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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "PL 328"
COURSE NAME: "International Humanitarian Action"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2025
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Viviana De Annuntiis
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MW 6.00 PM 7.15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisites: PL 209
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The course introduces students to humanitarian action, delving into its challenges and opportunities as well as protection needs in response to contemporary crises, such as complex emergencies and natural hazards. It examines debates on how to transform the delivery, coordination and financing of humanitarian action while guaranteeing that affected people’s needs, including those of vulnerable groups, are at its core. Issues such as the depoliticization and neutrality of humanitarian action, and the fostering of inclusive leadership, which are fundamental in contemporary emergencies, are explored.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The course introduces students to humanitarian action, delving into its challenges and opportunities as well as protection needs in response to contemporary crises, such as complex emergencies and natural hazards. It examines debates on how to transform the delivery, coordination and financing of humanitarian action while guaranteeing that affected people’s needs, including those of vulnerable groups, are at its core. Issues such as the depoliticization and neutrality of humanitarian action, and the fostering of inclusive leadership, which are fundamental in contemporary emergencies, are explored. 

 

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT

In 2025, more than 300 million people around the world will need humanitarian assistance and protection, due to conflicts, climate emergencies and other relevant drivers. The central research questions in the course address contemporary debates facing humanitarian practitioners in countries affected by humanitarian crises (such as complex emergencies or natural hazards)

These can be summarized along four major axes:  

1.     Redesign Aid from the Ground Up: Students will have the opportunity to investigate how the humanitarian sector is trying to advance community-centered approaches that empower local actors and ensure aid responds to the priorities of affected populations.

2.     Scale Up Climate Action: Current investment in emergency preparedness and response as well as climate adaptation and resilience efforts will be analyzed, particularly in fragile and conflict settings, where there is the need to break cycles of hunger and vulnerability.

3.     Depoliticize Aid to Restore Credibility: Students will address the debate around “double standards” in humanitarian action and how best to safeguard humanitarian neutrality to rebuild confidence and enhance the effectiveness of aid delivery, especially in the context of complex emergencies. 

4.     Lead Inclusively in Times of Crisis: Strategic, inclusive leadership can inspire trust, amplify diverse views and ensure accountability in the face of growing complexity and scale of today’s challenges.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course, students will be able to:

1.     Demonstrate in-depth understanding of how international humanitarian assistance and protection activities function and how they are implemented.

2.     Critically analyze and evaluate reasons and methods behind the engagement in international humanitarian assistance by various stakeholders.

3.     Implement both theoretical knowledge and practical operational skills to adequately respond to a humanitarian crisis. 

 
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Participation in class discussion 10 %
Role play and class case study  20%
Learning Reinforcer  10 %
Individual Case study analysis  30%
Final Exam The Final Exam will have two parts: 1. Individual Question based on the student’s Case Study selected and developed during the Course. 2. Presentation in class on the student’s answer to the final exam question on the individual Case Study. 30 %

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until ____________
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE

Week 1 - Course Introduction

Examine course objectives and expected outcomes; Analyze the course case study; Review key concepts and principles related to international response to humanitarian crises.

 

Week 2 - Normative Framework for Humanitarian Assistance and Protection

Explore the normative framework; Describe the basic legal framework for humanitarian action;

Apply standards and codes of conduct in humanitarian assistance.

 

Week 3 - Humanitarian Ecosystem

Analyze the humanitarian ecosystem; Identify key actors, missions and mandates; Investigate the Humanitarian Program Cycle (HPC); Apply a mapping technique.

 

Week 4 - Coordination Mechanisms and Structures

Describe key humanitarian coordination mechanisms at global, regional and country levels;

Take part in a cluster system exercise.

 

Week 5 - Tools and Services for Emergency Preparedness and Response

Evaluate key preparedness and response tools and services: VOSOCC, UNDAC, USAR, EMT; Get ready to deploy to the Nepal Earthquake Response; Analyze Disaster Preparedness and Response in Asia-Pacific.

 

Week 6 - Analyzing the Humanitarian Operating Environment in Conflict Settings

Discuss key challenges of international response in conflict settings; Protection of Civilians,

Humanitarian Access; Question the role of Non-State Armed Groups (NSAGs).

 

Week 7 - Humanitarian Civil-Military Coordination (UN-CMCoord)

Recognize the comparative advantage of domestic and foreign military actors in emergencies; Explain key principles guiding the use of foreign military assets in support of humanitarian activities

 

Week 8 - Simulation Exercise

 

Week 9 - Humanitarian Network and Partnership Week (HNPW)

Take part virtually in a unique forum for humanitarian networks and partnerships to meet and address key humanitarian issues.

 

Week 10 - Cross-Cutting Topics (CCTs)

Discuss Protection of Civilians, Cultural Property Protection, Children and Armed Conflict and Women, Peace and Security; Apply CCTs to selected case studies.

 

Week 11 - Humanitarian Access and Securing Humanitarian Activities

Analyze key impediments to humanitarian access; Examine the concept of Human

Security; Appraise the importance of the security of humanitarian personnel.

 

Week 12 - INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION SPEAKER/VISIT

 

Week 13 - Mobilization and Communication

Apply effective mobilizing and influencing techniques in support of humanitarian advocacy

efforts; Identify main communication techniques to achieve coherence and ensure consistency

of the relief efforts.

 

Week 14 - FINAL EXAM