Field Tool for Category I Humanitarian Repairs in Ukraine

This Field Tool is a concise, clickable operational guide for partners implementing Category I Humanitarian Repairs.

Category I repairs are defined as light and medium repairs addressing non‑structural damage only, aimed at restoring minimum habitability and the thermal envelope of war‑damaged housing. This tool translates the Shelter Cluster SOP into a practical, field‑usable guidance for assessment, decision‑making, coordination, implementation, and closure.

This Field Tool was developed by RedR UK as a simplified operational guide, based on the SOP developed by the Ukraine Shelter Cluster Technical Working Group (TWIG), under the leadership and coordination of the Shelter Cluster Ukraine.

Why it matters

Ukraine’s humanitarian housing repair response involves hundreds of organisations, local authorities, contractors, and community actors working across different regions and operational contexts. While the Shelter Cluster SOP provides the governing framework for Category I Humanitarian Repairs, field teams often need rapid, practical guidance to support day-to-day decision-making.

This Field Tool translates the SOP into a concise, operational resource that can be used by engineers, social assessors, programme teams, coordinators, and contractors. It helps users quickly navigate key decisions on eligibility, damage classification, technical assessment, coordination requirements, scope of works, quality control, accessibility, and safety considerations.

By providing a clear and consistent reference point, the tool supports:

• More consistent application of Shelter Cluster guidance across partners and locations;
• Faster and more confident field-level decision-making;
• Improved coordination with local authorities and state compensation mechanisms;
• Better quality assurance and accountability throughout the repair process;
• Safe and appropriate targeting of humanitarian housing repair assistance.

Developed by RedR UK in close collaboration with the Shelter Cluster in Ukraine Technical Working Group (TWIG), the tool aims to strengthen the quality, consistency, and accountability of Category I Humanitarian Repairs across Ukraine’s humanitarian response.