Tents used for shelter programming activities should meet the minimum requirements of 3.5 square meters per person in hot and temperate climates, and provide adequate protection from the elements and a reasonable level of privacy. Canvas is the primary material for sufficiently sturdy tents. See section on tent winterization if working in colder climates.
Procurement location: Locally available tents are unlikely to meet appropriate standards for beneficiaries. The below-cited IFRC document provides specifications for having these tents specially produced locally or purchased internationally (IFRC Code: HSHETENTF16C). If the tents are for field operating teams and they can be procured locally to speed up response, then standards can be flexible.
Shipping and cost details:
| Item | Packaging | Weight | Dimensions | Volume | Cost |
| 16 square meter tent, family of five | 1 cloth bag | 55 kg | N/A | 282L | $340 |
Specifications:
Please see http://procurement.ifrc.org/catalogue/upload/products_data/files/HSHETENT01.pdf for full specifications of IFRC recommended tents. IFRC Code: HSHETENTF16C
Please see https://cms.emergency.unhcr.org/documents/11982/57181/Family+Tent/c27ba67d-21cd-4d72-b7e7-3fc20bb086f6 for specifications of UNHCR family tent.