Instituto Politécnico de Tomar

Candidaturas abertas para Pacote de Formação REI: CB + Micros (REI) até 28 de fevereiro de 2026 | Candidata-te aqui

In recent decades, the world has witnessed a combination of protracted armed conflicts, climate shocks, forced displacement, and a weakening of international institutions and relations. These phenomena have amplified the scale and complexity of humanitarian emergencies, affecting tens of millions of people. At the same time, the professionalization of humanitarian action and the global commitments made in the 2030 Agenda have made the international emergency response a highly technical, multidisciplinary domain with increasing demands for quality, effectiveness, and efficiency standards.
The international response to natural disasters and armed conflicts requires professionals capable of understanding the fundamentals of the humanitarian system, international emergency response mechanisms, ethical responsibilities, as well as the technological innovations that are transforming the way the sector works.

The aim is for students to have an integrated view of the international emergency response and the practical skills needed to operate in volatile, complex, and high-pressure environments.

Objectives

Based on the emergency response cycle: prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery, this course aims to provide an understanding of the principles, actors, and practices that guide contemporary humanitarian action.

By the end of the course, students are expected to:

- Understand the conceptual and institutional framework of international humanitarian action, including principles, norms, technical standards, and coordination mechanisms.

- Develop a sensitivity to the ethics of humanitarian action and the principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence.

- Develop the ability to analyze different types of crises (natural, economic, armed conflicts), including impacts on the affected population, and coordination between national systems and international humanitarian response.

- Recognize the growing role of technological innovations such as satellites, drones, maps, blockchain, and artificial intelligence in humanitarian operations.

Professional Goals

Skills to be developed for:

- Humanitarian workers, municipal and national Civil Protection service employees, armed forces and security personnel interested in participating in international emergency response missions.

Condições de Acesso

Aulas em regime síncrone (Plataforma Teams)

Sessão de Abertura e apresentação:

13 março 2026

Inicio das aulas:

16 de março de 2026

Término: 22 de maio de 2026

Formador: Pedro Matos

Curricular plan

1º Ano

Plano curricular
Cód.	UC	Area	ECTS		Lecturer
Cód.	UC	Area	Obg.	Opt.	Lecturer
Anual
41473	Food Distribution		2		Rita Anastácio (1)
41471	Fundamentals of Humanitarian Action		2		Rita Anastácio (1)
41474	Innovation and Technology in Service of Humanitarian Action		2		Rita Anastácio (1)
41472	Operationalizing an Emergency Response		2		Rita Anastácio (1)