International and Humanitarian Affairs

Short course Health Emergencies in Large Populations (H.E.L.P.) 2025

H.E.L.P is a two-week Short Course on the provision of humanitarian relief during disasters, armed conflicts, and other complex crises. The goal is to professionalise the delivery of humanitarian assistance during emergencies and to promote professional ethics and humanitarian principles.
Online registration

Information

Period

5 May 2025 - 16 May 2025
2 ECTS credits
50 Teaching hours

Language

English

Format

On-site

Contact

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

Location

Geneva

Registration

Registration deadline

13 April 2025

Fees:

2'000 CHF

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 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all Goal 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development Goal 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development

Objectives

  • Explore key concepts and principles underlying the provision of humanitarian assistance in health emergencies and major health crisis, and the methods of provoding such assistance
  • Examine various aspects and approaches  of health emergencies that can be adopted by all humanitarian-organizations
  • Assess various stages of the planning process: assessing needs, analysing the context, selecting priorities, setting objectives, mobilizing resources, drafting plans, and implementing and evaluating activities
  • Contribute indirectly to more effective coordination in emergency operations

Audience

People with strategic and managerial responsabilities, health professionals, public health officers and epidemiologists, water and environmental engineers and legal or policy advisors.

Programme

The course consists of a number of approximately 25 modules structured around broad themes:

  • Humanitarian standards and international humanitarian law
  • Health systems and healthcare services
  • Data and field epidemiology
  • Communicable diseases

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)

Jonathan POLONSKY

Admission criteria

  • A university qualification (bachelor’s degree or equivalent)
  • At least three years of relevant professional experience
  • Excellent command of English
  • Motivation working in the humanitarian sector

Application File

  • Copy of identity document or passport
  • Passport photo (.jpg format)
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Cover letter (explaining what is 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 certificate or official document of the current job position
  • Proof of English language level
  • Employer's funding agreement, if applicable
  • Employer's letter of support (recommended)

More information about the application process is available 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 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all Goal 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development Goal 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development