Energypedia

Energypedia is a wiki platform for collaborative knowledge exchange on renewable energy, energy access, and energy efficiency topics in developing countries. The wiki platform is working towards removing the knowledge barriers and expanding the diffusion of information addressing the topics renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainable energy access for all. Read More