The State of the Humanitarian System

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The State of the Humanitarian System
The State of the Humanitarian System 2018 cover.jpg
Authors2010: Paul Harvey, Abby Stoddard, Adele Harmer, Glyn Taylor, Victoria DiDomenico, and Lauren Brander
2012: Glyn Taylor, Abby Stoddard, Adele Harmer, Katherine Haver, Paul Harvey, Kathryn Barber, Lisa Schreter, Constance Wilhelm
2015: Abby Stoddard, Adele Harmer, Katherine Haver, Glyn Taylor, Paul Harvey
2018: Paul Knox Clarke and Alice Obrecht
Subjects Humanitarian Aid
Humanitarian principles
Published2010, 2012, 2015, 2018
Publisher ALNAP
Publication placeUK

The State of the Humanitarian System is a recurring report that was first published by ALNAP in 2010. It is updated every two or three years. [1]

Contents

The report summarizes the humanitarian system and analyzes successes and failures in the delivery of humanitarian aid, with frequent comparison against humanitarian principles.

Four editions have been published. Recurring themes in the reports include an absence of localisation, low levels of consultation with the communities affected by humanitarian crises, and insufficient funding. The reports have generally noted cans in the sufficiency, efficiency, relevance and appropriateness of humanitarian aid with modest improvements over the years.

Editions

First, 2010 edition

Publication

The first edition, labeled as a pilot, was written by Paul Harvey, Abby Stoddard, Adele Harmer, Glyn Taylor, Victoria DiDomenico, and Lauren Brander. [2]

Synopsis

The 2010 pilot edition highlighted reduced respect for humanitarian principles from local governments. [2] It states that evaluations of humanitarian interventions do not sufficiently include the input from the people served by the interventions and called for increased participation. [2]

It criticized the coordination in the humanitarian cluster system for being weak and reported non-governmental organizations (NGO) fears of the cluster system being expanded in its role to include monitoring and evaluation of humanitarian responses. [3]

The report noted that there are 4,400 humanitarian NGOs, 64% being national organizations, 18% being international in scope, but that the sector was being dominated by a small number of large NGOs, five of which represent 38% of all spending. [4] The top five being Médecins Sans Frontières, Catholic Relief Services, Oxfam, Save the Children, and World Vision. [4]

Second, 2012 edition

Publication

The 2012 edition was a collaboration between ALNAP and the Overseas Development Institute written by Glyn Taylor as the lead author with support from colleagues Abby Stoddard, Adele Harmer, Katherine Haver, and Paul Harvey at consulting firm Humanitarian Outcomes and also Kathryn Barber, Lisa Schreter, and Constance Wilhelm. [5] [6]

Synopsis

Building on data from 2010, the report provides a wide analysis of the humanitarian system. [7] It notes slow and steady growth in human resources, modest increasing in funding but the continued massive funding shortfalls leading to gaps in provision of humanitarian aid. [7] It notes modest improvements in the relevant and appropriateness of humanitarian aid, inconsistent levels of effectiveness, and zero improvements in efficiency and innovations. [7]

Third, 2015 edition

Publication

The 2015 edition was written by team lead Abby Stoddard, and also Adele Harmer, Katherine Haver, Glyn Taylor, and Paul Harvey. Additional supporting research was undertaken by Morgan Hughes, Kate Toth, Elisabeth Couture, Amanda Stone, Kelly Chan, Clare Hymes, and Kaitlyn Vott.

Synopsis

The report found that aid agencies are struggling to reach people in conflict zones. [8] While the number of humanitarian emergencies between 2012 and 2015 had reduced, the number of people with unmet needs had significantly increased, up by 78% compared to 2007-2008 levels. [8] Violence in Central African Republic, Mali, and South Sudan created needs that aid agencies failed to meet. [8] The report described a lack of technical capacity, recruitment challenges and a funding shortfall as the reasons for the gaps. [8]

While the report praised the responses to Typhoon Haiyan and other natural diseases, it spoke of the impossibility of verifying humanitarian needs, or aid delivery in Syria. [8]

The report noted a lack of engagement with the local community and 70% of aid going to United Nations and the Red Cross Movement. [8] A 46% shortfall between funds needed to respond to the Syria Civil War was reported. [8]

Fourth, 2018 edition

Publication

The 2018 edition was written by Abby Stoddard and Paul Harvey.

Synopsis

The report found limited improvements with regards to participation of communicatees affected by humanitarian crisis and limited improvement with accountability to populations. [1] Community feedback was not done in a meaningful way. [1] Aid recipients did report higher satisfaction with humanitarian aid than in 2012. [1]

The provenance of sexual exploitation and abuse highlighted the poor accountability and weak reporting mechanisms. [1]

The reports have highlighted gaps in the sufficiency of humanitarian responses, the effectiveness, the relevance and appropriateness. [9] Coordination has slightly improved. [9]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Humanitarian aid</span> Material or logistical assistance for people in need

Humanitarian aid is material and logistic assistance, usually in the short-term, to people in need. Among the people in need are the homeless, refugees, and victims of natural disasters, wars, and famines. The primary objective of humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Humanitarian crisis</span> Large threat to the health and safety of many people

A humanitarian crisis is defined as a singular event or a series of events that are threatening in terms of health, safety or well-being of a community or large group of people. It may be an internal or external conflict and usually occurs throughout a large land area. Local, national and international responses are necessary in such events.

The Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) is a Washington, D.C. based non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO). CIVIC was founded in 2003 by Marla Ruzicka as the Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict. CIVIC works on behalf of civilians in conflict-zones, providing research and advocating to policymakers. CIVIC is a part of the Making Amends Campaign. CIVIC's mission statement reads: "Our mission is to work with armed actors and civilians in conflict to develop and implement solutions to prevent, mitigate and respond to civilian harm."

The Tsunami Evaluation Coalition (TEC) was a unique learning and accountability initiative in the relief and development sector. It was first established in February 2005 to carry out joint evaluations of the response to the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.

There are a number of meanings for the term humanitarian. Here, humanitarian pertains to the practice of saving lives and alleviating suffering. It is usually related to emergency response whether in the case of a natural disaster or a man-made disaster such as war or other armed conflict. Humanitarian principles govern the way humanitarian response is carried out.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Humanitarian Accountability Partnership International</span> International non-profit organisation

Humanitarian Accountability Partnership International, established in 2003, was the humanitarian sector's first international self-regulatory body. A multi-agency initiative working to improve the accountability of humanitarian action to people affected by disasters and other crises, HAP members ranged from organisations with a mandate for emergency relief and development activities to institutional donors. The organisation aimed to strengthen accountability towards those affected by crisis situations and to facilitate improved performance within the humanitarian sector. The ultimate goal of the organisation was to uphold the rights and the dignity of crisis-affected populations across the world.

The Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) is an inter-agency forum of United Nations and non-UN humanitarian partners founded in 1991 to strengthen humanitarian assistance. The overall objective of the IASC is to improve the delivery of humanitarian assistance to affected populations. The Committee was established following UN General Assembly Resolution 46/182 and resolution 48/57 confirmed that it should be the primary method for inter-agency coordination. The committee is chaired by the Emergency Relief Coordinator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ALNAP</span> UK-based non-profit organization

ALNAP is a UK based non-profit organization that works to increase learning and accountability in the humanitarian aid sector.

Humanitarian Initiative Just Relief Aid (HIJRA) is an African humanitarian organization focused on the implementation of emergency and resilience programming in the greater Horn of Africa, Somalia, Kenya, and Uganda.

The Emergency Capacity Building Project is a collaborative capacity-building project aimed at improving the speed, effectiveness and delivery of humanitarian response programs. The ECB Project is a partnership between seven non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and implements programs in one region and four countries known as consortia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World Humanitarian Summit</span> 2016 meeting

The United Nations World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) was held in Istanbul, Turkey, on May 23 and 24, 2016. The summit was an initiative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon and was organized by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Christian humanitarian aid is work performed by Christian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to alleviate the suffering of people around the world. Humanitarian aid occurs in areas where some churches donate financial resources.

The Aid Worker Security Database (AWSD) is a project of the international research group Humanitarian Outcomes. Funded by USAID, it records major incidents, from 1997 to present, of attacks on humanitarian workers worldwide. As cited in the New York Times, "it is widely regarded as an authoritative reference for aid organisations and governments in assessing trends in security threats." Since its inception in 2005 as the first fully comprehensive compilation of this data, the AWSD has been a source of quantitative evidence on matters related to the security of humanitarian operations in conflict, referenced in policy debates and cited in official United Nations statements, United Nations General Assembly resolutions, United Nations Security Council documents, and reports of the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

Ben Ramalingam is a British researcher, strategist, innovator and author, currently Director of Strategy at British Red Cross, senior research associate at the Overseas Development Institute Politics and Governance programme and advisor to the OECD Development Assistance Committee on innovation investments for development, humanitarian and human rights issues.

<i>Grand Bargain</i> (humanitarian reform) Global agreement on humanitarian funding reform

The Grand Bargain: Agenda for Humanity, usually called the Grand Bargain, is an agreement to reform the delivery of humanitarian aid, that was struck at the World Humanitarian Summit in May 2016. The agreement contains 51 specific commitments, grouped into ten focus areas, with activity targets to be completed by January 1, 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Localisation (humanitarian practice)</span> Practice of supporting aid organisations local to an emergency

Localisation is the practice, in humanitarian aid, to give more decision making power and funding to organizations and people that are based in countries affected by humanitarian emergencies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Network for Empowered Aid Response</span> Network of local humanitarian organisations

The Network for Empowered Aid Response, often called the NEAR Network, is a group of humanitarian civil society organisations based in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Humanitarian Cluster System</span> Disaster response coordination mechanism

The Humanitarian Cluster System is a system, used by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, to coordinate multi-agency responses to large humanitarian emergencies.

<i>Global Humanitarian Overview</i> Annual report

Global Humanitarian Overview is an annual report published by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Humanitarian protection is the act of promoting and ensuring the legal rights of people affected by humanitarian crises.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Alexander, Jessica (2021-04-27). "25 years of aid accountability". The New Humanitarian . Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  2. 1 2 3 McGoldrick, Claudia (12 Sep 2012). "The future of humanitarian action: an ICRC perspective". International Review of the Red Cross. 93 (884): 965–991. doi:10.1017/S1816383112000306. ISSN   1607-5889. S2CID   16250125.
  3. ↑ Heath, J. Benton (2013). "Institute for International Law and Justice Emerging Scholars Papers" (PDF).{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. 1 2 Carbonnier, Gilles (2015). Humanitarian Economics: War, Disaster, and the Global Aid Market. Oxford University Press.
  5. ↑ Slim, Hugo. Humanitarian ethics: A guide to the morality of aid in war and disaster. Oxford University Press, 2015.
  6. ↑ The State of the Humanitarian System 2012 (PDF). ALNAP. 2012.
  7. 1 2 3 "The State of the Humanitarian System (2012 Edition)". GSDRC. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Clarke, Joe Sandler (2015-10-02). "Humanitarian system 'stretched to its limits' says new research". the Guardian. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
  9. 1 2 Dalabajan, Dante (19 Aug 2019). "The prospects of humanitarianism - UCA News". ucanews.com. Retrieved 2022-01-20.
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