Management and protection of the environment during humanitarian response
Related pages: Humanitarian response funding
| Millennium Development Goal 7: Environment
Summary
This is a work in progress and contains only a limited summary at present.
Please check back for updates during 2007.
DFID has identified a knowledge gap regarding environmental protection and
management during humanitarian disasters. We are therefore currently undertaking
a review to bring together existing sources of environmental guidelines and best
practices applicable in humanitarian situations. This document is a preliminary
summary of current tools and guidelines, and it will be updated throughout 2007
as our review yields results.
Basic environmental mitigation
Environmental considerations affect many aspects of humanitarian response
work. Many operational elements have a direct bearing on the environment whilst
the state of the environment, in turn has a direct bearing on the welfare and
well-being of affected people, whether displaced or resident. Global and
regional environmental challenges, such as climatic variability and extreme
events, often make environmental hazards worse, affecting both immediate
humanitarian operations and prospects for longer-term recovery.
Environmental issues in humanitarian situations are cross-sectoral by nature
and merit consideration in a consistent and coordinated manner. Effective
management relies on a large number of organisations, sometimes more than might
be required for other sectors. With many actors involved, close co-ordination
and collaboration become essential, particularly with the evolution of the
Cluster System of sectoral leads. Environmental management is not a
straightforward process in many situations. However, failures to address a range
of environmental risks or opportunities in a consistent manner undermines the
effectiveness of the responses, poses difficulties in moving from humanitarian
to development phases, and potentially harms the reputations of implementing
agencies and funders for failing to address the issues.
Differing environmental interventions are needed through the life cycle of a
particular humanitarian operation, during emergency, care-and-maintenance and
durable-solutions phases. This, however, needs to be in accordance with the
local context, including institutional, social and economic issues as well as
environmental needs and realities. Proper and timely planning are basic tools to
assist with such integration in a systematic and consistent manner. This,
however, needs to be accompanied by institutional actions that help translate
plans into action. While much progress has been achieved, humanitarian
programming processes need to give consistent consideration to environmental
issues in budgets, monitoring and implementation.
 Back to top
Guidelines and Tools
The Red Cross Code of Conduct (Principle 8) stresses the need to pay
particular attention to environmental issues in the design and management of
relief programmes as part of reducing vulnerability and addressing basic needs.
The minimal preventive actions of the Sphere Standards aim to secure the
life-supporting functions of the environment, and promote the resilience of
natural systems. These are intended both to minimise environmental hazards
during operations and reduce potential for conflict over access to environmental
assets and services among affected people during emergencies. This approach is
also intended to help in establishing conditions that allow people to live with
good health, dignity, comfort and security. Many of the Sphere standards and
technical guidance notes relate to water supply, sanitation, hygiene,
vector-borne disease, sharps management and infection control, food security,
fuel needs, the natural resource base for livelihoods, and aspects relating to
shelter and construction.
Back to top
Environmental Assessment tools
In addition there are two relevant options for environmental assessments.
These are the Rapid Environmental Assessment (REA), and the Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA). The REA is designed for emergency response. The EIA is more
suited for a longer term scenario and should be done as part of the ongoing
phase of work or far large new projects. These should feed into the planning
process through the development of an Environmental Action Plan.
Case studies
DFID Sustainable Development Group
Policy Division
December 2006
|
Directgov |
in the context of resource based conflict in Tanzania – showing linkages
between relief, environment and resource based conflict