A Reliable Knowledge Base for a Deeper Understanding of Humanitarian Work

Issued by the Global Protection Cluster in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), this guidance provides a comprehensive framework for directing humanitarian actors in the protection of internally displaced persons (IDPs) throughout all phases of displacement. The document outlines a structured and holistic methodology for risk analysis, enabling the identification of threats faced by individuals and communities—whether these risks are immediate and individual in nature or systemic and rooted in broader social and political dynamics.
The guidance places strong emphasis on strengthening community-based protection as a means of enhancing local resilience, supporting community-led initiatives, and promoting inclusive participation. It also underscores the importance of multi-sectoral coordination to ensure coherent and comprehensive responses, while advocating for a rights-based approach that upholds dignity, ensures non-discrimination, and reinforces accountability to affected populations. Overall, the guidance serves as both a practical and strategic foundation for developing effective protection programs that address both the urgent and structural needs of internally displaced persons.

The “UNHCR Emergency Handbook” is a fundamental operational and field-oriented reference that enhances the capacity of humanitarian personnel - particularly staff of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees - to prepare for and respond effectively to emergencies arising from forced displacement. The handbook provides an integrated set of immediate, practical guidelines covering a broad range of critical areas, including protection, shelter, site and camp planning, water and sanitation management, food assistance, health services, inter-agency coordination, and staff safety and well-being.
Initially published as a printed edition in 1982, the handbook underwent a comprehensive redevelopment process in its fourth edition in 2015, transforming it into an interactive digital platform. This evolution enabled it to function as a dynamic reference that keeps pace with operational needs and strengthens field effectiveness in responding to humanitarian crises.

This framework represents the first official document issued by the Commission in 2007 to strengthen institutional accountability in mainstreaming age, gender, and diversity considerations within humanitarian action. It was developed in response to the need for a structured organizational mechanism that ensures humanitarian interventions are aligned with normative principles that recognize differences among individuals and promote equitable and fair access to protection and services.
The framework is built on an institutional system grounded in measurable, practical indicators designed to facilitate periodic assessments of performance across the Commission’s various units. It also emphasizes active engagement by senior staff and leadership to ensure that age, gender, and diversity dimensions are integrated as core components of planning, implementation, and monitoring processes. Beyond setting operational requirements, the framework incorporates structured mechanisms for tracking progress, fostering institutional learning, and promoting transparent and accountable leadership.
Through its comprehensive guidance, the framework aims to ensure that humanitarian interventions are more responsive to the diverse needs of individuals of different ages, genders, and backgrounds. Ultimately, it contributes to enhancing the quality of humanitarian programs and strengthening institutional adherence to inclusive and equitable practices.

The Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action, issued by the Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action, constitute a comprehensive reference framework comprising twenty-eight standards designed to ensure a coordinated, effective, and accountable child protection response during humanitarian crises. These standards support all phases of humanitarian action - from preparedness to response and recovery - and are crafted to be applicable across diverse sectors and operational contexts.
The 2019 edition places particular emphasis on localization and strengthening local capacities, enhancing intersectoral collaboration, and promoting accountability to children and affected communities. It also provides practical guidance for integrating child protection considerations into all aspects of humanitarian planning and programming, thereby improving the quality of interventions and ensuring holistic protection for children at risk.

These standards were developed by the Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies (GBV AoR) Task Team with the aim of enhancing the quality, effectiveness, and coordination of humanitarian interventions dedicated to preventing and responding to gender-based violence. These standards serve as a reference framework comprising sixteen interconnected criteria that outline the essential actions and best practices that humanitarian actors should adhere to. This framework contributes to mitigating potential risks, ensuring responses that are centered on the needs and rights of survivors, and integrating protection considerations clearly from the early stages of program design and implementation.
The 2019 edition places particular emphasis on strengthening effective leadership, activating community participation, and ensuring women's and girls' access to equitable, safe, high-quality, and needs-responsive services, thereby enhancing institutional and community capacities to prevent gender-based violence and address its impacts across diverse humanitarian contexts.

The UNHCR Handbook for the Protection of Women and Girls, issued in January 2008 by the Division of International Protection Services of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), serves as a comprehensive reference framework guiding interventions aimed at safeguarding the rights and well-being of displaced women and girls. The handbook examines a range of structural and emergency-related challenges - most notably gender-based violence in its various forms, as well as the discrimination and inequalities that are often exacerbated in humanitarian settings.
It offers practical strategies and field-tested approaches, in addition to outlining relevant international and national legal frameworks that constitute essential tools for protecting vulnerable populations. The handbook also emphasizes the importance of community-based and participatory approaches that ensure the meaningful involvement of women and girls in planning, implementation, and monitoring processes. It is intended for protection staff within UNHCR and its partner organizations, with the aim of strengthening their capacity to deliver effective responses that uphold human dignity, promote participation, and support empowerment across different displacement contexts.

The Inter-Agency Guidelines on Child Protection Case Management (2014) constitute a comprehensive reference designed to support frontline practitioners, supervisors, and managers operating in humanitarian emergencies by providing a systematic framework for implementing case management for children at risk. Developed by the Child Protection Working Group to complement Standard 15 of the Child Protection Minimum Standards (CPMS), the guidelines aim to harmonize professional practices across different organizations involved in child protection.
The document outlines six core stages of the case management process: identification and registration of at-risk children; comprehensive assessment of the child's needs; development of an individualized intervention plan; implementation of the agreed-upon actions in coordination with service providers; regular follow-up to ensure the effectiveness of interventions; and case closure based on clearly defined criteria and achievement of set objectives.
The guidelines further emphasize a set of fundamental principles that underpin effective child protection work in crisis contexts, including the best interests of the child, non-discrimination, prior informed consent, confidentiality and data protection, and the active participation of children and their families throughout all phases of the case management process. Ultimately, these guidelines seek to ensure that humanitarian interventions are organized, rights-based, transparent, and accountable to affected children and their communities.

The Sphere Shelter and Settlement Standards outlined in the Sphere Handbook (4th Edition, 2018) constitute an internationally recognized framework that provides a set of measurable benchmarks designed to ensure the provision of safe, dignified, and adequate shelter for individuals and communities affected by humanitarian crises. These standards address a broad spectrum of essential components related to shelter provision, ranging from site planning and the allocation of appropriate living space, to the supply of shelter materials and household items, and ensuring adequate levels of safety and protection. They also reaffirm the right to adequate housing as a fundamental human right.
The standards further examine the environmental impacts associated with shelter interventions, encouraging the use of sustainable materials and practices that reduce environmental footprints and support the preservation of local resources. Emphasis is also placed on community participation throughout all stages of shelter response - from needs assessments and culturally appropriate design processes to implementation that strengthens beneficiaries’ sense of ownership and involvement.
Aligned with core humanitarian protection principles, the standards underscore the importance of ensuring safety, privacy, and dignity, particularly for groups at heightened risk such as women, children, older persons, and people with disabilities. They also highlight the necessity of coordination with other relevant sectors - including cash and voucher assistance, local markets, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services - to promote integrated responses grounded in a comprehensive understanding of affected populations’ needs. Through these standards, the Sphere Handbook provides practitioners with clear, actionable guidance to support effective planning, implementation, and monitoring of shelter interventions in the field.

The Shelter Projects Handbook, published by the Global Shelter Cluster, serves as a comprehensive practical reference that documents more than sixty shelter interventions implemented across diverse humanitarian contexts worldwide. This handbook stands as a key resource for enhancing understanding of shelter responses and improving the design and implementation of effective, adaptable interventions.
Designed to support a broad range of humanitarian actors - including planners, implementers, and both local and international organizations - the handbook provides guidance for developing shelter responses that can adjust to the evolving dynamics of crises. It places strong emphasis on several foundational principles, notably sound planning based on rigorous contextual analysis, meaningful community participation, and the consideration of cultural and social diversity among affected populations.
The handbook enriches practice by presenting an extensive collection of case studies categorized by intervention type, such as emergency shelter, transitional shelter, rental assistance, rehabilitation, and other context-specific solutions. These case studies capture successful practices, recurring challenges, and lessons learned, offering models that can be replicated or adapted in similar settings.
Ultimately, the Shelter Projects Handbook constitutes an essential tool for knowledge exchange and capacity strengthening within the shelter sector. It contributes to improving quality, fostering innovation, and informing strategic policy and operational decision-making in humanitarian shelter responses.

The guidelines issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) provide a comprehensive and integrated framework for planning and implementing shelter and settlement interventions in contexts of forced displacement. Reflecting extensive operational experience, the handbook offers a structured set of principles that address the spatial, technical, and social dimensions of creating safe and adequate living environments for refugees and internally displaced populations.
The guidelines include detailed directions on spatial planning and site selection, emphasizing safety considerations, accessibility, environmental impact, and resource sustainability. They also outline key aspects of settlement design, such as road layout, service distribution, and communal living spaces, ensuring both efficient land use and strengthened social cohesion within and between refugee and host communities.
A core component of the guidelines is the adoption of participatory approaches that involve refugees in all stages of shelter-related decision-making. Such engagement fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility while ensuring that proposed solutions align with the cultural and practical needs of the affected population. The document also reinforces a rights-based approach, underscoring refugees’ entitlement to safe and dignified shelter and addressing the specific needs of vulnerable groups, including women, children, older persons, and individuals with disabilities.
Furthermore, the guidelines highlight the importance of coordination and integration between the shelter sector and other humanitarian sectors - such as water and sanitation, health, education, and protection - to ensure holistic and sustainable responses. Collectively, these principles aim to support the development of interventions that effectively meet the needs of displaced populations while upholding dignity, promoting sustainability, and enhancing resilience in the face of evolving humanitarian challenges.