CENDEP Shelter Conference Report 2010

Two day conference held at Oxford Brookes University, 16-17 September 2010, hosted by the Centre for Development and Emergency Practice (CENDEP) and CARE International UK, funded by ELRHA (Enhancing Learning and Research for Humanitarian Assistance). CENDEP and CARE International UK's conference 'Improving learning and practice in the NGO shelter sector' brought together 75 academics, practitioners, consultants and students from NGOs, universities and the private sector to engage in plenary sessions, seminars and thematic discussions which shared lessons and research for improving practice in shelter after disaster. The conference examined the role shelter should play in disaster relief and development while critically reflecting on its implementation at local and international levels. It was agreed that while technological shelter solutions are important, good shelter practice always puts people first. This may mean reassessing practitioners' roles and responsibilities to include ways to work more successfully with affected people in a process, rather than focusing on providing an end product.