Ateneo - UPO

The course will provide a rigorous theoretical framework for analyzing disaster risk and insurance at both private and public levels, as well as the management of disaster consequences.
It will be structured into three parts. The first part will focus on defining disaster risk, analyzing relevant data, and examining the unique characteristics of both the demand and supply sides of the disaster insurance market. The second part will focus on the design and implementation of humanitarian programs. The third part of the course will cover key topics related to poverty, including its measurement, ethical considerations in poverty reduction, and effective strategies such as social protection and education to mitigate its impact.

Part I – on Disaster Risk and Insurance (F. Coda Moscarola)
The reading material will be provided by the Instructor. The slides of each lesson and any supplementary material will be uploaded to DIR at the end of each class.

Part II - on Humanitarian Programs (E.Bruni)
Main references:
UN OCHA Humanitarian Programme Cycle Guide https://www.unocha.org/publications/report/world/01-step-step-guide-humanitarian-programme-cycle-2023-may-2022
The Good Enough Guide: Impact Measurement and Needs Assessment in Emergencies – Emergency Capacity Building Project (https://reliefweb.int/report/world/humanitarian-needs-assessment-good-enough-guide-0 )
UNHCR Needs Assessment Handbook – United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) https://www.unhcr.org/handbooks/assessment/sites/assessment/files/2023-10/UNHCR%20Needs%20Assessment%20Handbook.pdf
Coordinated Needs Assessment in Humanitarian Crises: Guidance and Tools – UN OCHA https://interagencystandingcommittee.org/sites/default/files/migrated/2019-02/operational_guidance_for_coordinated_assessments_in_humanitarian_crises.pdf
The Sphere Handbook: Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response – Sphere Association https://spherestandards.org/wp-content/uploads/Sphere-Handbook-2018-EN.pdf
Monitoring and Evaluation in Humanitarian Contexts: Challenges and Opportunities – ALNAP Guide https://alnap.org/humanitarian-learning/monitoring-evaluation/
Who Strategic Framework for Preparedness https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/a-strategic-framework-for-emergency-preparedness
WHO Emergency Response Framework
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240058064
https://openwho.org/emergencymgmt/537832/Emergency+Response+Framework
OCHA humanitarian Principles
https://www.onlinelibrary.iihl.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/OCHA-Humanitarian-Principles.pdf

Further readings
The Oxford Handbook of humanitarian medicine
Extreme Ownership, how US Navy SEALS Lead and Win (Jocko Willink and Leif Babin)
Thinking Fast and Slow (Daniel Kaheman)

Part III - on Poverty (L. P. Ragno)
Key references
(for lesson 1 and 3) Haughton, Jonathan; Khandker, Shahidur R. Handbook on poverty and inequality (English). Washington, DC: World Bank. http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/48808146815717484
(for lesson 2) Armando Barrientos & Abdul-Gafaru Abdulai & Daisy Demirag & Richard de Groot & Luigi Peter Ragno & UNICEF Office of Research - Innocenti, 2016. "Why Assist People Living in Poverty? The ethics of poverty reduction," Papers inwopa871, Innocenti Working Papers. https://ugspace.ug.edu.gh/server/api/core/bitstreams/f91f4ac4-c598-492b-867b-0502208c0f60/content
(for lesson 4) Banerjee, Abhijit, and Esther Duflo. 2012. Poor Economics. New York, NY: PublicAffairs.
(for lesson 5) Gentilini, Ugo, Timely Cash: Lessons From 2,500 Years of Giving People Money (Oxford, 2024; online edn, Oxford Academic, 28 Oct. 2024), https://doi.org/10.1093/9780191994982.001.0001,
(for lesson 5) Davis, Benjamin, Sudhanshu Handa, Nicola Hypher, Natalia Winder Rossi, Paul Winters, and Jennifer Yablonski. 2016. From Evidence to Action: The Story of Cash Transfers and Impact Evaluation in Sub-Saharan Africa. Oxford: Oxford University Press. https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/a6e06279-00d7-41c0-8c78-a6df973acf92/content
(for lesson 6) Van der Berg, Seervas. 2008. Poverty and education. Corporate author: UNESCO IIEP, International Academy of Education. Education policy series, 10 [29] https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000181754
(for lesson 6) Freire, Paulo. 2017. Pedagogy of the Oppressed. Penguin Modern Classics. London, England: Penguin Classics (first published in 1970)

The course aims to provide the fundamental principles of risk insurance and management, and of the consequences of catastrophes. By the end of the course, students should have the essential knowledge needed to interpret and, eventually, participate constructively in discussions about the best strategies for insuring and managing the consequences of catastrophic events.

Specific objectives:
Part I will also provide a rigorous theoretical frame to interpret individuals’ observed choices towards insurance against disasters and design the best strategies to increase insurance coverage. Finally, it will introduce students to the use of the statistical software STATA for the analysis of big data sets.

In part II students will be introduced to the Humanitarian Program Cycle (HPC), methods for assessing and analyzing humanitarian needs, strategies for planning a response, and best practices for response monitoring. Through case studies, exercises, and theoretical frameworks, students will develop the analytical and practical skills needed to navigate complex humanitarian crises. Moreover, the second module of part II will provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of leadership roles, strategies, and responsibilities in health emergencies. It equips them with the ability to apply emergency management frameworks, systems, and tools effectively. Additionally, the module helps participants analyze ethical dilemmas and navigate humanitarian principles in emergency response, fostering a balanced and ethical approach to decision-making in crisis situations.

In Part III Participants will explore key concepts on poverty, the relation between behavior and poverty, and effective strategies such as social protection and education to alleviate poverty.

None.

The course consists in face-to-face lectures, online modules, interactive workshops, case study discussions and practical sessions.

Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/servicesstudents-physical-or-learning-disabilities Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.

The exam is written and in-person, and consists of a quiz with multiple-choice questions. The final grade is expressed in thirtieths, and to pass the exam, a student must achieve at least 18/30. To pass the exam, students must demonstrate knowledge and understanding of at least the fundamental concepts of the subject. To achieve a passing grade, students must be familiar with the context and be able to demonstrate acquisition of the relevant basic notions for analyzing disaster risk and insurance at both private and public levels, as well as the management of disaster consequences. To achieve a high grade, students must demonstrate complete mastery of the topics covered.

Part I Definitions and data -What defines a disaster -Data on disasters -How do we measure the risk? -Information as a public good -The risk literacy Insurance against risk -The demand side --Decision-making under uncertainty --Risk aversion --Determinants of insurance or non-insurance decisions -The supply side --Insurance market functioning --The issues of adverse selection and moral hazard --Other issues A first exploration of the demand for insurance against disasters among Italian households -Mini-course of STATA (4 tutorials) -Practical live session Part II Humanitarian Architecture Humanitarian Program Cycle Assessment and Analysis of Humanitarian Needs Planning a Response Response Monitoring Leadership in health emergencies, covering essential frameworks, systems, and principles for effective decision-making. Part III Recorded lesson 1: Key concepts on Poverty online lesson/discussion 1: Why Assist People Living in Poverty? The ethics of poverty reduction Recorded lesson 2 : Key concepts on Poverty Measurements online lesson/discussion 2: Poverty and behaviors: Randomized Control Trials (RCTs) F2F Lecture 1 (lecture and iterative discussion): Poverty reduction and Social Protection (cash transfer) F2F Lecture 2 (lecture and iterative discussion): Poverty Reduction and Education

Part I: The students are expected to acquire the basic concepts of risk and insurance literacy and develop the ability to critically read academic and generalistic articles on these topics.
Part II: The first module provides a comprehensive overview of the humanitarian response system, focusing on its architecture, operational framework, and core processes. It introduces students to the Humanitarian Program Cycle (HPC), methods for assessing and analyzing humanitarian needs, strategies for planning a response, and best practices for response monitoring. Through case studies, exercises, and theoretical frameworks, students will develop the analytical and practical skills needed to navigate complex humanitarian crises.
The second module provides participants with a comprehensive understanding of leadership roles, strategies, and responsibilities in health emergencies. It equips them with the ability to apply emergency management frameworks, systems, and tools effectively. Additionally, the module helps participants analyze ethical dilemmas and navigate humanitarian principles in emergency response, fostering a balanced and ethical approach to decision-making in crisis situations.

Part III: Disasters and health crises disproportionately affect poorer countries, with weak infrastructure, limited resources, and inadequate health systems. Poverty also exacerbates the impact of natural disasters, as developing nations often lack early warning systems and disaster preparedness. This part of the course aims to provide a basic understanding of poverty, its measurement, and ethical considerations in poverty reduction. Through recorded lessons, online discussions, and face-to-face lectures, participants will explore key concepts on poverty, the relation between behavior and poverty, and effective strategies such as social protection and education to alleviate poverty.