DAS Humanitarian Action 2025

Drawing on history and various other disciplines, this DAS offers professionals a critical understanding of the humanitarian system and response and an ability to contextualise humanitarian action in today’s world.

Information

Period

September 2025 - December 2025
30 ECTS credits
200 Teaching hours
Around 750 hours of work for the whole Diploma, including: • App. 200 hours of face-to-face teaching (lectures, group work, round tables, debates, visits) • App. 425 hours of self-study time (e-learning modules, readings, assignments, videos, quizzes, etc.) • App. 125 hours for the DAS dissertation

Language

English

Format

On-site – switch over to online-learning if required

Contact

Geneva Centre of Humanitarian Studies
+41 (0)22 379 56 50
humanitarianstudies(at)unige.ch

Location

Geneva

Registration

Registration deadline

30 June 2025

Fees:

Total fees: CHF 8’000.-

Deposit (upon acceptance of admission): CHF 1'000.-

The payment of the registration fees can be made in several instalments. If registration fees are not paid before the beginning of the course, access to the programme will not be allowed. 

There are no scholarships available for this programme.

Contribution to the SDGs

Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development Goal 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development

Objectives

At the end of the course, participants will have developed a critical understanding of contemporary humanitarian action informed by academic scholarship, which will enable them to become better informed, and more aware and effective humanitarian practitioners, more autonomous in their decisions.

More specifically, at the end of this course, students will be able to:

  • Understand the politico-historical foundations of humanitarianism, the changing nature of humanitarian crises and the various forms of humanitarian action
  • Widen their conception of humanitarianism by acknowledging the existence of other philanthropic, charity and faith-based endeavours
  • Understand the ethical, normative and legal aspects of humanitarianism including the overlap between humanitarianism, militarism and sanctions
  • Identify the various actors of humanitarian action and understand the political economy of the field
  • Conceptualise humanitarianism as a distinct mode of governing and understand its link with border control policies and security regimes

Audience

Professional in the humanitarian, development or social sector looking to develop their competencies as well as reflect and capitalise on their experiences
Professional from other sectors who wishes to increase their understanding of the humanitarian sector for a potential career change
Graduate student with relevant volunteer or intern experience, looking to undertake a postgraduate course with a view to entering the humanitarian sector

Programme

The course is divided in five modules:

  • M1: Humanitarianisms
  • M2: Contexts, Actions and Consequences
  • M3: Revisiting Vulnerability and Needs
  • M4: Humanitarian Governance, Norms and Principles
  • M5: The Humanitarians

The Diploma also includes the writing of a final dissertation.

 

Director(s)

Prof. Karl BLANCHET, Geneva Centre of Humanitarian Studies, a joint Centre of the University of Geneva and the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID), Geneva

Coordinator(s)

Prof. Julie BILLAUD, Geneva Centre of Humanitarian Studies, Geneva

Diploma delivered jointly by

University of Geneva, IHEID
Executive Diploma of Advanced Studies in Humanitarian Action
The Diploma of Advanced Studies (DAS) aims to offer professionals a critical understanding of the humanitarian system and response learning from history and various other disciplines and an ability to contextualize humanitarian action in today’s world. It explores the role of humanitarianism in the way the world is governed today, as well as the political economy at play in relationships between States, non-State actors, international organisations, international and local non-governmental organizations and affected populations. Finally, the program addresses the postcolonial dynamics of past and present humanitarian interventions to identify new avenues for contemporary and future crises.

Description

This module traces the genealogy of secular humanitarianism since the 19th century, to explore historical and political dynamics and mechanics that led to the development of several forms of humanitarianism, including its visual, moral and political economy along the 20th century. It compares what has become the dominant form of humanitarianism with other forms of international solidarity, such as grassroots movements and advocacy networks, or State interventionism, in North-South and East-West perspectives. It also questions the links between faith-based humanitarianism, charity and philanthropy in Western and non-Western contexts.

Description

This module describes the various forms humanitarian action has taken looking at different fields of expertise and disciplines. The module explores the existing silos between areas of interventions and possibilities of integration. The changing nature of humanitarian crises is examined looking at the consequences these changes have had on the humanitarian response, notably the humanitarian-development nexus, the narrative of populations’ resilience and people-centered approaches. Applying concrete analytical tools for understanding risks, the module will offer an opportunity for students to value their experience and develop real-life solutions. Finally, the module will open discussions and debates on how to decolonize the humanitarian system.

Description

Using insights from various disciplines (anthropology, global health, international relations) this module asks: What does the principle of humanity mean in practice? What forms of selection, triage and exclusion does the preservation of such a principle entail? By introducing students to key theoretical texts on governmentality, this module revisits two taken for granted notions of humanitarian action (‘needs’ and ‘vulnerabilities’) so as to highlight the implicit representations that inform practices of categorization and the identification of ‘target/key populations’. We explore the politics of indicators, examine emblematic figures of vulnerability and turn the gaze on humanitarian actors so as to understand their ‘need to help’ suffering others but also their need of security while on mission. Finally, we discuss the relationship between violence and vulnerability, explore the dilemmas of triage and discourses of self-help and resilience that inform contemporary interventions.

Description

This module discusses the normative aspects of contemporary humanitarianism, using the insights of various disciplines (anthropology, international law, sociology and international relations) within the field of humanitarian studies as well as those of practitioners involved in protection work. It introduces students to the basic principles of international humanitarian law (IHL), Human Rights, refugee law as well as humanitarian ethics. It examines the tensions and contradictions that emerge when humanitarian actors seek to implement IHL in practice. It explores how the world has crossed into new humanitarian frontiers of ethical and legal problematics by analyzing the overlap between humanitarianism and militarism, the links between the politics of security and relief and the relationship between advocacy and transitional justice.

Description

This module focuses on the humanitarian milieu in its sociological dimension, on Aidland as a specific transnational field with its – not always explicit – codes of conduct, values and behaviours. It examines the everyday life of humanitarian workers, be they expatriates or local staff, but also the production of internal differences among various humanitarian identities and categories of practitioners. It also questions the boundaries and interactions between humanitarian organisations, as well as between humanitarian workers, affected populations and donors, or through technologies.

Description

Throughout the DAS, participants will engage in a series of workshops designed to develop information-gathering and processing, critical thinking, analytical writing and networking skills. These workshops will help participants write three assignments (context analysis and reports) that constitute the core of the dissertation. The overall aim of the DAS dissertation is to stimulate a critical and original reflection on issues linked to humanitarian action through specific writing exercises.

Pedagogical method

  • Lectures delivered by academics and experts
  • Intercultural classroom settings
  • Participatory programme

The DAS is taught in English. However, students are offered the alternative to take written tests and write their Diploma final paper in French.

Diploma awarded

Once the students successfully complete the Diploma of Advanced Studies in Humanitarian Action's full programme according to CERAH requirements, they obtain a joint degree delivered by the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID) and the University of Geneva (UNIGE), and accredited by the Swiss Agency for Accreditation and Quality Assurance (AAQ).

Admission criteria

  • A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a Swiss or foreign university
  • At least two years of relevant professional experience
  • Excellent command of English

For more details on the enrollment process visit this page.

Application File

  • Copy of identity document or passport
  • Passport photo (.jpg format) 
  • Curriculum vitae 
  • Cover letter (explaining the reason why you apply for this course and how will the acquired skills help you in your career) 
  • Copy of the highest educational qualification obtained 
  • Copy of Work certificates/official document from your current and the previous two job positions 
  • Proof of English language competence to be dated less than 2 years. Please refer to https://humanitarianstudies.ch/application/  
  • Two recent letters of recommendation (academic and/or professional) signed and with direct mention of the programme of your choice 
  • Employer's funding agreement, if applicable 

More information about the application process is available on our application page.

Number of participants

The DAS is limited to 20 students per year.

Cancellation Policy

Please check our cancellation policy on our application page.

Contribution to the SDGs

Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development Goal 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development