Section outline

  • Welcome

    Welcome to the humanitarian toolbox. Here you'll find a selection of tools, courses, and ressources related to humanitarian work of relevance to CISU members. All elements have been curated by humanitarian experts at CISU. The individual elements have been developed by CISU or other organisations and are available on Fabo for free.

    Please note that some courses require login. Creating a fabo user profile is free for everyone and will allow you to keep track of your activity and receive certificates for your learning. If you experience any issues creating a profile or accessing a course, please write to CISU Advisor Theis Dencker, at tde@cisu.dk

  • Humanitarian standards, preparedness, relief, recovery & development

    • chs pic

      - Level: Intermediate
      - Duration: Approx. 1 ½ hours, 6 modules
      - Type: Mixed learning

      A very decent, comprehensive course to familiarise yourself with the Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS) and its 9 commitments uploaded by Danish and Swedish Church Aid organisations. The course includes assessment/quizzes and provides short learning videos exemplifying the various commitments.

      link to act hum

      - Level: Introductory-advanced
      - Duration: n/a
      - Type:  Resource site

      ACT Alliance members’ introductory toolkit to the ACT Humanitarian Mechanism (Policies, Guidelines, Tools & Resources). Of particular relevance for non-ACT Alliance members are the sections:  3.2: EXTERNAL RESOURCES – In this section, members will find links to guidance and resources which are useful for programming and implementing humanitarian responses. These include the Humanitarian Principles, the Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS), The Sphere Project (Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response) and the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) guidelines and handbooks.


      link to external site

      - Level: Introductory-advanced
      - Duration: n/a
      - Type: Resource site

      The training provides a background and knowledge on disaster and emergency planning. The course consists of 9 modules directed at programme and project staff detailing how to prepare to respond to disasters by outlining a structured emergency preparedness and response planning process.


      link to drr training

      - Level: Introductory-advanced
      - Duration: n/a
      - Type:  Resource site

      The course refers to ‘natural hazards’ (i.e. non-conflict) and presents key skills for working with Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). A really good and thorough look into the concepts (hazard, risk, vulnerability & capacity) and practical application of DRR. Three modules lasting a total of approximately 3 hrs consisting of blended learning with short videos, descriptions, definitions, quizzes and further references. Although DRR arguably relates more to preparedness, recovery and development programming, its components are very much linked to humanitarian assistance in the wake of natural disasters. Efforts to bridge or link emergency relief with recovery and development interventions are often viewed as key in addressing sustainability of humanitarian assistance provided. The course introduces the concepts of the Disaster Risk Cycle, Disaster Cycle/Timeline, Vulnerability Capacity Assessment (VCA) and selected Participatory Rapid Appraisal (PRA) tools.


      link to extenal cbps course- Level: Introductory-intermediate
      - Duration: n/a
      - Type: On-demand training

      This learning site gateway contains 3 individual modules on Community-based Psychosocial Support (CBPS). Introduction module to CBPS; Practical application and integration of participatory CBPS in projects and the 6 core principles of CBPS and how to approach CBPS monitoring & evaluation practices.

      link to external site- Level: Introductory-advanced
      - Duration: n/a
      - Type: Resource site

      This Community of Practice (CoP) is an open learning platform for DCA and ACT colleagues, partners and other resilience actors engaged in promoting resilience and sustainable production systems. We share policy discussions, global trends, local solutions, innovative ideas, challenges, and other important information from community members to generate valuable insights and implementation of best practice in techniques and methods. Our vision is for communities to become economic, social, and environmental resilient – and to influence decision-makers on livelihoods.



      link to external resource

      - Level: Introductory-advanced
      - Duration: n/a
      - Type: Resource

      The environmental and climate emergency will have considerable impact on the planning and implementation of future interventions, and therefore it is crucial for environmental protection and sustainability to become part of humanitarian responses. This requires cooperation, transparency, and the exchange of good practises. This European Commission Compendium showcases 12 environmentally friendly and innovative projects that have been successfully implemented by various humanitarian organisations. In addition to indicating the technical and financial requirements, the compendium also assesses the advantages, challenges and lessons learned in the framework of each project. As such, the aim is to raise awareness of the existing tools and guidance, and of the numerous good practises that have been piloted by humanitarian organisations.

      - Level: Introductory-advanced
      - Duration: n/a
      - Type: Resource

      Numerous links to the ACT Alliance’s learning resources related to Human Rights Based Approaches (HRBA). The site is a follow-on from the ACT Alliance’s Gender Inclusive HRBA online learning experience and contains facilitator notes, guides, videos, past course schedule and a modular overview with links to further learning / reading.


  • Safeguarding, risk management, nexus

    • link to external site

      - Level: Introductory-advanced
      - Duration: n/a
      - Type: Resource site

      This hub provides tools, guidance, and data on Peace and Human Security related themes including gender and conflict Sensitivity, Do No Harm, peacebuilding, mediation, dialogue facilitation, reconciliation, conflict sensitive COVID-19 responses and other areas. An additional forum is also available for users to post questions and directly discuss views. Kindly note that this resource has been developed for the ACT Alliance in collaboration with DCA and the ACT Reference Group on Peace & Human Security.

      - Level: Introductory-advanced
      - Duration: n/a
      - Type: Resource site

      The current COVID 19 global crisis is immense in scale and scope, yet the full implications of its impact are still to be understood.  This site is a free resource for organisations (both local and global) that seek to explore how COVID 19 may affect the way we work, so that we can Do No Harm, Do Some Good, and if possible, contribute to sustainable Peace. Kindly note that this resource, including the guidance on religious actors, has been developed for the ACT Alliance in collaboration with DCA, NCA and the ACT Reference Group on Peace & Human Security. 


      - Level: Introductory-advanced
      - Duration: n/a
      - Type: Resource site

      The course seeks to convey an overall understanding of what, why and how DCA works with Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding as well as providing an introductory framework for DCA staff addressing contextual conflict drivers in fragile contexts. Providing a background on conflict sensitivity, the course is comprehensive in outlining the characteristics of conflict sensitivity and Do No Harm (Do Some Good) approaches and principles. The course also provides useful links to DCA’s Conflict Sensitivity & Do No Harm Action Guide, the DCA Facilitator Guide to Conflict Sensitivity, the DCA Conflict Sensitivity Toolkit and a Sample Conflict Sensitivity Rapid Analysis Template as well as links to comprehensive further reading/bibliography.

      - Level: Introductory-advanced
      - Duration: n/a
      - Type: Resource site

      This is a e-Learning training for teachers of children. It will give you an essential understanding of dangerous items and areas and how to behave in a safe way. The knowledge acquired in the training is meant to be used with the Risk Education - Tool kit to teach children in current or former conflict areas to be safe. This English version of the training is mostly meant for stakeholders to get an idea of how the training works. The training will take approximately 50 minutes to complete.



      - Level: Introductory-advanced
      - Duration: n/a
      - Type: Resource site

      The purpose of this site is to help you facilitate a conversation in project partnerships about how to prevent sexual misconduct, which includes harassment, exploitation, and abuse (PSHEA stands for Preventing Sexual Harassment, Exploitation, and Abuse). The site can be used by all members in a project collaboration: management, staff, and volunteers. The site features 4 categories: 1. What is PSHEA; 2. PSHEA essentials; 3. Work with PSHEA in your project & 4. About and feedback. The learning site contains a short, 5-minute familiarisation option (video) or a longer, 30-minute learning engagement embracing three modules: 1. Tools for preventing sexual misconduct in project planning and monitoring, 2. Workshop exercises to discuss prevention of sexual misconduct & 3. Conversation guide to sensitively discuss sexual misconduct.

      - Level: Introductory-advanced
      - Duration: n/a
      - Type: Resource site

      The course is a guide to expected staff behaviour, and it will give you advice and direction for the right conduct in difficult situations. We all have a common obligation to behave appropriately and to prevent misconduct in the way we work. This includes the prevention of corruption, fraud, exploitation and sexual abuse and to ensure that no child is harmed in any shape or form.


  • Cash-Based Assistance & Gender Equality and Social Inclusion

    - Level: Introductory-advanced
    - Duration: n/a
    - Type: Online learning (via KAYA Connect)

    KAYA Connect is a free humanitarian learning platform which offers hundreds of training opportunities across a range of key topics, including the humanitarian essentials, hereunder a comprehensive e-learning module on cash training, built using an authoring tool and packaged within a ZIP folder. (link) In English, French, and Arabic.

    - Level: Introductory-advanced
    - Duration: n/a
    - Type: Community of Practice

    Cash and Voucher Assistance Community of Practice (CoP) resource site. No direct learning but more a resource for exchange of best practice, discussions, and links to external learning sites.


    - Level: Introductory-advanced
    - Duration: n/a
    - Type: Online course

    In an emergency where access is difficult, or severely restricted, how do you decide if a Cash Transfer Programme (CTP) is appropriate? This course will walk you through the evaluation process and give you the tools you need to make an informed decision. It is available in English, French and in Arabic so that you can share it with your partner and field staff in hard-to-reach areas. It is designed for situations when sticking to normal best practice is impossible. The course is available online as well as offline.


    - Level: Introductory-advanced
    - Duration: n/a
    - Type: Online course

    This short introductory learning course is primarily meant for ACT Alliance partners who are engaging in Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) and humanitarian programmes to increasingly develop gender-responsive programmes. Learners will be able to integrate gender mainstreaming, and manage GBV risk mitigation, prevention, and response in the programmes.



    - Level: n/a
    - Duration: n/a
    - Type: Case study

    Not an actual training course but the sharing of a case study report on findings in connection with understanding and addressing the Digital Financial Services’ (DFS) needs of refugees and host communities in Kenya (Kakuma and Kalobeyei) and Uganda (Bidibidi, Imvepi and Rhino).

    - Level: Introductory
    - Duration: 15 minutes
    - Type: Online course

    The course is a short, 15-minute basic introduction to including persons with disabilities in development work, but also with relevance for any humanitarian action. This learning site is structured into 4 parts: Welcome and "Why?" (5 minutes), What can be done? (5 minutes), Practical tools for programme planning and policy making (5 minutes) and links to further resources.


    - Level: Introductory
    - Duration: 1.5 hrs
    - Type: Online course

    The training consists of two modules and takes approximately 1.5 hours to complete. The first module is an Introduction, the second module is on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support.