Education

IFRC Training courses

Updated 02 July 2021

IFRC Disaster Law has launched four new online trainings, available in Arabic, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

The first two modules are 30-minute courses on disaster law entitled An Introduction to International Disaster Response Law and Introduction to Disaster Preparedness and Response Law.

The third module on Strengthening the Auxiliary Role through Law and Policy is a 30-minute course based on the Auxiliary Guide.

Finally, a fourth 90-minute module on advocacy is entitled Getting Ready for Red Cross and Red Crescent Advocacy.

Phoebe Rahn, Australian Red Cross volunteer, gave the disaster law courses a five-star rating, and had this to say about the course on International Disaster Response Law: “Great content presented in a really engaging and interactive way. The language used is easy to understand and provides a comprehensive introduction to International Disaster Response Law.”

How to register

These new courses are featured on the Training page of the IFRC Disaster Law website, they are free of charge and open to the public - just sign up with an IFRC Learning Platform account.

University courses

Selected disaster law courses offered around the world:

Australian Disaster Law (Australian National University, Australia)

The course is designed to ensure that students gain a comprehensive understanding of common features, and differences, in the relevant law across the Australian jurisdictions. With this understanding students will be able to critically analyse the law, identify how current law and policy hinders, or helps, the Australian community to live with natural hazards, in particular fire, and make informed proposals for law and policy reform.

Disaster Law and Climate Adaption (The University of Melbourne, Australia)

This subject covers the multi-scalar legal response to disasters involving international treaties and soft-law instruments, national and regional regulation, and private law (torts and contract), and encompassing climate change adaptation, emergency management, environmental liability, insurance and human rights. It will examine approaches to prepare for, avoid or minimise disaster impacts, and to respond effectively and equitably post-event.

Master of Disaster Management Programme (University of Copenhagen, Denmark)

The Master of Disaster Management aims to provide government, international, and civil society organisations with professionals equipped with a solid interdisciplinary knowledge base and skills that can meet the increasing demands and expectations from those who work in the humanitarian field.

International and European Disaster Law Module (Roma Tre University, Italy)

This is a multi-day module designed to provide participants with comprehensive knowledge of the legal issues related to the activities of international actors, and the EU in particular, in the Disaster Cycle Management.

Master of Disaster Risk and Resilience (University of Canterbury, New Zealand)

This Master's degree is designed to provide an introduction to the rapidly evolving interdisciplinary field of disaster risk reduction. It has a strong focus on the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.

Master of Emergency Management (Massey University, New Zealand)

Focuses on different elements of emergency management issues in order to understand how to organise communities to respond to hazards and disasters. Taught in association with academics and researchers at the NZ Joint Centre for Disaster Research.

Master of Disaster Management (University of Auckland, New Zealand)

This course focuses on disaster resilience and risk reduction, largely from a science and engineering perspective. However, there is an element of environmental law that is also taught.

Global Crisis, Conflict and Disaster Management (University of Reading, United Kingdom)

Examines the role of global law, policy, and practice relating to conflicts and peacetime disasters (such as earthquakes, wildfires, and pandemics). It further considers significant crises not escalating to the scale of conflict or disaster, as well as complex emergencies. Available to law and non-law graduates, including professionals engaged in humanitarian aid and disaster prevention and management.

Disaster Law, Emergency Preparedness and Response (Pace University, United States)

This course applies case studies (including Hurricane Harvey, Maria and Irma, wildfires in California, and 9/11 - to explore the United States framework for disaster response and recovery, the policy choices involved in reducing vulnerability, and the complexities of federalism in action. The course also includes global perspectives on disasters.