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.

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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.

• More guidance is available from the Benfield UCL Hazard Research Centre website

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.

• Sphere project on water supply
• Sphere project on environmental impact of settlements
• Water aid’s lessons learnt document on water in the context of resource based conflict in Tanzania – showing linkages between relief, environment and resource based conflict
• The UNHCR 2005 Environmental Guidelines and related Framework for Assessing, Monitoring and Evaluating the Environment in Refugee-related Operations set out principles relating to the need for an integrated approach, prevention before cure, cost-effectiveness and net benefit maximisation, and local participation. These apply to the emergency, care and maintenance and durable solutions/recovery phases and require budgeting and coordination.
• UNHCR: Refugee operations and environmental management: Key principles for decision making
• Guidance on infection management, healthcare waste management and management of unwanted pharmaceuticals is available at http://www.injectionsafety.org and http://www.healthcarewaste.org. A WHO summary of recommended minimal actions in emergencies is also available.

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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 study application: Rapid Environmental Assessment of Kalma and Otash and Bajoum camps
• Principles of EIA
• A useful guide on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) developed by IUCN for their work in on water in Somalia is available

Case studies

• Tearfund study - Darfur: Relief in a vulnerable environment

DFID Sustainable Development Group
Policy Division
December 2006