Working Group on Shelter Vulnerability Classification

Shelter Severity Classification System

Overview

There is currently no agreed upon methodology to classify the nature and severity of vulnerability in the shelter sector. As a result, it is difficult to compare vulnerability between different situations, the quality of analysis varies from country to country and even though needs assessments are often undertaken, it is not always clear on what information strategic decisions are ultimately based.

This lack of clarity is problematic because such a classification does not only inform strategic decisions such as response options, it could also determine the source and scale of funding, the type of planning process and the roles of different stakeholders. This means that its absence can lead to misallocations of scarce resources, and in the worst case scenario, even loss of lives.

This Working Group will develop a vulnerability classification methodology for the shelter sector based on existing good practice from country-level clusters and available research at global level. The output of this Working Group contributes directly to Strategic Area 3 (Evidence-Based Response) of GSC’s Strategy 2018-2022 and is an enabler for Strategic Area 2 (Advocacy).

The methodology will take into account existing norms from relevant initiatives in both the public sector (such as the right to adequate housing) and private sector (such as the insurance industry) and span the divide between humanitarian and development contexts. As a result, broad buy-in and applicability in both preparedness, post-crisis humanitarian situations, and other contexts will be ensured.

The aim is to develop the methodology within a first 2 year phase. Further activities, such as development and roll-out of training and piloting in different countries and contexts, can be done in a second phase of another 2 years.
 

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Coordination Team
Neil Bauman
GFP - Coordination, Information Management
IFRC
Camilla Wuensch
GSC Roving IMO
UNHCR
Hussien Ahmad
Global Focal Point - Information Management
UNHCR
Fredrick Hanga
GSC Roving IMO
UNHCR