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The Engineering in Emergencies handbook third edition

We’re preparing to publish this seminal publication in humanitarian engineering, 24 years after the last edition.
Engineer in high vis jacket walks through street destroyed by February 2023 earthquake in Turkiye.

A people-centred, risk-informed, rights-based third edition

We are coordinating a wide range of expert voices and technical specialists, including humanitarian engineers from engineering firms Arup, Mott MacDonald, WSP, and Buro Happold.

    

Branding from the Engineering in Emergencies handbook second edition

We’ve shifted the tone for the third edition

Affected communities and field engineers have relied upon the first and second editions for valuable practical information to support them in humanitarian response. Engineering in Emergencies has remained a consistent seller, and demand continues for an accessible, concise, practical resource in this area.  

 

Surveys indicate, however, that the resource needs comprehensive updating, as well as availability in online/electronic formats.    

 

While previous editions were designed to support international aid workers, we’ve adapted the focus of the third edition to serve the purposes of an engineer local to the country in crisis, who is pivoting from everyday projects to responding in a disaster context. Its crucial to support these professionals with the supplemental technical knowledge they may need to respond in an emergency – but more significantly, to equip them with the mindset and understanding given through humanitarian standards, principles, and approach to enable them to respond effectively in such an abnormal situation.  

 

Engineering in Emergencies provides professional guidance on planning and management, as a significant increase in emphasis from the previous editions. This contributes to the professionalisation and long-term capacity of the sector, ensuring best planning and management practice is in place. The third edition also outlines guidance to help responders integrate skills from different specialisms, giving guidance to help professionals respond most appropriately in context. 

 

With this third edition, RedR is enhancing community level preparedness and resilience to future disasters around the world through humanitarian engineering, equipping better informed responders to prepare, respond and recover from disasters. We anticipate an increased number of communities who can successfully implement appropriate, reliable, technically sound, sustainable solutions to engineering problems in disaster response and risk reduction. We’re working for a subsequent reduction in anticipated risks to communities through safe and improved water supplies, sanitation, shelter, access, and anticipate a continuation of worldwide sales of the resource in electronic and hard copy formats.   

 

The book will be available in several formats

 

With our publishers and partners at Practical Action, the third edition will be available both in print and online, ready to provide responders with up-to-date expertise with a changed tone to reflect the foregrounded perspective and leadership of affected communities and responders at local, rather than international level.  

 

We’re also seeking to develop training modules based on the content of the third edition, to further support the learning of humanitarian engineers. 

 

Humanitarian engineering matters

 

Engineering skills across many fields are absolutely vital in emergency post-disaster contexts. All kinds of expertise may be needed. Engineers should be empowered to take their place in response efforts, and equipped in humanitarian skills, principles, standards, and approaches. This will enable them to apply their skills in this emergency context, for the benefit of affected communities.  

 

The third edition champions locally-led approaches

 

The ethos of the resource will ensure that the expertise it offers strengthens resilience by foregrounding disaster-affected people. Those providing technical assistance must ensure the rights of disaster-affected people are upheld, and that they are supported in managing the risks they face. Humanitarian engineers should take the time to understand both the capacities (knowledge, skills, and resources) and skills of the affected community. They should deliver community-led support. 

 

The third edition reflects global expertise in a process of knowledge sharing, ensuring that disaster responders have access to the best expertise gained in a range of contexts worldwide, equipped to contextualise their own work supporting disaster-affected people in whichever way is best for that particular context.  

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