Emergency handbook

Resources and partnerships
Numerous actors become involved following the arrival of a large number of displaced people. To
achieve a well-coordinated response, it is vital to clarify and distinguish their different roles and

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responsibilities, and to understand the structures and procedures of the local and national
authorities.
Technical experts will generally carry out specific tasks. The table below suggests appropriate
experts at different stages.
Planning stage
Who can help
What they can do
Needs assessment;
understand the persons
of concern's profile and
demographics
Sociologist/ economist
Anthropologist
Architects/ engineers/
Protection experts
Carry out comprehensive
surveys, including market
surveys
Evaluate information
Gather background information
Analyse traditional practices
and cultural habits
Settlement analysis and
planning
Urban planner
Physical planner
Architect
Civil Engineer
Water/sanitation engineer
Environmental engineer
Geologist/hydrologist
Determine possible upgrades to
urban infrastructure
Map hazards and identify
settlements which face
unacceptable levels of risk
Carry out surveys and
topographic studies Assess the
capacity of water sources
Recommend solutions and
most suitable settlement
options
Estimate costs, and resource
requirements
Implementation
Physical planner
Urban planner
Civil engineer
Architect
Logisticians
Prepare the work programme
and risk management plans
Supervise implementation
Annexes
Global Protection Cluster working Group 2007, Handbook for the Protection of Internally
Displaced Persons, Geneva

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UNHCR 2014, Global Strategy for Settlement and Shelter 2014-2018
Shelter Centre 2010, Shelter after disaster. Strategies for transitional settlement and
reconstruction, Shelter Centre, Geneva
The World Bank, Open Knowledge Repository, Safer homes, stronger communities. a handbook
for reconstructing housing and communities after natural disasters