Nutrition in Emergencies

Overview

Course summary

Are you interested in learning how to deliver nutritional support services to people affected by humanitarian disasters? This intensive week-long training course gives an overview of current best practice in nutrition and food security in emergencies.

It will provide you with the knowledge and skills to improve your practice and help you prepare for the complexity and the reality of working in an emergency context. It is particularly suitable for people who wish to consolidate their knowledge and experience and who are keen to learn from and with others.

Who is this course for?

The course is aimed at staff of UN agencies, NGOs and national ministries of health in countries that are regularly affected by emergencies. Health workers, nutritionists, doctors, nurses as well as programme managers are encouraged to apply.

You do not need any formal academic qualifications for entry as we value experience. You will be taught by practitioners from a wide range of backgrounds including international NGOs, teaching and research institutes, all of whom have substantial expertise within the sector.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course you will be able to:

• identify different types of malnutrition including micronutrient deficiencies

• draw on a conceptual framework for the causes of malnutrition

• define food security and outline the most frequently used methods to measure it

• understand the complexity and utility of anthropometric nutrition surveys

• consider a range of interventions and be able to discuss their effectiveness, including infant and young child feeding, community management of acute malnutrition, inter-sectoral interventions, cash transfers and general ration distribution

• discuss global trends on nutrition in emergencies and the global significance and impact of undernutrition

Course structure

The course aims to provide an overview of nutrition during humanitarian emergencies.

The topics studied will include:

• a general review of the different types of malnutrition

• their direct and underlying causes

• measuring malnutrition at the population and individual levels

• common nutritional interventions

Complementary issues addressed include:

• food security

• the Sphere guidelines

• new guidelines for infant and young child feeding

The course content is based on the Harmonised Training Package of the Global Nutrition Cluster, the Lancet 2013 Nutrition series and Global Health and Nutrition policies agreed at the World Health Assembly in Geneva. Guest lecturers from the Nutrition Cluster, ACF, Save the Children and MSF will also present sessions during the week.

Accreditation 

The participants will receive a Certificate of Attendance from the University of Westminster.

This course can now lead to 20 Level 7 credits if participants achieve a 50% rate in their two optional assessments.

Please note we are not currently offering scholarships for the above-mentioned course.