'Protracted Sahrawi displacement: Challenges and opportunities beyond encampment' available online. The brief analyses the challenges and opportunities -- after 35 years of protracted displacement and encampment -- for the Sahrawi refugees, their political representatives and international actors. The paper challenges assumptions and representations of conditions and dynamics in the camps. Dr Fiddian-Qasmiyeh also calls for a careful analysis of the diverse alternative solutions to encampment in Algeria that have been adopted or proposed and of the relevant protection concerns which may arise. Please direct your feedback and comments to the Series editor, Héloïse Ruaudel at rscpolicy@qeh.ox.ac.uk

http://www.rsc.ox.ac.uk/publications/policy-briefings/Policy%20Brief%207-%20Protracted%20Sahrawi%20Displacement.pdf/view

This book authored by D. John Shaw gives the first comprehensive account of the transformation of the UN World Food Programme (WFP), previously a major development organisation in the UN system, into the world's largest humanitarian agency, and of the conversion of food aid into food assistance interventions that end hunger and malnutrition in sustainable ways. In so doing, it describes the strategic deployment of WFP staff throughout the developing world, how the agency has assumed responsibility for global logistics, telecommunications and food security operations on behalf of the entire international humanitarian system, and how it has established partnerships with other agencies in the non-governmental and private sectors to form the largest humanitarian network that now provides assistance annually to over 100 million people. The World's Largest Humanitarian Agency will be required reading for students of development economics, sociology and human rights, as well as policy makers, NGOs and bilateral aid agencies. It will be published in July 2011 by Palgrave Macmillan - available in hardback and as ebook. ISBN: 978-0-230-58099-2. The author can be contacted at djohnshawuk@aol.com

Do you know someone who has devoted their entire working life to the humanitarian aid community? Has one of your colleagues shown tireless commitment to their role in the sector? Or have your own professional accomplishments made a significant and lasting impact on the humanitarian aid community as a whole? To celebrate the launch of the new exhibition AidEx, taking place in Brussels 19-20 October, the organising team has created a Humanitarian Hero of the Year Award that aims to recognise individuals from any area or sector of the humanitarian aid community. AidEx is an exhibition and conference aimed at helping the humanitarian aid community improve the delivery of aid. If you wish to nominate a colleague, former co-worker, contemporary or indeed yourself simply email aidex@stormcom.co.uk detailing in no more than 200 words why you or someone else should win! Nominations close on 1st July.

A combination of violent conflict and natural disasters has led to widespread humanitarian needs in both Afghanistan and Pakistan. Humanitarian organisations in both countries are faced with increasing challenges that are undermining their ability to respond. The manipulation of humanitarian assistance for political and military purposes is widely perceived to have reduced operational access and created divisions amongst humanitarian actors, weakening and limiting their ability to assess and respond to those needs. Meanwhile, communities and armed actors are becoming increasingly hostile towards interventions, which are viewed as a western and politically partisan enterprise. Following the Geneva launch earlier this year, this event launched Issue 49 of the Humanitarian Exchange magazine from HPN at the ODI in London, on the theme 'Humanitarian space in Afghanistan and Pakistan'. Featuring articles from experienced practitioners, the edition assesses the nature of these challenges and outlines ways in which humanitarian organisations are attempting to overcome them. Speakers discussed issues related to humanitarian space in Afghanistan and Pakistan, drawing on their own extensive experience of analysis and operations in these environments. Humanitarian Space in Afghanistan and Pakistan 11:00 - 13:00 BST (GMT+1) 13th May 2011, ODI, London Screened live online Speakers: Nicki Bennett - Head of OCHA Pakistan’s policy and strategic planning unit. She is author of Civil–military principles in the Pakistan flood response in HE49 and will present via video link from Islamabad Brice de le Vingne - Operational Coordinator Afghanistan and Pakistan, Médecins Sans Frontières Discussant: Vicki Metcalfe - Research Fellow, Humanitarian Policy Group, ODI Chair: Wendy Fenton - Coordinator, Humanitarian Practice Network To view the video and read a summary of this event, visit the ODI website on the link below

The International Diploma in Humanitarian Assistance (IDHA) offers a comprehensive, unified training program suitable for all international relief agencies. The course enables aid workers and their organizations to function more effectively and efficiently in times of war or following natural calamities. The IDHA is a highly intensive, multi-disciplinary academic course designed to simulate a humanitarian crisis with lectures, workshops, and field experiences. The course fills ten to twelve hour days, five to six days per week, for an entire month. Residential courses are currently offered annually in New York City at Fordham University and at two rotating venues around the world. Dates for future IDHA courses can be found on our Calendar of Events. The IDHA community now numbers over 1,026 graduates from over 122 nations, the great majority of whom are aid workers with field experience. IDHA graduates and faculty represent most UN agencies, as well as all major non-governmental humanitarian organizations, and military, diplomatic, academic, political, and religious groups from around the world.

The DFID funded Conflict Sensitivity Consortium project “The practice of conflict sensitivity – concept to impact” is carrying out a Learning Review examining how agencies can consider conflict sensitivity in future humanitarian responses. Research will assess the degree to which Conflict Sensitive Approaches (CSA) were carried out in the humanitarian responses led by CARE, CAFOD and WV in Haiti, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. This reflective exercise will culminate in agency-specific and sector-wide recommendations being made to ensure greater CSA application in future rapid onset emergency responses. The Consortium is also interested in engaging the broader humanitarian community and is inviting practitioners to complete the short online questionnaire in the link below. For further information please contact Oliver Chevreau, Conflict Advisor, CARE International UK on chevreau@careinternational.org.

Mediators are faced with many dilemmas when helping to negotiate ceasefires, ranging from dealing with the differing interests of parties to the conflict, to the way in which a ceasefire may be integrated into a wider peace process, and whether the question of disarmament of armed groups should be addressed in the framework of such agreements. In Negotiating Ceasefires, Luc Chounet-Cambas examines how ceasefires, as one element in a wider process, are negotiated by third parties and how such agreements may facilitate the transition from war to peace. The author examines, in particular, the purpose of ceasefire agreements, challenges faced by mediators in their negotiation, and what options are available to them. Negotiating Ceasefires is the third instalment in the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue’s Mediation Practice Series, a collection of short publications which seek to provide mediation practitioners with insight into how challenges have been addressed by others in order to help them prepare for the demands of mediation. The series draws on feedback from mediators and their teams and aims to address the lack of adequate reference material and insight into other peace processes available in this field. Negotiating Ceasefires can be accessed via the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue website at

This concise publication explores the reasons for women's under-representation in peace processes, both in terms of participation, and the gender content of agreements. With a focus on the Asia Pacific region, the publication draws upon the experiences of women from a number of different countries (Philippines, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Timor Leste, India, Solomon Islands, and Nepal), to highlight the benefits and obstacles to their participation in such processes, as well as practical recommendations on how to make international norms and women's expectations a reality in peacemaking. The publication also offers suggestions for those involved in peace processes on these issues as well as a set of annexes with a list of recommended resources; a shorthand explanation of key international standards related to women's rights; and a set of ‘pointers' for mediation teams on issues they should be focusing on. This publication was produced as part of the Women at the Peace Table - Asia Pacific project, which brings together women active in peacemaking across the region to identify strategies for improving women's participation in peace processes. Peacemaking in Asia and the Pacific: Women’s Participation, Perspectives and Priorities can be accessed via the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue website at

The certificate course in Mental Health in Complex Emergencies is a week long training course for mental health professionals and program staff who wish to establish mental health or psychosocial programs in a humanitarian context within conflict and post-conflict areas. The course will aim to provide a practical orientation and training, including how to conduct rapid assessments, designing and setting up mental health services or psychosocial programs (exploring the differences between them), clinical work and therapeutic approaches in non-western contexts. It addresses the issues of cultural validity, conflict resolution and negotiation, taking care of oneself and dealing with burnout. The course will also introduce potential field workers to essentials such as personal security, logistics, and practical aspects of humanitarian work in the field. The MHCE community now numbers over 90 graduates from over 21 nations, the great majority of whom are aid workers with field experience. MHCE graduates and faculty represent most UN agencies, as well as all major non-governmental humanitarian organizations, and military, diplomatic, academic, political, and religious groups from around the world. Course runs from September 25th - October 2nd in Nairobi, Kenya

The Communications and Media in Humanitarian Affairs course presents the dynamics between depiction and public perception, image and empathy, and narratives of compassion and inclusion, articulated within the larger context of global security and human rights. As conflict, suffering, and issues of life and death remain significant global realities, this course details the conditions, practices, messages, obligations, ethics, and limits of telling the stories of those in crisis. Designed to be flexible enough to accommodate humanitarian aid professionals working in the field, while also remaining academically rigorous, the Communications and Media in Humanitarian Affairs course is a 6-day intensive course worth 2 graduate-level academic credits. It can be taken as part of the Masters of International Humanitarian Action (MIHA), Module 2, or as a stand-alone course. The course runs from September 18th - 24th in Nairobi, Kenya. More information can be found on the CIHC website.